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Things to Do Near Lake George New York

Are you planning a trip to Lake George, New York? In this post, find fun things to do in the area that will help you enjoy your trip.

Things to Do Near Lake George New York

While I had driven by Lake George several times while driving between New York City and Montreal, my first real visit to the area was to attend a family reunion. There was a scheduled dinner each night of the weekend, but we were free to choose what to do during the day.

Prior to my visit, I was expecting Lake George to be a quiet lake town surrounded by rural communities. As it turns out, Lake George is a lake town, but it’s busy.

Plus, there are a few towns close by, such as Queensbury, where you will find almost any activity to do that you can think of. There are tons of fun ways to spend the day in the Lake George area.

I knew that Lake George was a popular Adirondacks Lake, but I had no idea what kind of activities I could find in the area. My hope is that this post helps you find a few things to do in the Village of Lake George and the surrounding places so enjoy your stay there even more.

How do you spend a day in Lake George?

The best way to spend a day in Lake George is to choose an indoor attraction, grab a quick lunch, and then finish the day with an outdoor activity. Of course, if you prefer getting outside early in the morning, you could switch things up and do it the other way around.

The rest of this article is organized into three different sections where you will find of the most popular attractions, outdoor activities, and best places to eat in Lake George and the surrounding area. You can choose from each section based on you and your family’s preferences.

View from shore of Lake George near the beach

Of course, there are many more things to do in the area than I could possibly list here in one article. You will see from the lists below that Lake George is definitely full of activities for everyone.

While Lake George is located in update New York in a relatively rural area, there is plenty of fun stuff to do there. There are also a few other towns not far away, such as Queensbury, Glenns Falls and Hudson Falls, that have activities and attractions, too.

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What are the top attractions to visit in Lake George?

There are many different types of activities available in the Lake George general area. The following list contains top attractions and activities in Lake George that are either indoor or partially indoor.

Fort William Henry Museum

Before the Revolutionary War, New York was part of Great Britain and the home of several British military forts, including Fort William Henry which was located at Lake George. It is now a very popular museum and a main historical attraction at Lake George.

House of Frankenstein Wax Museum

If you like weird things, wax museums, and being a little scared, you might like visiting the House of Frankenstein Wax Musem. It’s a wax museum and a haunted house all-in-one, and is probably best for teenagers and adults, since most reviewers recommend it for ages 13+.

Shopping on Main Street in the village of Lake George

Downtown Lake George is a fun place to go shopping. You will find lots of stores with unique products, and it is just a lot of fun.

The best place to park for the downtown shopping district is in the private Mayard Center Parking. You can access the parking lot on Canada Street by the Tom Tom Shop.

You can also pay for hourly street parking or park at a few other parking lots around the village that are a little further away from the main shopping district. This is also a great place to find a quick bite to eat during your shopping trip.

The Outlets at Lake George

No trip to Lake George is complete without stopping at the local outlet mall. Everyone loves a good outlet mall, and the Outlets at Lake George does not disappoint, since it has a lot of great stores.

There are outlets for luxury brands, mainstream brands, as well as shops unique to Lake George. The outlet mall is located very near Queensbury, which also has lots of great shopping opportunities, including a more traditional mall and a movie theater.

Around the World Golf Course

This is one of the best mini golf courses in upstate New York, and it has a great theme. Plus, it’s reasonably priced, making it a great family activity.

I included this in the “indoor” category, but it’s mostly outdoors.

Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark

While not technically in Lake George, you will find Six Flags Great Escape Indoor Waterpark to be a lot of fun, and you can even stay there, which makes it extra awesome. Even better is that it is an indoor water park, so it is something to do in Lake George in the winter.

What are the best outdoor activities in Lake George?

If you love nature, including water, mountains, and forests, you are going to love all of the activities below. This list contains only outdoor activities that involve, in some way, nature.

Million Dollar Beach

This is a state-owned public beach in Lake George, with the official name being the Lake George Bay Use Area. According to local lure, the price of the land was one million dollars, and so the nickname for the beach became the “Million Dollar Beach”.

This beach also has what many describe as a “million dollar view” of Lake George and the Adirondack mountains. Lake George is a large lake, nestled between mountains, and the beach offers a way to cool off during the summer months surrounded by great mountain views.

Swimming is only allowed when a lifeguard is on duty, which is typically between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

There is a day use fee of $10 to access the park per vehicle, but there is no charge for visitors to access the beach if they are walking from a nearby area. The Lake George Bay Use Area (Million Dollar Beach) has a large parking area near the public boat launch, with plenty of room for parking.

Hovey Pond Park

If the crowds from Lake George are overwhelming, you might enjoy Hovey Pond Park, a short 15-minute drive south of Lake George. This is a great family-friendly park with a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

There is a playground, walking trail, small botanical garden, picnic areas, as well as benches around the pond for sitting and enjoying the views. Queensbury encourages youth fishing in the pond, and there is even a fishing platform.

During our visit, we were lucky enough to see the resident snapping turtle, who one visitor to the park explained had been living there for several years, laying its eggs in the sand on the shore of the pond. This is also a great place for viewing birds and other wildlife, such as frogs and smaller turtles.

An added benefit to visiting this park is that it is a fantastic place for kids and it’s conveniently located near many fast-food and sit-down restaurants, as well as the Aviation Mall, Queensbury’s shopping mall.

Sullivan Preserve

This is a 70-acre nature preserve located in Queensbury near Glen Lake, about a 13-minute drive from Lake George. This is one of those “secret gems” of the area, as it is not very busy.

However, it is a great place for an easy and peaceful hike through the forest. You will be able to see lots of birds and other wildlife, including plants and trees that are unique to this region.

Parking for the Sullivan Preserve fits about five cars and is located on Sullivan Road, which is almost directly across the street from the public boat and kayak launch for Glen Lake.

Lake George Battlefield State Park

This is a small battlefield and park located directly across the street from Lake George. You have lake views from almost every part of the park.

There is a short path to walk where you will find many benches for sitting, as well as a few monuments and placards to read to learn more about the history of the battlefield.

Hearthstone Point Campground

This campground is located north of the village of Lake George on Route 9 on the shore of the lake. It is a large campground with hundreds of campsites, a beach, and picnic areas.

There is parking by the beach and picnic area. There is a charge per vehicle to enter this New York State Park, which includes access to the the beach area.

We spent some time here fishing near the picnic area and enjoyed the breeze coming off the lake. The beach can be a bit crowded during holiday weekends, but if you visit during non-holiday summer days, you will find it a relaxing lakeside beach.

Rogers Park

Gurney Lane Recreation Area

Located in Queensbury, NY, the Gurney Lane Recreation Area is a 10 minute drive south from the village of Lake George. Here you will find a huge outdoor pool and a 150-acre property to explore and enjoy.

Up Yonda Farm and Educational Center

This is a farm, nature preserve and educational center operated by the Warren County Parks and Recreation, that has views overlooking Lake George. It is a place of beauty, but also a place for learning and exploration.

You will find features such as:

  • Nature trails
  • Gardens
  • Nature museum
  • Maple syrup sugarhouse
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Gift shop to buy locally made goods

You can learn how to plan your visit by visiting their website, and directions to the farm and nature preserve can be found via the Google Maps link below:

It’s easily accessible via I-87, or if you prefer the scenic route, simply stay on Route 9 and you’ll see Up Yonda Farm on the left.

Lake George Dunham Bay Marsh

Feeder Canal Park (Overlook Park)

Lake George is awesome, but it is also located near some other very nice bodies of water. For example, the Hudson River runs only a few miles away from the lake. This park is actually pretty awesome, with a pedestrian bridge over the canal leading to a bicycle and walking path that goes for about nine miles on a narrow strip of land between the canal and the Hudson River.

There is a small pavilion with a picnic table where you can enjoy lunch. It’s a fun place for a walk, bike ride, or even for some fishing.

Apart from this park and trail being a beautiful place to spend the afternoon, it is interesting to note that this bike trail connects Lake George to the Empire State Trail, and specifically the Champlaign Valley portion, a primarily on-road trail that goes between New York City and the Canadian Border.

Best Places to Eat in Lake George

Sure, Lake George is pretty far from the city, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a great meal. There are lots of great places to grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Lake George, and there is something for everyone.

The Breakfast Spot

Traditional, classic breakfast fare, and open from June-October. This is a popular place, so the recommendation is to get there early if you don’t want to have to wait long for a table. Also, it’s only open until 12 pm, so it’s a breakfast-only place.

McGillis Public House

This is a very popular farm-to-table restaurant in Lake George that has a terrace. Their menu is different based on the season, but you can see some of their previous menus here.

They are open only for dinner on Monday and Tuesday, and both lunch and Wednesday-Sunday.

The Lagoon

Gaslight of Lake George

Oasis Vietnamese Restaurant

Mario’s Restaurant

Mezzaluna Restaurant

Biscotti Brothers Cafe

Lake George Beach Club

Cafe Verro

This is a super laid-back, down-to-earth coffee shop that serves baked good such as bagels and donuts, as well as sandwiches that are made on location.

Conclusion

I hope that this post has helped you choose some great activities to do in Lake George this season, and that you enjoy your visit to the town (and the lake!). If you have any questions or would like to suggest your own activity at Lake George, please leave it in the discussion area below.

As it turns out, it wasn’t hard to find daytime activities to do in the Lake George area, after all. For a peaceful mountain town, it was full of fun!

Thanks for reading today!

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By Author Naomi

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