Many of us first learned of the Adirondack Mountains when they played host to the 1980 Winter Olympic games in Lake Placid, NY. There’s a reason the world decided to showcase its best athletes in northeastern New York. Beautiful Lake Placid in the Adirondacks provided a spectacular backdrop that captivated audiences almost as much as the athletic contests did.

Placing a global event in northeastern New York didn’t happen by chance. Clearly, the organizers discovered something that many nature enthusiasts had known for some time.  There’s no place like the Adirondacks.

The Adirondack mountain range is nestled within the massive 6.1 million acre Adirondack Park. The Adirondacks offer a spellbinding combination of attractions, making them an ideal vacation and recreation area. There are very few places that measure up to the Adirondacks in terms of pure, unadulterated natural beauty and recreational options. Spectacular waters, amazing forests, stirring mountains and eye-popping cliffs surround visitors, giving them a chance to escape “the usual” and to experience nature at its very finest.

One doesn’t need to worry about finding something to do when the reach the Adirondacks. The choices seem endless. Whether fishing the mountain waters of Lake Schroon, bird watching on Lake Placid’s Whiteface Mountain, climbing to the top of the Adirondack’s forty-six peaks, or hunting near Saranac Lake, you can bet on having a fantastic natural experience in New York.

The mountains offer a great combination of challenge and scalability for those inclined to make their to the peaks. Slopes are relatively gentle and many people have accepted the challenge of reaching the tops of the 46 tallest mountains in the Adirondack range. The mountaineering experience can be quite unique—many of the peaks don’t feature trails or established pathways to the top, making the climbs unforgettable “back to nature” experiences.

The lakes are unique and gorgeous. Many of the more popular lakes lie within the mountains at elevations in excess of 1500 feet. The natural scenery surrounding the waters provides an eye-catching backdrop for those who vacation at the many wonderful hunting lodges, hotels and cabins that dot the area. These are not the dull, cookie cutter lakes found in so many resort areas. They each have their own character, features and charm.

The Adirondack mountains have been part of a very unique and admirable balancing act. The natural bounty has made them a popular destination for tourists, but smart regulation has maintained the feel of the land while protecting the area’s natural resources. The lakes of Adirondacks are still bountiful, they haven’t been over fished and they boast teeming populations of both black bass and trout. Hunting options abound. Somehow, the caretakers of the Adirondacks have found a way to create an inviting destination without harming the natural character of the area. You can find The Wild Center and Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks in Tupper Lake, NY. It provides a great overview of Adirondack mountain history while bringing the area “to life” with a series of living exhibits featuring the indigenous animals and plants of the mountains. The Adirondack Mountains are a one-of-a-kind destination, worthy of consideration by anyone looking to combine a chance to reconnect with the natural world and exciting recreational opportunities.