Are you looking for the best things to do in Lake Placid, NY? We have the best weekend trip ideas to Lake Placid all in one spot.
Back in June (How in the world are we ending the month of August already? How is this the last day of August?! Where has this summer gone?!?!) we made the trip to go to Essex, New York to visit Essex Farms. You may have remembered this instagram photo where I shared that we had made the trip to Essex Farms as we were exploring their organic and natural produce. It was not only a gorgeous day but it was a gorgeous farm to visit. It was a little bit of a trek but my heart leaped when I was invited to drive a tractor and horses to help plow! Seriously ... when I get better! (Yes, I dream of a farm life and living in the country. *smiles*) I can't wait to share some pictures of the farm but I wanted to share a few pictures of Essex, New York first because it is absolutely delightful. When I was a kid we would only go to Essex maybe once or twice a summer but it has a special place in my heart and truly is one of my favorite towns in the United States. I honestly would love to live there. The surrounding area is simply gorgeous country and is settled right in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. It has a lovely mixture of historic and new, a lovely art community, and is absolutely adorable. There are adorable eateries, a wonderful inn (that also has a lovely dining experience), and absolutely gorgeous buildings from the late 1700 and 1800's. It is important to note that Essex, New York is definitely an "all around year town" but many of the businesses & shops on main street close down at the end of October. They "re-open" for the first week of December (which I would love to see someday!) and then close again until the beginning of May! If y'all have never visited I completely recommend it! Until then I hope these pictures inspire a future trip! The churches stone walls are so intricate and absolutely beautiful! Like I mentioned above, Essex is a wonderful mixture of new and old. There are many antique shops to be found (like the one below - the picture on the left that was written up in Country Magazine) and many old buildings that have been restored and used as historical museums. I must have taken over a hundred pictures just on the gorgeous architecture but don't want to overwhelm y'all in this post! *smiles* One of my favorite buildings since I was a teenager is the Essex Library (or "The Belden Noble Memorial Library")! The architecture on this ancient building is stunning and is the quintessential "Book Lovers Dream". As you step through the doors you feel like you are stepping back in time and escaping into another world- even before you pick up a book! And as a teenage girl I would often walk out with a book or two found at the book sale looking up at these beautiful balconies and dreaming of love and a knight on a white horse coming to meet me and bring me flowers. (Can you tell that I am a romantic at heart?!? *smiles*) Finally, Essex is often visited as a "stopping point" to go over to Southern Vermont by Ferry. I definitely recommend this (y'all know I love the Lake and Ferries)! Similar to what I mentioned above though you would want to check the ferry schedule as times and dates of usage change throughout the year and seasons. I hope that this has inspired you to visit this town! It was a joy to visit this year in June! I hope that y'all have a wonderful day!!
You can help save the irreplaceable historic buildings, monuments, communities and landscapes that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has designated National Treasures.
We spent Spring Break in the Adirondacks the last week in April. We never get bored because there are so many places to explore in this area. Once the warm boating season comes, we tend to stay right in Schroon Lake because there is so much to do there. But this time of year, it is fun to venture out to see different places. We got in our car and took a ride up the shore of Lake Champlain. This is referred to as the Adirondack Coast in this area. We ended up stopping in Essex, NY. I was smitten with the gorgeous older homes and the beautiful view of the Green Mountains of Vermont across Lake Champlain. This area feels like such a hidden gem to me. Many of the homes need a bit of love to bring them back to their former glory. So much charm everywhere we looked. I started to picture the amazing life we could lead if we lived here. The boys could skip rocks into Lake Champlain everyday. And Billy and I could sit in Adirondack chairs like these and watch the boats go by each evening. I even popped onto realtor.com and found us the perfect home. You can read more about his home in the listing here. 2 acres of lakefront within walking distance of the charming town I fell in love with and it even has a red barn/garage. Yes, please! I remember reading a memoir a few years back about a thirtysomething writer who uprooted her New York City life for life on a farm in Essex, NY. It was a great read. The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball is a realistic look at transforming your life by moving to a new area and beginning a totally different lifestyle. But alas, reality set in. Because of family and work, our lives need to stay in NJ...for now. Have you ever visited a place where you could see yourself living so clearly? It's fun to dream, even if just for an afternoon. We'll be back for a visit soon, Essex!
There are a total of 11 affordable condos up for grabs at 242 Broome Street.
This is our southernmost crossing on Lake Champlain. It is a beautiful 30-minute boat ride that offers a perfect vantage point for summer viewing or fall foliage. This crossing remains open year-ro…
Zestimate® Home Value: $269,840. 1824 home in historic village. Features roomy home, an original Ice House and a large outbuilding built in the '20's as a taxidermy shop. Vignettes of Lake Champlain. Walk to NY/VT ferry.
Chef Chris Santos' Beauty & Essex menu, much like the design, is intended to set a new course at his flagship New York location in the LES.
Essex Farm started in 2003 when Mark and Kristin Kimball moved to Essex, NY. They operate a CSA-model farm with help from an always eager rotation of farm hands. The farm is powered by fifteen sola…
Happy first official week of fall y'all! Today I am so excited to share just a few of my favorite and fun fall activities around the Lake Champlain area that should definitely be added to your bucket list if you live in this region or are visiting for the first time! Drive to See Fall Foliage Starting in mid-September (or later depending on the summer/early fall weather) through October the gorgeous leaves burst into color creating a beautiful view for all to see. Surrounding Lake Champlain are both the Adirondack and Green Mountains so you can see so many vibrant colors on both sides of the Lake. Hiking Both the Adirondack Mountains and the Green Mountains surround the beautiful Lake Champlain. If you love hiking in the New England area then this area of the United States is a hikers dream. If you are interested in hiking the Adirondacks and want to hike all of the "46 peaks" for the "46ers club" you can find out more about this HERE. Not ready to hike a "46er peak" but still want to hike in the Adirondacks? One of my favorite mountains is Rattlesnake which offers wonderful views of Long Pond, Lake Champlain, Vermont, and more. You can read about my hike on Rattlesnake Mountain several summers ago by clicking HERE! If you are interested in finding out more about hiking in the Green Mountains you can join the "Green Mountain Club" and find out more about it HERE. Visit One of the Adorable Towns on the Shores of Lake Champlain I have shared before about one of my favorite towns, Essex, and all of its adorable charms. Essex is just one town along the lake that offers adorable New England charm, quaint and yummy dining options with beautiful lake side views, a rich and cultural experience, and unique shopping during the fall. You can read more about all of my favorite towns along the New York side of Lake Champlain HERE. Biking Just like it is for summer, biking is a perfect activity for the fall months! All along Lake Champlain there are tons of different bike paths that you can choose from that will take you around the Lake, or by the Lake (like the beautiful views that the Burlington Vermont Bike Path offers), and some that even "cross the lake" using one of the ferries or bridges. Ride the Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain I shared about this adventure we did in the early spring and the views from the top are breathtaking. You can read more about our adventure HERE and the views with the leaves changed would be simply stunning. You can find out more about the Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain HERE. Adirondack Balloon Festival The Adirondack Balloon Festival is a yearly festival that happens every September in Glens Falls, NY and in Queensbury, NY. You can find out more about this event by clicking HERE. There is also a Vermont Balloon Festival which is so fun and is wonderful to check out if you are wanting to be in Vermont. Fall Festivals There are many Fall festivals that are held in the towns and cities along Lake Champlain! Farmers Markets There are numerous towns along Lake Champlain that hosts farmers markets each week. Each of these farmers markets offer the best of local products and offer a wonderful opportunity to support the local farms. Take a Weekend Trip There are numerous weekend trips that you can take surrounding the Lake Champlain area. You could head north into Canada or south to New York City or over to Boston... honestly for driving less than 5 hours you can step into a different world for the weekend all while witnessing the beauty of the fall colors! Heroic Corn Maze, Fort Ticonderoga If y'all know me at all than you know I love corn mazes. This corn maze in Fort Ticonderoga is also known as the "heroic corn maze" in Fort Ticonderoga is a family friendly activity for people of all ages to enjoy. This six-acre corn maze is designed especially for Fort Ticonderoga providing a variety of opportunities (including historical ones) for people to find in this life size puzzle. The maze is open throughout the season through mid-October and even has days that the maze can be explored at night. Find out more information about this fun fall event by clicking HERE. Another fun thing I discovered last year was the Moonlight Madness Corn Maze at Hathaway Farms in Vermont! I definitely can't wait to do this this year! You can find out more information HERE. Applefolkfest at Penfield Museum Penfield Museum which is located in Crown Point, NY (on the lower part of Lake Champlain) hosts "Applefolkfest" each year which is an excellent fall tradition to be apart of. As the name suggests, the museum is paying homage and celebrating the staple of fall in northern, New York, the apple. You can find out more about this family friendly even by clicking HERE. Apple Picking I love fall. I really do. It makes me feel all cozy inside and there is something about going apple picking that makes it seem like the seasons have transitioned. There are numerous places to go apple picking in this area. (The same thing is true for going to pick out a pumpkin!) There are so many different things to do around Lake Champlain in the Fall and these are just a few of the favorites!! What are your favorites?
Explore Helen Essex’s 464 photos on Flickr!
Wondering about what’s new from Essex Farm? Hear the update from Kristin Kimball below: “The topic is abundance again, but today we’ll cover food instead of flies. It is canning season.…
These stunning spaces from the West Village to Harlem are a feast for the eyes
The 37,000-square-foot space houses Shopsin’s, tons of food vendors, groceries, and more
Beauty & Essex New York has an innovative design that starts in the entrance, and Chef Chris Santos' cuisine is intended to set a new course.
6 New York City Dining options which locals and tourists frequent in and have excellent food options and different cuisie styles.
Beauty & Essex New York has an innovative design that starts in the entrance, and Chef Chris Santos' cuisine is intended to set a new course.
Essex Market and the Market Line now have dozens of food options, and Eater critic Robert Sietsema picks his favorites
Truthfully, this is my new favorite restaurant in Manhattan. Everything was delicious, but I especially loved the tomato soup dumplings and the carpaccio (both pictured) and the cocktails were also on point. Favorite aspect of the restaurant: you walk through a little jewelry/thrift shop to get into it. Once you’re inside, the restaurant opens up […]
Beauty & Essex New York has an innovative design that starts in the entrance, and Chef Chris Santos' cuisine is intended to set a new course.
Explore watersling's 132209 photos on Flickr!
We shared the vintage postcard above on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page last Monday and invited our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia. Does this view in this photo seem familiar t…
A romantic wedding overlooking Central Park. The wedding venue, Essex House, was filled with old world and ornate details.
Hidden behind a functioning pawn shop, Beauty & Essex is a true gem on the Lower East Side and widely regarded as one of New York's most beautiful restaurants.
Essex Market and the Market Line now have dozens of food options, and Eater critic Robert Sietsema picks his favorites
Check out the recent news from Essex Farm directly from Kristin Kimball‘s blog: “We cut 80 acres of hay last Friday and no sooner was the last row laid down than the next day’s forecast chang…
We ate. No one could know. Here's why...
Explore New York Habitat's 1028 photos on Flickr!
