The Adirondack Trail

Autumn. Soon, the leaves will begin their blazing trapeze act in the crisp, cool breeze. Tourists will take lazy drives along the country roads, reveling. in the beauty of the season. Nutty whiffs in the wind will imprint visions of a crackling fire in the mind's eye. Then we know it's time to come to the Adirondack Trail and to play in the land where autumn rules.

Meandering through the heart of northern New York state, the Adirondack Trail follows Route 30 past countless historic villages with lakes and mountains as your escort. Its southern section is rooted in Fonda where it begins its zig-zag trek into mountainous terrain through the Adirondack Park, a 6-million-acre national treasure, filled with spectacular scenery, recreational delights, and backcounty charm.

The Route arrives first at Lake Pleasant and the village of Speculator. Sparked with all sorts of outdoor activities, Speculator is one of the main recreational foci en route. It offers a plethora of activities ranging from mountain biking and swimming to alpine skiing and snowmobiling. The village itself charms outsiders with a good dose of homey restaurants, quaint little shops, and charming overnight facilities. Nature nuts will enjoy the interpretive river walk at the Sacandaga River Community Park.

Moving on, the trail passes into the stunning beauty of the Blue Mountain Lake region, home of the Adirondack Museum. There's no way you'd want to pass by this museum, called "the best of its kind in the world" by the New York Times. Consisting of 20 buildings spread out over 32 acres of lakes tucked between the mountains and overlooking the sparkling blue waters of Blue Mountain Lake, the Adirondack Museum contains exhibits on every aspect of Adirondack life from the early 1800s onward. Nearby Indian Lake adds to the pool of recreational delights found in Adirondack Park including canoeing, fishing, windsurfing, and whitewater rafting, to name a few.

The once logging town of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake region comes into focus as you move northward on Route 30. With lakes, ponds, and streams meandering through the rolling hills of upstate New York., this is a great getaway for the angler at heart - a great place, too, for camping.

The journey ends in historic Malone, home of the "Farmer Boy" Museum which highlights the life of Almonzo Wilder (of "Little House on the Prairie "fame). This lovely town punctuates the journey beautifully with views of majesticcamps and hotels from the Gilded Age, quaint shops, and friendly hospitality.

Through hills and dales, scenic Route 30 carries the travel from one picturesque view to the next - from the small villages tucked between rolling hills to the glittering lakes that dot the way with misty shades of blue against the raging colors of the fall leaves. Fall is a festival of beauty in the Adirondacks. It's time you come and enjoy it!