Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Lake George as a base for skiing Gore

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Lake George as a base for skiing Gore

    Hi, I'm planning a family based ski trip during the week after New Years... Probably 3 days.

    I'm wondering how Lake George rates as a ski base. Yes, it's a fair hike to Gore, but upon returning back to LG, is it a ghost town... or are there fun off hill activities, a lively atmosphere, restaurants that aren't deserted, etc? That stuff doesn't mean a lot to me, but my wife isn't a big skier, and she has more fun off hill.

    We can stay close to home and ski Holiday Valley and get the full ski town type experience (she really likes it there)... it's just that the skiing in the Adirondacks is so much better. Drive time is less than 2 hours to Eville or 6 to Gore. We went to Lake Placid last year, which was nice but she wants to go somewhere else this year.

    Thoughts?

  • #2
    The driving distance to Gore definitely isn't going to help. A lot of the Lake George is "experience" is pretty obviously seasonal, as evidenced by the number of outdoor mini golf courses.

    As a possible alternative, I might suggest returning to Whiteface but staying in Saranac Lake instead of Lake Placid. Saranac Lake has probably the most stable year-round population of any town in the Adirondacks, so it really doesn't matter what season it is- there's a lively atmosphere in and around the town.

    (Be wary of going during Winter Carnival, though... the village is a mad house during those two weekends, and it's really only worth visiting if you're going specifically for the carnival.)

    Comment


    • #3
      This is very common for Gore, and I've done this many times on my visits.

      It would be great if North Creek had more hospitality in this respect, but the fact of the matter is Lake George and Queensbury offer far more for the visiting skier.

      It's almost exactly a half-hour drive from LG to the base of Gore.

      I wouldn't exactly call winter in LG lively, but there are plenty of restaurants open and Queensbury (outside the blue line) is a regular American big-box suburbia complete with a shopping mall. There are also a number of outlet stores in between Queensbury and the village of LG.
      Last edited by montcalm; 12-07-2016, 01:18 PM.

      Comment


      • #4
        Lake George is obviously not as busy in the winter as in the summer but there are some things going on. Each of the four weekends in February is the winter carnival, which is very family oriented. Still, I don't think it fills the hotels, including the new Mariott. Many of the more popular restaurants are open year-round, including the good ones and there's usually entertainment at the bars at night. Plenty of shopping at Exit 20 too and you're roughly 30 min from Gore, and plenty of other things to do outside like XC skiiing or snowshoeing.
        Life's short, hunt hard!

        Comment


        • #5
          What is it your wife likes to do? North Creek has more and more to offer every year. There are also small villages like Bolton Landing or Schroon Lake that might offer options to someone looking for those options.

          And Buckladd is correct. I live in North Creek and work in Lake George. It's a 30 min. trip.
          'I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.' - Henry David Thoreau

          Comment


          • #6
            If you choose to stay in LG and there is actually some natural snow (that's one small if and one big IF), you would also have the opportunity to ski at Hickory in Warrensburg.
            It's the closest ski area to LG.
            Not knowing your family's ability or preferences, I can still recommend Hickory...it's what skiing was before it became artificial and corporate. A T bar and 2 Poma lifts, all natural snow, minimal grooming, and terrain for all abilities. Fantastic, cozy lodge where the fireplace is important.
            Even if you don't or can't ski there, you should at least drive by to take a look. It's a very unique place, a throw back to when things were more simple and honest.

            Comment


            • #7
              Hmmm... Thanks for the info everyone. Though it sounds like it would be great for the kids and I, LG could be a bit of a let down for her compared to Ellicottville given the extra drive time.

              Maybe we'll leave her home

              Comment


              • #8
                OSB - I can't speak for the skiing around LG, but it and Queensbury have a bunch of outlet malls and shops. If your wife is a shopper, it might be the ticket. There are also some very good restaurants in the area, but I don't know if they close down for the winter.

                Comment


                • #9
                  We always stopped at Oscars Smoke House in Warrensburg on the way thru. Pork fat rules! Can't pass up a good smoked ham and homemade sausages!
                  Be careful, don't spread invasive species!!

                  When a dog runs at you,whistle for him.
                  Henry David Thoreau

                  CL50-#23

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by OntarioSkiBum View Post
                    Hmmm... Thanks for the info everyone. Though it sounds like it would be great for the kids and I, LG could be a bit of a let down for her compared to Ellicottville given the extra drive time.

                    Maybe we'll leave her home
                    DON'T leave her home! HV and Holimont may not be comparable to Gore or Whiteface but the skiing is decent compared to a lot of other places.

                    The village is a great place to shop and eat, one of the few places that is busier in the winter than summer.

                    Remember, if momma ain't happy...
                    ...better to be up a creek without a paddle than to not be on the water at all!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Grandpa Paddler View Post
                      DON'T leave her home! HV and Holimont may not be comparable to Gore or Whiteface but the skiing is decent compared to a lot of other places.

                      The village is a great place to shop and eat, one of the few places that is busier in the winter than summer.

                      Remember, if momma ain't happy...
                      Ellicottville is probably our home ski town, being the closest legit place to ski near us (1hr 45min)... We've been many, many times over the years, in the summer as well. She'll be happy there no doubt. I just wish it had another 1500ft vertical!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Lake George

                        Lake George Village has a few attractions in the winter. It is a short drive to Gore, Lake Placid to Gore would be a pretty long drive. You could stay at Lake Placid, do Whiteface then drive to Lake George to ski Gore. They do have snowmobile rides out of a hotel up to Prospect Mountain.
                        If you need some more civilization, a couple more exits south on the Northway has malls, theaters and chain restaurants in Queensbury. There is always Six Flags indoor waterpark for the kids as well as adults, just south of the village, it also has nice lodging too.
                        Last edited by electbc; 12-11-2016, 06:32 PM.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Let me start off by saying that I can't speak to the quality of skiing at Gore. And my only experience in Lake George is a long weekend trip this summer. We had a great time there and plan to go back. But the place doesn't strike me as a great winter destination. The downtown area is Ok but nothing special. All the other things people have mentioned are great but would mean another trip in the car. We enjoyed our time because of staying at a small hotel on the lake with kayaks and SUPs that allowed my kids to explore the lake. And we spent a day hiking one of the mountains that surrounds the lake.
                          Our family has skied at both Whiteface and Holiday Valley. We had ski in/ski out accommodations at Holiday Valley and stayed at a house on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid. The family enjoyed both experiences and would go back to either place. But if we had to choose one or the other I think Whiteface and Lake Placid would be the choice. The skiing provides a much greater challenge. And staying in Lake Placid was great. The kids enjoyed ice skating and dog sled rides on Mirror Lake. And being in town allowed us to walk to restaurants,shops and the movie theater. We could come and go as we pleased.
                          But I understand the interest in going to a different place. I hate going back to the same place all the time, even if I love it there. My response is nothing other than sharing my experience so that you can make a good decision.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by jkauff73 View Post
                            Let me start off by saying that I can't speak to the quality of skiing at Gore. And my only experience in Lake George is a long weekend trip this summer. We had a great time there and plan to go back. But the place doesn't strike me as a great winter destination. The downtown area is Ok but nothing special. All the other things people have mentioned are great but would mean another trip in the car. We enjoyed our time because of staying at a small hotel on the lake with kayaks and SUPs that allowed my kids to explore the lake. And we spent a day hiking one of the mountains that surrounds the lake.
                            Our family has skied at both Whiteface and Holiday Valley. We had ski in/ski out accommodations at Holiday Valley and stayed at a house on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid. The family enjoyed both experiences and would go back to either place. But if we had to choose one or the other I think Whiteface and Lake Placid would be the choice. The skiing provides a much greater challenge. And staying in Lake Placid was great. The kids enjoyed ice skating and dog sled rides on Mirror Lake. And being in town allowed us to walk to restaurants,shops and the movie theater. We could come and go as we pleased.
                            But I understand the interest in going to a different place. I hate going back to the same place all the time, even if I love it there. My response is nothing other than sharing my experience so that you can make a good decision.
                            Thanks for the reply. I've skied quite a bit at both Whiteface and Holiday Valley. As well, I've done 3 days at Gore. We vacation every summer in the Wells area and we go to Lake George some years. We've gone to Lake Placid quite a bit too.

                            2 years ago, my son and I did an ADK ski trip with just the two of us. We stayed at the Super 8 in Warrensburg and spent 2 days at Gore and 1 day at Whiteface. This was great for the two of us since we skied from open to close... grabbed some dinner when we were done... went back to the hotel, watched some hockey and crashed. Unfortunately, this would not be my wife's idea of a fun trip.

                            Lake Placid would probably work, but she says she wants to go somewhere else.

                            I'm toying with the idea of doing a 1 day ski trip at Bristol Mt in the Finger Lakes (we've been here as well) combined with going to the Syracuse / Pitt game on Saturday Jan 7. Back in my younger days, my friend went to 'Cuse on scholarship and we had a lot of fun visiting, and taking in the basketball and football games. I always loved the atmosphere... I'm hoping it'll be rockin' with all the students returning back from Christmas break.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Sorry... The point to my previous post and the thread in general was I wanted to know what LG was like in the winter. I'll keep it in mind for future trips if my wife isn't there, but she may not like it relative to Ellicottville or LP.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X