Summer under the stars

Drive through any Hamilton County campground on a Saturday night in summer (whether it be  Moffitt Beach, Lewey Lake, or Lake Eaton, just to name a few) and one will be sure to find multiple families who have traded the comfort of their homes in exchange for epic starry nights, cracklin’ campfires, and those beautiful, yet surprisingly eerie early morning loon calls.

Many of these families have happily chosen this “weekend wilderness swap” for generations (like, lots of generations).

The annual tradition typically begins with the family sitting around the computer, joyfully picking one or two weekends for the upcoming summer, hoping to spend the weekend living outside by their favorite lake.

Once they find their campsite they request their dates and proceed to make their reservations online. And then, once all the booking madness is over, the weekend they have waited for all year is finally here!

Packing up their belongings like nomads, they strap their kayaks furiously on the roof of their car, prep themselves for whatever nature could possibly throw at them and excitedly head north, east, or west. All of the aforementioned roads lead directly to the gateway of the Southern Adirondacks right here in Hamilton County, NY.

The annual tradition continues in an effort to camp like their parents did, the way their parent’s parents did, and so on….and so on………………and……so……..on.

Whether it is “tradition in the making” or purely “tradition stubbornly continued," these weekend warriors really do have it all figured out:

“Camping creates a chance to reconnect to those people and things that actually matter by disconnecting from all of the noise one leaves behind.” - An old camping pro

Once campers get to their woodsy destination, they set their campsite up in meticulous fashion and all of their continued traditions come alive. Tiki torches seem to spring up out of nowhere and rain tarps are hung in the same methodical fashion as “Dad” used to hang them (‘cause you know….drainage).

Bait and tackle for catching the “big one” is bought from local corner stores like Inlet Department Store or Hoss's Country Corner in Long Lake.  Amazingly, the folks behind the counter at these locations may not know the names of their previous customers year over year, but,  more likely than not, they will certainly recognize those who walk through the door. 

Firewood is bought down the street from the “same little stand we’ve been buying from for years now.”  Groceries, ice, pies, and general last minute items all bought from local retailers like Charlie Johns Store in Speculator, NY. 

Oh, and most importantly, campers remembered to have some extra cash on hand, just in case they feel like stopping by Donuts and More on their way back to the campsite!

Ahh but alas, warm and graced by the sun, the weekend certainly flies by, filled with countless retellings of days gone by while new memories (and new, soon-to-be old stories) were made.

The relaxing moments of sitting around the campfire to end the night have all but come to an end (for this year that is).

Hamilton County, NY boasts a variety of locations perfectly moulded for a weekend away under the stars. 13 NYS DEC Campgrounds (Department of Environmental Conservation) to be precise,  all of which offer something a little but unique to their guests. 

A full list of these amazing New York State Run Facilities can be found online.

Don't forget to explore shopping, dining options, and more adventures for your visit to Hamilton County!