Pamela Merritt

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Ways for Festive Feasting
Dec
03
2018

The holiday season has a lot of heart-warming elements, but one of the most important is the feasting. Whether it is a couple's getaway for some rare us-time, or a large gathering of family and friends, the many wonderful farms and restaurants along the Adirondack Coast will provide some lovely touches to the festivities.

At home

Get some special ingredients for that upcoming gathering by visiting...

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Four ways to foliage tour
Sep
10
2018

The Lake Champlain Region offers wonderful ways to enjoy fall foliage. Each of these ways offers delightful variations.

The differences in microclimate between sea level and the tops of the mountains mean enough scenery to fill a day, a weekend, or a week. With the time it takes to drive from the coast to inland, or to hike from the bottom of the mountain to the top, you can experience different time frames of the leaves turning.

...
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A fine and fair festival
Jun
08
2018

It's festival time at the fairgrounds, featuring some of my favorite things: Hand-crafted, gorgeous, and delightful objects and other works of art. Made by nice people.

I'm talking about the second annual Essex Arts and Crafts Festival held at the Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport. It was so popular the first year that there...

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The Village Inn and Red Brick Cafe
May
30
2018

Business Name: The Village Inn and Red Brick Cafe
Opening Date: January 2017
Number of Employees: Two full-time and four part-time
Location: 1 Star Way, Port Henry, NY 12974

Tim Bryant and his stepson, Timur, opened the Red Brick Café in downtown Port Henry in 2017. Since opening, the café and inn have built a local and regional following. Read below...

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Enjoying Chesterfield
May
28
2018

Chesterfield is a very old town. The native Algonquin people were the original inhabitants. This area is still a rich source of fascinating structures with great appeal, both natural and man-made.

This classic example of an Adirondack water-powered mill community was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Locus of water power

As seen above, the famous bridges in the hamlet of Keeseville, part of the...

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Topics:Outdoor Recreation, Natural History, Attractions
Ready, set, fish!
May
20
2018

Whether you're dreaming of reeling in The Big One or you want your child to get excited about their first fish, the Lake Champlain region is a great place for all of those angler delights.

From the big lake to fast rivers to little ponds, we've got it all. Here are some tips to make sure that fishing trip will be full of memories.

The big one

We are thrilled to announce that our own...

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Topics:spring, Natural History, Fishing, Conservation, Adirondacks
The original starship captain
Apr
17
2018

On May 4, 2018, the most accurate Star Trek set reproduction in the world will welcome back the person who created the starship captain. On that day, it will be 51 years, 7 months, and 26 days since William Shatner brought Captain Kirk to television.

This beloved show was actually obscure in its time. But that was before there was a man on the moon and a computer in the palm of our hand. Now, Star Trek isn't a show which barely hung on...

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Wild about Westport
Apr
11
2018

Westport was born from its lovely natural advantages, and this tradition continues as the concept and experience of "leisure" has changed through the centuries. If you like staying in historic lodges, dining on the water, and exploring nature from the beach to the mountaintops, Westport beckons.

I do love Westport. Let me count some of the ways.

Home of The Chair

To give an idea of the character of this charming town,...

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Hiking in-between
Dec
19
2017

It might seem like an unpromising time for exploration. An in-between time -- past the hiking trails of summer and not yet consistently fluffy enough for the snowshoeing and cross-country trails of deep winter.

But with the right preparation and an adventurous mindset, these times can be just as rewarding. They offer advantages that happen only in those in-between times.

You could, like me, become a fan of between season hiking...

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Topics:Fall, spring, Hiking, gear
Hunt for buried treasure
Dec
05
2017

Our farmers' markets are more than a source of great produce. They can be a treasure hunt for arts and crafts. But when fall's harvest season draws to a close, there's no need to give up the hunt.

We also have a lovely variety of thrift stores and vintage shops.

Striking gold

On a recent hunt, I toured the Lake Champlain Region...

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Topics:Shopping, Fall
What Thanksgiving used to be
Nov
02
2017

The first formal proclamation of Thanksgiving in America was on March 16, 1776. It was issued by John Hancock in his position as President of the Continental Congress. This was during the American Revolution, a time of uncertainty. People needed to gather together.

The enjoyment of Thanksgiving has not changed. But since 1776, there have been some striking changes in the details.

A handmade time

In colonial times, there...

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Topics:Natural History, Fall, Heritage
Beachcombing at Noblewood Park
Oct
20
2017

Many people think that when the leaves are past their peak, there is nothing left to enjoy. I am not one of those people.

I love the late fall, when the weather often gifts us with delightful Indian summer days. It's perfect hiking weather, with the crisp air and bright sunshine. There's even a bonus we won't get again until early spring. The fallen leaves let more light onto the forest floor, brightening up any hike and expanding our...

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Topics:Adirondacks, Birding, Fall, Hiking
Browse our art shops
Sep
05
2017

I love browsing in art galleries. Whether I'm looking for a gift a friend would love, or if I see something that calls to me in a way I never expected, our Adirondack combination of art and nature is always a pleasing sight.

And we have plenty of lovely nature to provide inspiration.

[img:baseaglelakeview.jpg]

From wildlife to forests, from the big lake to a small pond, there's opportunity all around for many kinds of...

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Topics:Shopping, Champlain Valley, Arts, Adirondacks
The play is the destination
Jul
11
2017

I met with a longtime Depot Theatre person to discuss the new 2017 season. Beth Glover has an excellent vantage point to view all the upcoming productions.

This busy actress appears in local venues, on and off Broadway, and on the West Coast. Theater, small films, and television provide a varied...

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Suffragettes: a century later
Jul
05
2017

The Hancock House was the setting for a talk with the theme "Adirondack Suffragists: 100 Years of Votes for Women." Both Hancock House-Ticonderoga Historical Museum and the Adirondack History Museum...

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Best spring hiking picks!
May
09
2017

Spring is a great time to hike. For everything there is a season, and spring hiking is about the contradictions.

There are brisk winds, but we never get too hot. The weather can turn on a dime, but that means indirect lighting for stunning photos. It might rain, but it is also peak waterfall season.

Here's some suggestions for enjoyable spring hikes.

Quick & easy

If you are thrilled by roaring waters, the...

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Wildflowers: Three Ways to Enjoy
Apr
19
2017

One of my favorite things about spring is the first wildflowers. Unlike flowers in climates closer to the equator, North Country flowers are a little more discreet and a little less showy. The thinner soil and shorter amount of sunlight, especially for plants in the forest, can impose subtlety.

But they have their own unique beauty. Here are my tips for capturing it:

Take only photos

Some of our blooms have qualities...

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Topics:Wildflowers, spring, Hiking, Conservation, Adirondacks
Hike the power of yesteryear
Mar
16
2017

Back in the day, someone setting up for industry looked for rowdy rivers and wonderful waterfalls. Water power was a valued resource in early America. Water turned the millwheels to grind grain into flour and powered the sawmills that turned forest into wood; all for building a new nation.

We can see much of this history when we walk the ...

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Three reasons to visit Ausable Chasm in winter
Feb
07
2017

The "Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks" is our oldest and largest natural attraction. It opened to the public in 1870, and now summer activities include rafting, hiking, and various canyon adventures. But that's not all.

In the winter, Ausable Chasm becomes another kind of adventure. The sandstone gorge grows multiple stories of frozen waterfalls. The Ausable River at the bottom forms skeins of frozen water and dark not-yet-frozen water...

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Topics:Winter, Outdoor Recreation, Guides, Attractions