Lake George

With kids

Pick two: a cruise, the fort, the beach, Expedition Park (reopened for 2026), or Great Escape. Trying all of it in one day with kids ends badly.

With teenagers

Adirondack Extreme's treetop courses in Bolton Landing (ages 9+), the arcades, Great Escape.

As a couple

Bolton Landing is the quieter base — 10 miles up the lake with its own beaches and restaurants. Dinner cruise on the Lac du Saint Sacrement books out on peak weekends.

Main reasons to visit

• Lake George Steamboat Company — Sightseeing, lunch, dinner, and fireworks cruises on three boats — including the paddlewheeler Minne Ha Ha — from the Steel Pier. Full 2026 season, May–October. (May–October)
• Million Dollar Beach — The state-run beach at the south end of the lake — lifeguards, volleyball, picnic tables, walkable to the village. Beach free; parking $10/car. (Late May – Labor Day, typically 10–6) · Free; parking $10 · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Fort William Henry — Reconstructed French and Indian War fort with musket and cannon demonstrations on the site of the 1757 siege. Tickets are good for two consecutive days — also the best rainy-day anchor in town. (May–October, 9:30–6:30 in season) · $19.95 adult / $9 ages 5–15 · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Prospect Mountain highway — A 5.5-mile drive to a 2,030-ft summit with 100-mile views — the no-hike summit. Open daily May 23–Nov 11, 2026, weather permitting; per-car fee at the gate. (May 23 – Nov 11, 2026) · Per-car fee (bring cash; posted rate predates 2026) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• The Great Escape & Hurricane Harbor — The big amusement and water park on Route 9 — sold by Six Flags this year but operating normally under new owners, with existing tickets honored through 2026. (Daily from June 18, 2026) · not fully confirmed — check before going

With kids

• Lake George Steamboat Company — Sightseeing, lunch, dinner, and fireworks cruises on three boats — including the paddlewheeler Minne Ha Ha — from the Steel Pier. Full 2026 season, May–October. (May–October)
• Million Dollar Beach — The state-run beach at the south end of the lake — lifeguards, volleyball, picnic tables, walkable to the village. Beach free; parking $10/car. (Late May – Labor Day, typically 10–6) · Free; parking $10 · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Fort William Henry — Reconstructed French and Indian War fort with musket and cannon demonstrations on the site of the 1757 siege. Tickets are good for two consecutive days — also the best rainy-day anchor in town. (May–October, 9:30–6:30 in season) · $19.95 adult / $9 ages 5–15 · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Prospect Mountain highway — A 5.5-mile drive to a 2,030-ft summit with 100-mile views — the no-hike summit. Open daily May 23–Nov 11, 2026, weather permitting; per-car fee at the gate. (May 23 – Nov 11, 2026) · Per-car fee (bring cash; posted rate predates 2026) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Shepard Park — The free lakefront village park with an amphitheater and small beach — free summer concerts, and the spot to watch Thursday-night fireworks. · Free · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Adirondack Extreme (Bolton Landing) — Treetop aerial park with about two miles of ziplines, bridges, and swings; adult courses from age 9, kids' courses from 6. April–November, rain or shine. (April–November) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Lake George Expedition Park — Magic Forest's storybook rides plus the Dino Roar Valley animatronic dinosaur walk — reopened for 2026 after a year dark. Daily June 28–Sept 6, 10–5. (Daily June 28 – Sept 6, 2026)
• The Great Escape & Hurricane Harbor — The big amusement and water park on Route 9 — sold by Six Flags this year but operating normally under new owners, with existing tickets honored through 2026. (Daily from June 18, 2026) · not fully confirmed — check before going

Outdoors

• Lake George Steamboat Company — Sightseeing, lunch, dinner, and fireworks cruises on three boats — including the paddlewheeler Minne Ha Ha — from the Steel Pier. Full 2026 season, May–October. (May–October)
• Million Dollar Beach — The state-run beach at the south end of the lake — lifeguards, volleyball, picnic tables, walkable to the village. Beach free; parking $10/car. (Late May – Labor Day, typically 10–6) · Free; parking $10 · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Prospect Mountain highway — A 5.5-mile drive to a 2,030-ft summit with 100-mile views — the no-hike summit. Open daily May 23–Nov 11, 2026, weather permitting; per-car fee at the gate. (May 23 – Nov 11, 2026) · Per-car fee (bring cash; posted rate predates 2026) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Adirondack Extreme (Bolton Landing) — Treetop aerial park with about two miles of ziplines, bridges, and swings; adult courses from age 9, kids' courses from 6. April–November, rain or shine. (April–November) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Bolton Landing — The quieter hamlet 10 miles up the west shore — small shops, town beaches, marinas, and Sagamore views. A better base than the village if crowds aren't your thing. · not fully confirmed — check before going

Food & drink

• Bolton Landing — The quieter hamlet 10 miles up the west shore — small shops, town beaches, marinas, and Sagamore views. A better base than the village if crowds aren't your thing. · not fully confirmed — check before going

Shopping

• Bolton Landing — The quieter hamlet 10 miles up the west shore — small shops, town beaches, marinas, and Sagamore views. A better base than the village if crowds aren't your thing. · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Factory outlets (Route 9, Queensbury) — Four outlet centers clustered at Northway Exit 20 — the region's standard rainy-day and off-season shopping run.

Evenings

• Shepard Park — The free lakefront village park with an amphitheater and small beach — free summer concerts, and the spot to watch Thursday-night fireworks. · Free · not fully confirmed — check before going

Free or low-cost

• Million Dollar Beach — The state-run beach at the south end of the lake — lifeguards, volleyball, picnic tables, walkable to the village. Beach free; parking $10/car. (Late May – Labor Day, typically 10–6) · Free; parking $10 · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Shepard Park — The free lakefront village park with an amphitheater and small beach — free summer concerts, and the spot to watch Thursday-night fireworks. · Free · not fully confirmed — check before going

If it rains

• Fort William Henry — Reconstructed French and Indian War fort with musket and cannon demonstrations on the site of the 1757 siege. Tickets are good for two consecutive days — also the best rainy-day anchor in town. (May–October, 9:30–6:30 in season) · $19.95 adult / $9 ages 5–15 · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Factory outlets (Route 9, Queensbury) — Four outlet centers clustered at Northway Exit 20 — the region's standard rainy-day and off-season shopping run.

Getting there

About 2 hours from Utica · 2 hours 10 minutes from Rome · 1 hour 50 minutes from Herkimer (I-90 east to Albany, then I-87 north to exits 21–22 — about 115 miles)

Parking

Village pay-and-display lots run about $2/hr (enforced April–October); Million Dollar Beach parking is $10/day. Fireworks Thursdays fill lots early in the evening.

Reservations

Book dinner and fireworks cruises ahead on peak weekends; Fort William Henry recommends online tickets.

Cost

Fort William Henry $19.95 adult (good two consecutive days); Million Dollar Beach itself free with $10 parking; Shepard Park and the fireworks cost nothing.

Weather

Rainy day: the fort's museum, the Route 9 outlets, and the village arcades. It's a workable wet-weather town, unlike the beaches closer to home.

Seasonal notes

Prospect Mountain's per-car fee is collected at the gate — the posted amount predates 2026, so bring more than $10 in case
Summer Saturdays: expect slow going on Canada Street and full beach lots by late morning

Official links

Official site ↗ · Events calendar ↗