It has been three years since Westchester families have had the green light to head away this summer for vacation. And with everyone wanting to go away, the airlines are filled, and many flights have to be cancelled at the last minute because of a lack of employees.
That is why you should consider staying local and traveling by car for your summer vacation. Before COVID, my family enjoyed staying at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, 10 miles north of Lake George. We recently returned for the first time since 2019 and were happy to find The Sagamore “the same as it ever was,” with excellent accommodations, service, dining and entertainment all offered by an accommodating staff.
The Sagamore is a landmark hotel, located on a private 70-acre island. The resort offers elegant lakeside accommodations, award-winning dining and an unmatched selection of family friendly water and land activities ideal for family vacations, weekend getaways and one-of-a-kind events. The Sagamore opened its doors in 1883 and catered to the wealthy northeasterners who turned the Lake George region into the favorite vacation spot of its time.
A fire destroyed the property on two occasions and was restored to its present-day glory and now sits on the National Register of Historic Places and is a prestigious AAA-Four Diamond resort. The historic main hotel on Lake George features 137 rooms, 54 of which are suites, all designed with Adirondack inspired décor.
Other room options include suites that line the rest of the property. We always stay in a spacious, lodge suite, located next to the main hotel, which included enough room for my daughter and wife, and included a small kitchen and deck with lakefront views. Our room was clean and ready on time for check in.The main hotel sits above both indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools with breathtaking views of Lake George. The resort also has its own boat, The Morgan, a 72-foot vessel, which brings guests out for a free 90-minute tour of the lake and the surrounding islands.
An emphasis on children’s activities, including a massive recreation center complete with miniature golf, ping pong, basketball, whiffle ball, and other games and activities organized by staff provide young kids with a vacation of their own. A bonfire with Smores and a horse drawn carriage around the property are all included amenities in your stay.
Eight restaurants on the property make it possible to throw your keys in your suitcase and stay on grounds and enjoy La Bella Vita Italian Restaurant, Pavilion, a waterfront seafood experience, Club Grill Steakhouse, Mr. Brown’s Pub, and other lighter, family friendly poolside dining options.
Legendary Golf course Architect Donald Ross designed The Sagamore’s golf course in 1928. Located 5 minutes away off the island.
While visiting I read this passage in a local guide to Lake George that summed up the hope of every family on summer vacation. “Long before David Geffen became a billionaire music mogul in Los Angeles, he was a kid from Brooklyn who summer vacationed camping with his family on one of the public islands of Lake George”
Geffen wrote, “If there is one thing that stands out in my mind about our yearly trips to Lake George, it’s probably that my family felt like more of a unit there than any other setting. At home in Brooklyn, it seemed like we rarely sat down together in the same room; my mother worked tirelessly at running her shop, my father’s job kept him very busy as well, and my brother and I behaved like typical kids, running in different directions.”
“Once we arrived and had pitched our tents, we had the chance to hang out together like a traditional family and get to know each other –for better or worse! I’ll always remember those camping trips as happy, wonderful, relaxing times,” wrote Geffen.
Our visit to The Sagamore was a welcome return to normal, and up to the same standards that we had enjoyed pre-COVID. My wife said that the views of Lake George, the spanning poolside and waterfront dining, reminded her of the Caribbean. And my daughter enjoyed the sights, sounds, games, and activities of Lake George Village, that are only 15 minutes away.
Visit thesagemore.com for more information.
