Not a National Park but a spectacular landscape that covers six million acres. That’s almost three times the size of Yellowstone. I flew into Syracuse and drove 4 hours to Lake Placid (photo above) and enjoyed the village that once hosted the Olympics in 1980. Driving through the Adirondacks was engrossing, despite the stubborn rain. Dozens and dozens of tiny villages with olden cemeteries with markers dating back to the early 1800s.
Outside of the Adirondacks, I stayed in the tiny town of Inlet and explored the Fulton Chain Lakes, a string of eight lakes connected by canals. These photos of lake fog (collection at bottom) came from one of those lakes. I found this spot just as the sun was breaking the horizon and settled in for a spectacular show. My trip was a few weeks early to see the full brilliance of the fall colors, so next time I will plan my trip for October 10th or so.
Finally, I visited Watkins Glen State Park (pictured just below) and the Finger Lakes, a collection of 11 long, narrow lakes formed by receding glaciers. This is great wine country with a rich history of being a vacation destination for the New York elite in years gone by. If you choose to explore upstate New York, be sure to include the Finger Lakes on your agenda.
