At first I was a little stymied when I started thinking about today's blog in which I'm focusing on “funky towns, things, places.” No surprise to readers that I tend to see the Lake Champlain Region more as world-class, not really “funky," but after I looked up the word “funky” and read one definition: fashionable in a way that is unusual and shows a lot of imagination, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about and headed toward...

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New at Fort Ticonderoga

Boat cruises are a new feature this summer at Fort Ticonderoga. I can’t say that they are underrated, more undiscovered, as yet. Once the word gets out, we may have to book far in advance. I picked the perfect late summer day to hop on board and give this new experience a try. I...

A couple of short weeks from now we will be reflecting on where the summer went. Not that summer will officially be over, but once students head back to school options for even mini-vacations and family outings get restricted. An opportunity for a final bash of summer fun is waiting for you and your family in the Town of Moriah over Labor Day Weekend. The Village of Port Henry and Town of Moriah have been celebrating Labor Day for 126 years!...

Sunday is often “family day.” The entire family wants time together, but what to do. Where and how to find one destination that will appeal to family members with diverse ages and interests can be difficult. The historic community of Ticonderoga is prepared to cater to a wide variety of family-friendly interests, particularly on August 2nd.  On that Sunday consider making Bicentennial Park the central family hub.

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It was on the waters and along the shores of our fantastic Lake Champlain that the great battles, struggles and sacrifices were made for America’s freedom. Can you think of a better location to celebrate America’s Independence than where it all took place 200+ years ago? Join us in the Lake Champlain Region as we celebrate the 4^th of July and our heritage. Here are some events and happenings throughout our communities that will...

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Heads up music lovers! Soundwaves is returning this summer season with great performances planned in the Lake Champlain Region. Soundwaves is a summer community concert series curated by Taylor Haskins. The concerts are held Thursday evenings, July 2^nd through August 13^th, at Ballard Park in...

Life Lesson:  Make Way for Wildlife

I’ve spent practically my entire life in the Adirondacks; along the Adirondack Coast of course. Living here has taught me many life lessons that reinforce all the basic platitudes. I won’t bore you with the "Best Things in Life are Free" drivel while describing our sunrises; though that’s a fact! I will try to share more practical...

Flower Show Alert

Get ready for the Grand Opening of the Adirondack's Annual Flower Show. It is a little early yet, but time to make plans and preparation. As the temperatures warm and the snow melts our forests and woodlands begin to display their finery. For me this is the best time to get out on a hike, connect with nature, and get a peek at some of the gifts it has to offer. I love the...

The Point

There is an awesome peninsula extending north into Lake Champlain from its western shore. Today this peninsula is called Willsboro Point and it is approximately 3 miles long, maybe a mile or so wide at the widest points. This section of the Town of Willsboro sits outside the hamlet area which predominantly rests on the banks of the Boquet River. The peninsula creates a protected bay to its west, very popular...

Hooray for Diversity! 

Wandering through the communities along the Adirondack Coast it is easy to be awed by the natural beauty. It happens all the time and it is one reason I love entertaining first-time visitors. They rave about the scenery. There is a great diversity and contrast: flat open water, rolling farm fields, heavily wooded areas, and of course the great sky line of the Adirondack Mountains. Views are never...

Two

This week’s blog topic is “TWO” and I have been searching for inspiration ever since the assignment. This has had me thinking like Noah for days. The Lake Champlain Region has an abundance of everything. Where are the important twos I should be blogging about? Distracted by having to thaw water pipes twice this past week and continually having to search for my second glove, I began to feel plagued by twos. It...

Here in the Adirondacks our mailboxes are beginning to bulge with daily arrivals of seed and plant catalogs. If we have yet to begin thinking about gardening, these daily arrivals ignite our thoughts of growing flowers, vegetables and fruits. Of course these seed purveyors are well aware it would require a jackhammer to turn any soil in our region right now, but they fully understand the whole process.

I love receiving these wish-books...

A fundamental requirement for ice fishing is, of course, a body of water with a frozen surface. Right now, as I write, that is not the case on Lake Champlain, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen soon. Here it is near the end of December and Lake Champlain is, for the most part, wide open. In fact I saw boats on the water just yesterday, pretty much unheard of at this time of year. I asked a few of our local veteran fishermen...

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100+ Miles

When out enjoying the public recreation land along the Adirondack Coast it’s easy to become enamored with the undeveloped natural landscape and captivated by the scenic beauty of the mountains, streams and forests. But, are we sufficiently appreciative of all the components that make this possible? Do we ever consider who maintains the...

The Holiday Squeeze

We are approaching what I often refer to as the “holiday squeeze.” Everything can get a bit stretched - time, wallets, energies, and even belts. We look forward to all the traditional festivities and delivering the perfect gift to everyone on our list. The next few weeks can make us a bit anxious as we attempt to squeeze everything in. During this season we also want to be a little self-indulgent...

It’s so easy to fall in love with the Lake Champlain Region. I see it on visitors’ faces all the time. “It’s SO beautiful here,” say many first time visitors that walk through the door at the Lake Champlain Visitors Center. The site distance and scenic beauty are captivating; awesome really. The level plane of the lake, juxtaposed...

 I know many of us that are nuts about cars. I recently learned that there are a lot more cars than there are drivers in the US. Automobiles hold an appeal far surpassing the convenient transportation. Beyond the utilitarian, we may see them as sculptural art, an expression of identity, opportunity for adventures. They also can be time machines for some of us getting along in years. Catching a glimpse of one built a few decades ago can...

I love to fish. Can’t say I’m any good at it, but I do enjoy trying. Fishing Lake Champlain is rather like treasure hunting. With over 90 different species of fish, you never know what you may pull out of the water. At least that is the case with me.

Fishing without a boat on Lake Champlain

Not having a boat in...

Boating From Manhattan to Montreal

Many are surprised when I tell them that they could launch their boat anywhere along our Lake Champlain Region and easily end up in Manhattan or Montreal. I often get a raised eyebrow, but some are aware that the Champlain Canal connects the...

In my youth the mention of history would make me wrinkle my nose. That was during the school years of course when I related history to a classroom setting with nothing but a boring memorization of strange names and odd dates. On Lake Champlain, I was living in the birthplace of America and enjoying history on a daily basis, but did not connect the dots. Textbooks aside out of the classroom, the...

Serendipity!

Centrally located within the Lake Champlain Region, resting on the banks of the Boquet River, is the little hamlet of Whallonsburg. This hamlet is within the Town of Essex, about 4 miles from their NHR collection of houses and the Essex to Charlotte ferry dock. A central...

It’s difficult right now to think of snow. I've yet to even see a flurry in the Champlain Valley. Mid November and we are still hitting 50-some degree days filled with sunshine.I am still seeing people in shorts and t-shirts! Nevertheless, I know winter weather is not far off and it's that time of year when it is necessary to do the shuffle in the outdoor shed; garden tools and pots to the back of the storage rack; shovels and ice scrapers to...

New York is the second largest producer of apples in the nation. The Lake Champlain Region, of course, is responsible for that ranking. Our Adirondack Coast provides ideal growing conditions and cold enough winters for the required apple tree dormant period. Actually the trees really enjoy being a part of our breathtaking scenic beauty. During this month you can find them posing with their red, green and gold ornaments. This is a fantastic...

Here it was mid-July and hopes of seeing my garden produce looked rather bleak.   Though our wet spring and early summer did wonders for my lawn, my vegetable garden was pathetic.  My green thumb skills  did not measure up to the challenges of recent weather.    Out of two packages of green bean seeds, I could boast 5 plants that have yet to blossom.  Most of the planted squash seed never appeared and I figured November might show me a...

Ah!…. A chance to learn about Adirondack Fire Towers!  These mountain-top sentries have a particular fascination; and, of course, incredible views! The Adirondack History Center Museum received an Education and Outreach Grant from the Champlain Valley National Historical Partnership to sponsor a series of classes and hikes focused on the historic...

I can't remember when I first saw the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse. I lived only about 3 miles away from it from the time I was 2 until I was about 7, so it had to be during that period. What I do remember is looking up at the 55' high structure with its elaborate granite base, towering columns and ornate stone carvings and thinking; "this...

Winter Waterfall Walk at AuSable Chasm

Early March on a 40-some degree day makes you itch to get outside and capture some of winter's last enchantments before they fade to memories. Ausable Chasm's Winter Waterfall Walk had been on my to-do list for quite a while. Here we were into March and I'd yet to get there, but sheer luck handed me a greater opportunity; an...

With Christmas about a week away, the Sugar & Spice Country Shop, 98 Montcalm Street, Ticonderoga, sparkles with holiday decorations of all kinds. But holiday ornamentation is only the seasonal icing on this vast collection of decorative, yet practical gifts, home furnishings, and accessories for everyone. The entire shop emits a distinctive, country flair, with just a touch of primitive that relaxes and comforts you; like that favorite...