Interstate 87: The Adirondack Northway

"Lake George is without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw; formed by a contour of mountains into a basin thirty-five miles long and from two to four miles broad, finely interspersed with islands, its water limpid as crystal and the mountain-sides covered with rich groves of silver fir, white pine, aspen and paper birch down to the water..."     ~Thomas Jefferson

Lake George is a fine fresh water lake and a very popular resort village. Next to Lake Placid, it is the best known and most popular vacation spot in New York State and New England too. It is also the first town in the Adirondack Park you will enter northbound on the Northway. it's southern boundary with the town of Queensbury is also the park boundary, approximately milepost 54. The Lake itself is part of an ancient sea channel that once was composed of the Hudson River, Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River that split anything south and east of them into a huge island. But that was filled in during the ice age leaving only fresh water rivers and lakes, but both the lower Hudson and St. Lawrence Rivers are tidal. The lake is 32 miles long and three miles wide and much of it, mainly on the east shore, is unspoiled state forest land. Even the two exits from our Adirondack Northway, Exits 20 & 21, are scenic too. They have steep grades, lush vegetation and the hills in the background, unlike the previous twenty odd exits that can best be described as utilitarian. The village has all sorts of motels, restaurants, tourist attractions, recreation, Fort William Henry, golf courses and much more, just like any good beach town community. In the summer, it is a jam packed place and the destination for vacationers far and wide.