I recently spent a long weekend with friends in the Adirondack Mountains and Park in upper state New York. We caught the changing colors of the fall leaves and enjoyed some blissful misty rains! It was so refreshing to see houses with no sidewalks and no fences between neighbors! Driving through the small towns made me feel like I was in a Norman Rockwell painting right down to the small post office in the town of Adirondack where the postmaster was chatting away with the locals. It was so easy to get away for a few days that I wondered why I don’t do this more often?

Here are a few tips on where to visit and how to make the most of a long weekend getaway!

1. Fly from capital to capital-Sacramento to Albany. I love smaller airports. The traffic and parking aren’t a big deal and they are easy to maneuver. We did have a layover in Atlanta but discovered a PF Chang’s on the upper deck where you can sit and watch the airline traffic over some real food and a cocktail or wine. You also can take your mask off while inside!
2. Pack a light suitcase with plenty of layers. Bring a light rain jacket and umbrella to layer up if it begins to mist and don’t let it stop you from getting out to enjoy the scenery. Often homes and restaurants are warm inside so you also need to be ready to unbundle so layers are key! A cute cap/hat and scarf are perfect to spruce up your outfit. Practical boots with good grip were also super important for trekking along slippery sidewalks or trails!
3. Stay in one place and make day trips. There is so much to see within just a couple hours of Albany. We were lucky enough to stay at a cabin on Loon Lake. On our way there we stopped at the cute town of Saratoga Springs for lunch and shopping. This is home to the famous racetrack and there are some great shops for riding boots and leather jackets. We had lunch at The Merc where they serve brunch all day. I recommend their “From the Hen” Tomatillo Green-Chili Huevos Rancheros and Paloma cocktails.
4. Try to visit the touristy places on a Monday to avoid the crowds. Touristy places are popular for a reason and so you don’t really want to miss them, but just try to visit on off hours if you can. We went to the Natural Stonebridge and Caves in Pottersville and it was gorgeous. They have ta huge marble cave along a stream with trails and wooden bridges which criss cross back and forth. However, it’s definitely a popular place for family outings with picnic benches, gold panning and a playground so going on a rainy Monday was peaceful and serene.
5. Take in some history! It was amazing to find out that the Natural Stonebridge and Caves have been privately owned for over 200 years and was a gift to the family for serving in the Revolutionary War! Fort William Henry is another great place to stop. It was a British fort built in 1755 and is on the Southern End of the popular destination of Lake George. The Hyde House museum in Glen Falls is another hidden gem to take in some incredible pieces of artwork and is on the National Register of Historic Places. They display the family’s personal collection of Renoir, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens, Van Gogh and even a Picasso within their home furnishings which makes it really special. But don’t pack in too much! You also want to have time to curl up with a good book and relax.
6. Ask a local! When we left the Natural Stonebridge Caves, it was time for lunch but it was also a Monday. The staff was quick to let us know that most places would be closed but they recommended the Adirondack General Store which is located at Schroon Lake in the little bitsy town of Adirondack. This was my Norman Rockwell moment and we felt like a local sitting at the casual tables amongst the provisions. The Italian Wedding Soup was homemade and delicious as well as the grilled Rueben with house made corned beef, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on marbled rye bread. Oscar’s Smokehouse is another local favorite located in Warrensburg. We picked up some delicious smoked ribs to have back at the cabin aka “CAMP” as they call it, for dinner. Oscar’s has received a lot of attention lately since it became one of Rachel Ray’s Favorite Picks so be ready to stand in line!
7. Add mushroom hunting and photography to your list! It’s so fun to take in the natural beauty. I tried capturing a falling leaf in slo-mo on my phone but each time I tried, the wind seemed to know and stopped blowing! Here is one of my favorite mushroom photos. Markus and I used to tell the kids we would give them a dollar for every mushroom they found to make them slow down along the trails. I would have made a fortune on this trip!