The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Saranac Lake, New York Now
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2022 • 4 min read
Tucked away in New York’s Adirondack Mountains—Saranac Lake is a town unlike any other. Located among vast mountains and lakes, it will inspire you to relax and enjoy time in a decidedly different way. With world-class dining, galleries and shops all around, you’ll find a downtown rich in history and infused with nature in a way that only Saranac Lake can pull off.
Image courtesy of Visit Saranac Lake
1. THE SHOPPING
Local shopping in Saranac Lake has no resemblance to kitschy Adirondack crafts. Every storefront is independently owned, with shopkeepers eager to assist you with finding that one-of-a-kind artisan item with which to mark your Adirondack escape. Saranac Lake celebrates local artisans, independent retailers, and friendly service. In the shops downtown and throughout the village, you'll find everything you didn't know you needed, from books to board games, paintings to pottery.
Academy & Main in Saranac Lake, New York
Situated on the first level of the Hotel Saranac’s original shopping arcade—Academy & Main sells everything from classic Adirondack blankets and Burberry scarves to cocktail glassware and body care. It’s a modern Manhattan shop, plus cut-above local goods from across the Adirondacks. Stocked to the brim with Adirondack-themed knick-knacks, Adirondack Trading Company with its campy vibe is easy to navigate, thanks to clearly defined departments, including a maple syrup section, a Christmas nook, and shelves dedicated to all things bears.
2. THE ART
Artistic inspiration comes easy in the Adirondacks, an undeniable result of the wild natural beauty that surrounds you with every step in this region. And Saranac Lake serves as the confluence where these artists come together to create and display their works in an assortment of downtown studios and storefronts. The most beautiful thing about the art scene in Saranac Lake is, yes, the art itself, but also the fact that so many of the artists are on hand to bring a personal perspective to what you’re looking at in real time and in the flesh. Here are a few of the best art spaces right in the heart of downtown, from independently owned art studios to co-op galleries.
NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery in Saranac Lake, New York
Fifteen artists display their works, everything from plein-air painting to assemblages and collage to ceramics, jewelry, and photography, on the walls of Adirondack Artists Guild. The open and airy NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery is loaded with natural light and exhibits the work of nine regional artists, concentrating in metalwork, pencil drawing, jewelry, and all forms of painting. The tiny Main Street locale, Fortune Studio, houses the impressive large-scale watercolor and oil paintings of local artist Tim Fortune. After several years traveling and studying abroad, Fortune settled back in his native Adirondacks after falling in love once again with its rock streams, bogs, and snow-covered trees—the very subjects he now paints.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
Tucked away in the heart of downtown Saranac Lake—Left Bank Café is bringing a little bit of France to the Adirondacks with a curated wine list, specialty cocktails, and simple, yet bold authentic French cuisine. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the savory French Mystery—concocted with tequila, rose liqueur and fresh-squeezed lime.
Left Bank Café in Saranac Lake, New York
Left Bank Café offers a variety of both French and French-inspired dishes—favorite ones include the Cheese Plate featuring local cheeses Nettle Meadow Kunik and Meier's Cheddar, fig mostarda, candied walnuts, and pepper jelly, Pan Seared Scallops with butternut squash purée, roasted cauliflower, shaved apple, and lemon vinaigrette, Escargot in a crusty bread bowl, with Pastis cream and fines herbes, as well as Beef Short Rib Bourguignon with asparagus, olives and fresh lemon.
Take the time to indulge your sweet tooth and enjoy one of many decadent, rotating desserts such as a Sundae with Belgian waffle, Vermont maple bacon ice cream and chocolate sauce or Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Cake with Nutella cream cheese frosting. Bon Appétit!
4. THE HIKING
Saranac Lake is a hub for hikers. Hiking is a favorite in the Adirondacks, and Saranac Lake is a beautiful area for both beginner and experienced hikers alike. Gently meandering paths, trails to lake-side views, and big mountaintop vistas all await anyone who hikes here. Head out in any direction from town to find hikes that range from family-friendly to challenging. If you're new to hiking, Saranac Lake is an ideal place to start, providing adventurers with a range of options that will fit right into your skill set. Baker Mountain is located just outside the village of Saranac Lake.
Image courtesy of Visit Saranac Lake
This straight-up-and-down hike offers a rewarding view of the High Peaks after a short (but steep) climb. this trail is a great introduction to High Peaks region hiking without going the full distance of a High Peak, and offers some of the best Adirondack views available for the amount of effort. Each hike will offer something unique, from interesting geological features to stunning scenery. It doesn't all have to be rugged mountains, you can try the Saranac Lake Riverwalk, which strolls through town along a brick-paved path besides the Saranac River.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Saranac Lake became a world-renowned center for the treatment of tuberculosis, using a treatment that involved exposing patients to as much fresh air as possible under conditions of complete bed-rest. Built circa 1894, The Saranac Laboratory was the first lab built in the United States for the research of tuberculosis. Opened as a museum in 2009, The Saranac Laboratory is open year-round for self-guided tours of exhibits on scientific research and patient care, and temporary exhibits on topics of local history. The main laboratory space explores Saranac Lake's unique history as a world-wide center for TB research and patient care.
The Saranac Laboratory in Saranac Lake, New York
Between 1873 and 1945, the “cure cottage,” known as a private sanatorium, developed. These homes were built by residents, physicians and even patients themselves seeking to capitalize on the town's fame. Prime examples of these houses are “Noyes Cottage” at 16 Helen Street, “Porcupine Cottage” at 147 Park Avenue and the “Christy Mathewson Cottage” located at 138 Park Avenue—which was named after one of the first five members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
WHERE TO STAY IN SARANAC LAKE, NEW YORK
From Gilded Age galas to modern-day luxury, the Hotel Saranac, Curio Collection by Hilton has been the backdrop for some amazing stories. Escape where a sense of history mingles with decidedly modern touches all while keeping true to our genuine, historic Adirondack heritage. With a rich, Roaring Twenties legacy woven throughout each room—dark wood architectural furniture, deep blue rugs, crisp white linens, dapper Adirondack nods, and rich textures, featuring a classic color palette that seamlessly co-mingles cherished history and redefines the Adirondacks.
