Travel Diaries: Old Forge, NY

Visiting Old Forge is a bit like coming home. The little hamlet just inside Adirondack Park has a vibe all its own, and it’s a longstanding tradition for our family, starting with my dad’s visits as a teenager in the 70’s. The small-town feels, the smell of balsam, the unique shops, the sunshine on the river, and the people-watching, I am convinced are like nowhere else.

We took an extended weekend trip up there a couple of weeks ago and had such a fun time. In this post, I’ll share with you some of my favorite things about Old Forge. Our trip was the perfect blend of relaxation and fun activities! Come escape with me to a place where you sense the lure of the wilderness and feast on the beauty of God’s handiwork.

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Although we have camped in the past (Nick’s Lake is our favorite, and we hear good reports of Limekiln Lake, which is near OF), this year my parents opted for an AirBnB. I mean, there are bears around and the campground doesn’t have electricity, so nobody protested that decision! The house we stayed at definitely had that Adirondack style on display.

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My favorite thing was the firepit in the back, where you could sit and watch the deer feeding in the side yard with the river beyond or stargaze at night.

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Old Forge’s biggest attraction is the Enchanted Forest Water Safari. While climbing mountains and kayaking is more our pace, the amusement water park does draw a ton of traffic on the summer weekends, so that’s something to be mindful of if you’re ever planning a visit. Sharing the space with Enchanted Forest is Calypso’s Cove, which has racecars and bumper boats. Since I can’t turn off the part of my brain that tells me hitting the gas pedal with everything I’ve got is not a good idea, I leave the racing to my siblings lol.

We don’t typically eat out a lot on vacation, but tradition calls for a stop at the Pied Piper for ice cream. You can get your ice cream and watch the traffic down Route 28 or go sit by Old Forge Pond and watch the sun sparkle on the water. While you’re there, make sure to walk through the iconic covered bridge.

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Another “food” tradition is to visit the Adirondack Pizzeria next to the Arcade. (And they do make really good pizza!) There’s also a grocery store, Diorio’s, in Old Forge if you forget anything or need to restock perishables.

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I highly recommend that you play a game of mini-golf at Nutty Putty while you’re there. It’s an old fashioned mini golf course, and has so many fun little challenges. It’s actually a part of somebody’s front yard! Our favorite time to go is in the evening, when playing in the lights just gives the best atmosphere.

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You have to wander Main Street, visiting all the little shops. From antiques to Adirondack furniture/decor to old books to boutiques, these shops have it all. Dragonfly Cottage has curated some of the most random but unique antiques and collectibles. It’s a whimsical little shop. Cedar Mountain is another fave. If you want souvenir clothing, the best prices are at the Ace Hardware (and of course it carries hardware too).

Candy Cottage is an old-fashioned candy shop, and it always smells incredible in there. They even have a little mechanical horse that kids can ride for a quarter. That one is definitely worth a stop for some chocolate.

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Another of my favorites is Moose River Trading Co., a little off the beaten track (it has lots of clothing and jewelry and Adirondack decor). If you’re an outdoors enthusiast, Mountain Man is a must, with outdoor gear, clothing, equipment, and guidebooks.

But the (albeit very expensive) Crown Jewel of the Old Forge shopping experience is…Old Forge Hardware. You have to visit it to know what I mean. That place is truly an experience in itself. I always have to wander the creaky floorboards upstairs to look down on the town, browse through all the kitchen dishes and decor, and lose myself in a book for a few minutes. It’s like an old general store, department store, and genuine hardware store all wrapped up in one.

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A day in town is always fun but there’s so many outdoorsy things to do too! The first morning we were there, we took a hike at Moss Lake. It’s a relatively easy hike (you could do with kids) around a gorgeous jewel of a lake. It took us about an hour and a half at a leisurely pace, with some stops to explore.

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Which brings us to Inlet, a nearby town. If you go, be sure to get an ice cream at the Northern Lights and wander down onto the boardwalk to sit by Fourth Lake. It was a happening place when we were there, and the lake was at its best, sapphire blue reflecting the sky. There are some cute shops to visit as well if you’re interested.

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For mountain climbing, there are good number of peaks that are near Old Forge. Bald Mountain is a more difficult hike. It’s quick but there are some rocky parts and it is quite steep. The view at the top is stunning, and there’s a fire tower you can climb for an even better lookout over the layers of mountains and the Fulton Chain of Lakes. (Not super kid friendly.)

Rocky Mountain is definitely easier and also pretty quick. It has a large, flat area to sit on at the top and enjoy the view.

McCauley Mountain is the best in my opinion. The hike itself is short and intense, but what I like is that since it’s a skiing point, you can take the chairlift ($20/adult) up to the top. On a clear day, you can see Mount Marcy and Whiteface Mountain, the highest peaks in the ADKs, in the distance. You’ll want to wander from point to point to take it all in! I wish the ride down would last forever—the view is so beautiful!

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Old Forge is the jumping-off point for much of the Adirondacks, so you can always make day trips out from there as well! One thing to be aware of if you’re traveling up there: the closest ER is about an hour either way in Lowville or Utica, and as of right now there’s no Urgent Care in Old Forge, although there is emergency transportation if needed. (We learned all of this the hard way, but that’s a story for another day!)

Another way to enjoy the local scenery is to take the Adirondack Railroad from the Thendara station on one of the short trips nearby.

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Nearest and dearest to my heart on any travels, though, is the opportunity to spend time in the beautiful work of my Creator. Walking the back roads (it’s so fun to look at all of the homes and cottages!) and kayaking on Moose River, sitting by the river for some quiet time, watching the sunset cast its glow on the still waters, or the mist rising in the morning—those are the most beautiful, peaceful moments that I treasure.

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So while there is much to see and do, I would urge you to do a little (safe) exploring on your own. (If you don’t have your own kayak, Mountain Man offers rentals.) The deer are very fearless, so you may well get an up close look at a mama deer and her twin fawns. Just take time to be still and enjoy the beauty. When I’m up there, I always feel the pull of the mysterious wilderness that lies beyond—seemingly endless lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains!

I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into a lovely part of creation. Thanks for joining me!

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