Tag: Adirondack Balloon Festival

Amazing Getaways to Take This Month 

If you’re looking for an “amazing” September glamping getaway, consider some of the places listed by globalgrasshopper.com as “20 Amazing Places to Visit in September” whether you’re looking for last-minute travel inspiration or want to plan for next year. 

Acadia National Park made the list and our Bar Harbor glamping cabins at Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort and Narrows Two Camping Resort are the perfect locations to call home while you explore this beautiful national park which made the list due to less crowds, mild days and the beginning of the fall color show which gives the park a special glow. You might choose to bike the Carriage Trails, enjoy the ocean views and stargaze under the night skies. The park’s Jordan Pond is great for stargazing and September is the perfect time to see the Milky Way in the early evening hours.  

Yurt at Tall Chief Campground
Yurt at Tall Chief Campground

Washington State’s “Emerald City” gets high marks for a September visit thanks to dry weather, less crowds and “flawless views of Mt. Rainier.” Be sure to book a glamping stay in an ultra-cool yurt at Tall Chief Campground for your visit. September’s offerings in Seattle include all kinds of sporting events including home games for the MLB’s Seattle Mariners, the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. The Seattle Cider Summit, which features 42 artisanal cider producers, is set for September 12-13; while the Oktoberfest in Fremont is scheduled for September 18-20.  

Cabin at Alpine Lake RV Resort
Cabin at Alpine Lake RV Resort

Early fall colors and several festivals landed New York’s Adirondack Region on the list and luckily Alpine Lake RV Resort and Lake George Escape Campground are perfect glamping destinations smack dab in the center of the region. The Lake George Jazz Festival is set for September 12-14; the Adirondack Balloon Festival is scheduled for September 18-21, and the Adirondack Harvest Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 20. Take a sunset cruise on Lake George, visit historic Fort William Henry or spend the day exploring nearby historic Saratoga.  

Cottage at Thousand Trails Sea Pines
Cottage at Thousand Trails Sea Pines

Cape May, New Jersey is a noted September destination because the beaches are quieter and less crowded, but the ocean waters are still warm enough to enjoy. Book a glamping cottage at Thousand Trails Sea Pines and do summer activities in September at the shore. September 13 is the Cape May Harvest Brew Fest featuring craft beers, local artisans and food and the Cape May Oktoberfest is set for September 27 and promises all kinds of Bavarian-themed fun from food to music to dancing. Birders should take note that mid-September begins the migration season for Peregrine falcons and other shore birds so keep your eyes peeled! Other Cape May highlights include the Cape May Wine Trail (it is harvest season, after all), ghost tours (get a jump on the Halloween spookies) and whale watching tours (May through September is peak time for this).  

If we had to add one to the list, we would have to include Yosemite National Park. Waterfalls are still flowing, the fall foliage is peaking out, the park is less crowded, and Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes just down the road is perfect for a fall glamping getaway. The weather is typically moderate and dry in September, so hikes are pleasant. Saturday, September 27 is free admission day for the park.  

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Best Glamping Cabins to Stay Cozy in this Autumn

It’s autumn and that means cozy cabins are the must-have for your fall glamping adventures. Think rustic, wooded and perfect fall vibes. Check out some of our great cabins that are the perfect accessory to your fall-fun agenda.

A Cabin in the Woods: Head to Door County, Wisconsin’s popular peninsula for a glamping cabin in the woods experience at Tranquil Timbers Campground. The cabins here are set on 50 acres of wooded wonderland and offer the perfect place to enjoy fall colors. Outdoor opportunities here include exploring Peninsula State Park with its fishing, biking and hiking opportunities, apple-picking in the numerous orchards and strolling the charming towns. The Door County Fall Lighthouse Festival is set for October 4 when all 11 of the historic lighthouses will be open for visitors.

Cabin at Seaside RV Campround
Cabin at Seaside RV Campround

A Cabin by the Sea: You can’t get much closer to a cabin by the sea than with a glamping cabin accommodation at Thousand Trails Seaside on Oregon’s picturesque coast. Fall is the perfect time for spotting migrating gray whales while you stroll the beach. For guaranteed marine life views, head over to the Seaside Aquarium which has several touch tanks and underwater exhibits. It’s also a great place to feed the seals! A visit to Seaside is not complete without a walk on “the Prom,” Seaside’s historic 1.5-mile historic promenade along the shore which also has access to several restaurants and shops.

Cabin at Lake George Escape Campground
Cabin at Lake George Escape Campground

A Cabin in the Mountains: Lucky, lucky glampers – there are two choices if the mountains are calling you. The East Coast option is Lake George Escape Campground in the amazing Adirondacks. Late September in the Lake George area is a leaf-peepers dream as the colors are typically in their glory. Enjoy the fall air and the color show by hiking the numerous trails that range from easy to challenging. For a list of trail ideas, head to visitlakegeorge.com/outdoors/recreation/hiking. If you want a seat for the color show, consider a scenic drive on Route 9N or a drive to the top of Prospect Mountain. Fall events in Lake George include the Adirondack Balloon Festival scheduled for September 19-22 or the Lake George Oktoberfest and Fall Festival set for October 11-13. For a Pacific Northwest mountain adventure, rent a cozy cabin at Mt. Hood Village Resort and hop aboard the Fall Harvest Train, which is considered one of the most scenic rides that goes through the Hood River Valley (mthoodrr.com). Another fun fall experience would be to take the 35-mile self-guided Hood River Fruit Loop and visit the orchards in the area. Fall hikes could include the 3.3-mile hike to Tamanawas Falls, the Trillium Lake Loop, an easy hike that could include a lakeside picnic and the more aggressive hike at a little over 8 miles at Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain which offers great views of Mt. Hood.

Cabin at Thousand Trails Bay Landing
Cabin at Thousand Trails Bay Landing

A Cabin in the South: Again, two choices for the lucky fall glamper. There’s a cozy cabin waiting in Bridgeport, Texas at Thousand Trails Bay Landing. Once you’re settled in here explore the area which includes Fort Worth attractions including the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens which will be in full fall color bloom come September and the 138th State Fair of Texas which runs September 27 to October 20. Canoe or kayak the nearby Trinity River or hike Eagle Mountain Park which has 10 miles of trails. If you’re Tennessee-bound, reserve a cozy cabin at Thousand Trails Natchez Trace and drive into Nashville to enjoy the art and music scene that is Music City USA. Or take to the great outdoors and hike trails in the area which include the moderate Meriwether Lewis Loop Trail or the easy Old Trace Trail.

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5 Things to Do in… Lake George/Upstate New York

In case you might have missed it, there is a whole lot more to New York than New York City. For one thing, head north from The Big Apple and you trade concrete and steel for lots and lots of greenery. There are mountains, lakes and springs, beautiful valleys, and pastoral farmlands. There are charming towns, college towns and towns full of history as New York State was one of the thirteen original colonies. Prior to the arrival of the colonists, the area was inhabited by several Native American tribes.

A visit to Upstate New York in the fall means plenty of opportunities for leaf peeping, apple picking and enjoying the great outdoors. Here are a few ideas if you’re planning a trip to the area.

  1. Adirondack Balloon Festival: Celebrating its 48th year, the Adirondack Balloon Festival is not only New York State’s largest hot air balloon festival but is also considered one of the oldest events of its type to take place on the East Coast. This year’s event, while smaller than previous years due to COVID-19 safety aspects, promises to be just as thrilling as ever. The event runs from September 24 through September 26 and each of the days will have spectacular balloon launches. Best of all, this event is free! For more information, visit glensfalls.com/event/adirondack-balloon-festival-61317/.
  1. Take a Trip to Woodstock: The charming mountain town of Woodstock isn’t nearly as crowded with visitors as it was back in August of 1969 when it was the site of a music festival billed as “3 Days of Peace and Music” (and actually the festival was held on a farm outside of the town), and it is still worth checking out. There’s Overlook Mountain with its 4.6-mile moderate hiking trail. There are the museums and galleries along Tinker Street, which pay homage to Woodstock’s original history as an artist’s colony. Plus, Tinker Street also has plenty of shops and eateries. And there’s also the Mower’s Saturday/Sunday Flea Market and the Sunday Farmer’s Market, which both run through October.
  1. Learn Horse Racing History: A visit to historic Saratoga Springs demands a visit to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The town grew in popularity in the mid-1800s as wealthy Americans made it their summer place thanks to the wealth of mineral springs in the area. The Saratoga Race Course opened in 1863 and still offers a race schedule that runs from July through Labor Day. In addition to the Hall of Fame, which includes jockeys, horses and trainers, the National Museum of Racing has exhibits, artifacts and artwork that detail the history of horse racing.
  1. More Festivals and Fall Fun: In addition to the Balloon Festival, the area also hosts the Lake George Jazz Festival (September 17-19) and the Lake George Oktoberfest and Fall Festival (October 8-10). If you want to get a jump on Halloween scares, check out some of the more “spirited” places in the area including Fort Ticonderoga, where the sound of mysterious footsteps has been noted. Or check out Fort William Henry where phantom bells ringing, marching footsteps and flickering lights have frightened a few, and The Sagamore, where “permanent” guests can be seen floating around.
  1. Apples and Pumpkins: Another favorite fall activity, the area offers several places where you can pick your own apples and find the great pumpkin. Hicks Orchard is one of the oldest u-pick orchards in New York (hicksorchard.com) while Elmms Family Farm (ellmsfarms.com) is a great place for a fall outing with a pumpkin patch and a crazy corn maze.

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Nestled in New York

Cabin at Lake George Escape Campground, Diamond Point, NY

Nestled in New York

Does your idea of the perfect summer vacation include a cozy cabin in the woods, complemented by the perfect lake for lazing by or playing in, all surrounded by towering trees and majestic mountains? If that fits your bill, don’t wait to book a stay in one of the cabins at Lake George Escape or Alpine Lake, both located in New York’s incomparable Adirondack region.

Lake George Escape, located in Diamond Point, sits on 178 acres and has direct access to the Schroon River. With four cabins to choose from (one sleeps 4, one sleeps 5 and two sleep 6), this is the place to enjoy an idyllic summer getaway. Amenities vary from cabin to cabin but all promise to be the perfect place to spend your summer at the lake.  The campground also has two pools, a playground and of course access to the lake.

Cabins at Alpine Lake RV Resort, Corinth, NY

The cabins at Alpine Lake RV Campground, located in Corinth, sleep 6 and have full bathrooms and kitchens complete with refrigerator, stove, microwave, as well as AC and heat. The resort has fishing available in the stocked lock and plenty of hiking and biking trails to explore.

Nearby to both campgrounds, there is plenty to keep you busy this summer. While there are certainly “inside” things to see and do, the focus here is enjoying the outdoors. There are hiking trails, rafting and tubing trips, scenic boat rides and lots of fishing.

From a history buff’s perspective, there’s Grant Cottage State Historic Site, in Wilton, where Ulysses S. Grant spent the last days of his life writing his memories and where for years Civil War veterans trekked to pay homage to our 18th president and Civil War General. Another top historic attraction is Lake George Battlefield Park, a 35-acre park that preserves battle sites from both the French & Indian War and the Revolutionary War.

Both the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) and the Adirondack Theater Festival (AFT) have a lot to offer this summer season. The AFT, located in Glen Falls, produces a nine-week summer theater schedule and this summer’s shows include Alice in Wonderland, Calling All Kates, a romantic musical comedy and The Enlightenment of Percival Von Schmootz, a musical comedy billed as Monty Python meets the Dark Ages. Check out this summer’s lineup at www.atfestival.org.

SPAC runs the gamut of entertainment genres from live big-name concerts including the Dave Matthews Band and Dead and Company to opera, ballet, and theater productions. A full calendar of events can be found at www.spac.org.

Special events to note include the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival, June 29-30, at the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in Lake George, that will showcase 120 wine vendors, craft beverages, artisan foods, food trucks, and vendors. For information on that event, visit www.adkwinefest.com. Come fall, when the color show of autumn makes its debut here, the Adirondack Balloon Festival draws more than 150,000 people to this event to watch the hot air balloons soar into the mountain skies. That event is set for September 19-22 in Queensbury.

Pick your events, pack your bags and book your cabin for a tranquil, yet cultured, lazy, yet, sporty and definitely all kinds of fun summer in the Adirondacks. Go to www.PetiteRetreats.com.