If you’re craving a break from the city, it’s time to head north. The Lake Champlain Region, better known as the Adirondack Coast, serves as the eastern border of the Adirondacks.
It’s a gorgeous escape where wild forest perfectly meets picturesque farmland.
You can gaze right across the water at the Green Mountains of Vermont with the Adirondack High Peaks right at your back. Every single season brings breathtaking new views.
Wake up in a cozy lakeshore accommodation, watch the morning mist rise, and end the day with spectacular sunsets that set the sky ablaze.
Set sail on the ‘sixth Great Lake’
Lake Champlain provides some of the absolute best boating in New York. Experts once considered it the sixth Great Lake. It stretches a massive 125 miles in length and plunges to a maximum depth of 400 feet.
Its size accommodates everything from motorboats to luxury pontoons and kayaks. You can launch your own boat or rent one at a local marina. Paddlers can launch from public ramps to explore miles of wild shoreline.
Don’t miss the Palisades—sheer rock cliffs that drop straight into deep water. You can also book guided tours to learn local lore or enjoy a romantic cruise.
Ranked a top national spot for fall foliage boating
If you plan to visit in autumn, you’re in for a treat. Boating site BoatBooker recently ranked Lake Champlain in the national top 10 best lakes for fall foliage boating.
Satellite vegetation data from the USA National Phenology Network confirmed peak foliage typically hits right around October 13. With 27 public boat ramps within 20 miles of the area, getting onto the water during peak leaf-peeping week is seamless.
Reel in a legendary catch
With big water comes big fish. Lake Champlain is home to massive catches, including smallmouth and largemouth bass, lake trout, and landlocked salmon.
The Bassmaster Tournament Series consistently ranks this lake in its top 100 bass fisheries. When winter hits, the action doesn’t stop.
Locals erect huts and cut holes in the thick ice, making ice fishing a massively popular winter draw.
Even if you don’t reel in a trophy, you’ll enjoy a gorgeous day on the water. According to local legend, you might even spot Lake Champlain’s very own underwater monster, Champy!
Step back into America’s earliest history
History buffs will find plenty to marvel over here. The region played a pivotal role in early American history. Rival forces fought battles from the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812 right on its banks.
Because the lake controlled crucial trade routes along the St. Lawrence and Hudson Rivers, building forts here was a massive strategic move. Armies constructed three major forts right on the shores: Fort St. Frederic, Fort Ticonderoga, and His Majesty’s Fort at Crown Point.
While Fort St. Frederic only has its foundation left and Crown Point is in ruins, the reconstructed Fort Ticonderoga is one of the best-preserved forts in the entire country.