Summer in the Adirondacks

Come to New York’s Central Adirondacks, the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi, to the rich history of these mountains with their countless stories about the rich and famous people who lived, worked, and played here.

Day 1 – Hagerstown, Maryland – A day of travel takes us through the beautiful mountains of West Virginia and the “Old Line State” of Maryland, where we overnight in Hagerstown.

Day 2 – Historic Queensbury Hotel – Glens Falls, New York – After an included breakfast, we continue our journey north to New York’s Central Adirondacks. We check into the historic Victorian-style Queensbury Hotel, the centerpiece in downtown Glens Falls, New York, for a three-night stay. This elegant hotel is equipped with various amenities including an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, exercise room, and beauty salon. Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.

Day 3 – Gore Mountain Gondola Ride – Barton’s Garnet Mine – Prospect Mountain – After an included breakfast, we stop at Gore Mountain, a four-season mountain operated by the NYS Olympic Region Development Authority. Here, we ride in comfort in glass, encased gondolas up the mountain 1,700 feet for awesome views of the High Peaks. On a clear day you can see Vermont. Next, we’re off on a treasure hunt! Barton’s Garnet Mines, the oldest family owned and operated mine in the United States, has one of the world’s largest garnet deposits. Their trained staff will take us into the garnet mine site and lecture on the geology, mining history and present-day operations. We will have time to collect garnet rocks for rock gardens or garnet gems that can be faceted for fine jewelry. After lunch on our own, we travel the five-mile memorial highway to the top of Prospect Mountain, with photo opportunities at its overlooks. The summit of the mountain has spectacular 100-mile views of the Adirondacks and Lake George. Dinner is included this evening. Overnight same hotel.

Day 4 – Gilded Age Tour – Adirondack Experience Museum – Great Camp Sagamore – W.W. Durant Dinner Cruise – After an included breakfast, prepare yourself for the Gilded Age Tour! During the late 19th century before income tax, wealthy entrepreneurs such as Vanderbilt, Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, and Collis P. Huntington built fabulous wilderness estates in the heart of the Adirondacks to rival the beach resorts of Newport. First, we’ll explore the exhibits at the Adirondack Experience Museum and learn how people in this area worked and played. Next, we board our coach and travel west to Great Camp Sagamore in Raquette Lake. We’ll learn the way the Vanderbilts went camping at this 1897 National Historic Landmark. Their style was luxurious, a mere illusion of “roughing it” utilizing 27 buildings, including a formal dining hall, bowling alley, and an extensive workers’ complex occupied even through the harsh Adirondack winters. Tonight, we will enjoy an exciting dinner cruise aboard the W.W. Durant on Raquette Lake. During our cruise, we’ll sail by more Great Camps than anywhere else in the Adirondacks. Overnight same hotel.

Day 5 – Hagerstown, Maryland – After an included breakfast, we travel to our overnight accommodations in Hagerstown.

Day 6 – Home – Our exciting tour comes to an end today as we arrive back in Kentucky.

Meals: 5B, 3D