This blog was written by guest blogger Lauren Breedlove.
A winter getaway with all things cozy? Say less.
Picture this: you’ve just won your second game of Scrabble by the fire. A steaming hot toddy sits on the coffee table as a reward. Slow, fat snowflakes fall from the sky, and you’re happily exhausted from your cross-country ski session this morning. This is cozy season at its finest, brought to life in the Adirondacks. Filled with small towns, cabins and lodges, and endless terrain to play on, the Hamilton County region offers the perfect winter wonderland pairings to make the most of the coziest time of year.
Cabin life and winter festivals
Cabins, camps, and cottages are the local way to stay when visiting the Adirondacks, and what better time than winter for a comfy little getaway? With a handful of fun winter festivals to attend throughout the county, it’s a fantastic time to book that cabin escape, for days spent enjoying the festive activities and nights in a warm cabin by the fire or in a hot tub catching snowflakes on your tongue.
In mid-January, Long Lake’s Winter Carnival celebrates the season with lighthearted games like broomball and the famous cardboard sled races before everyone gathers around a bonfire and watches the annual fireworks show. In February, when we’re in the thick of winter’s deep freeze and snowy days, there’s a festival for that. Winter Wonderland Week takes place in Long Lake February 12–26, with family-friendly activities each day such as guided ski tours and scavenger hunts.
Raquette Lake puts on an annual Winter Carnival in mid-February as well, with everything from frying pan tossing, chainsaw competitions, and fireworks. Save the date (February 27) for Inlet’s Frozen Fire & Lights festival, held at Fern Park. The small town celebrates winter in a big way with cardboard sled and outhouse races, snowshoeing, skiing, ice skating, and a bonfire where the night sky is illuminated by colorful fireworks. Oh, and did we mention the free hot dogs?
After paying homage to winter at our local festivals, there’s nothing better than returning to your snug cabin and reminiscing about the day’s events by the fire.
Lodges, inns, board games & books
If you prefer a more hotel-like stay but still have that rustic Adirondack charm, the region is host to many lodges and inns, which pair nicely with your board game of choice; many of these accommodation types have their own selections for guests to use. The four-season Lake Pleasant Lodge in Speculator has eight rooms and magnificent views of the mountain-fringed lake. You can, of course, take advantage of the area’s top winter activities, like ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing, or hit the downhill slopes at nearby Oak Mountain. With limited daylight in the winter months, it’s also nice to have a cozy evening activity planned, like playing a game of UNO or channeling your inner wordsmith with Scrabble. Perhaps your idea of winter relaxation is diving into the pages of a good book. BYOB (bring your own book), or peruse the lodge or inn’s library nook.
The Woods Inn on Fourth Lake is walkable to the adorable town of Inlet, with spectacular views from the property. They also have a couple of different common spaces stocked with board games, a pool table, and a library for evenings well-spent.
The Inn on Piseco Lake (also referred to as The Irondequoit Inn) has cabins and renovated inn rooms available during the winter season, as well as an on-site restaurant. Days can be spent romping outdoors in the snow, and then warming up at the inn with some of their house board games, cards, and puzzles, challenging someone to ping-pong, foosball, or air hockey in their basement game room, or reading a book from their lending library.
Leisurely dinner & drinks
Dinner and drinks go hand in hand, and winter is a wonderful excuse to linger over a lovely meal in wintertime, clinking glasses with loved ones. At Speculator’s Oak Mountain, you can enjoy an après-ski dinner and drinks without even leaving the slopes at the Acorn Pub and Eatery. The cozy eatery offers weekend specials and MexEcono night on Thursdays.
The Oxbow Inn is an institution in Lake Pleasant, where you’ll be welcomed as a local. There is direct access to the snowmobile trail, making it a popular stop. Indulge in their weekly specials like the fish fry on Fridays, prime rib on Saturdays, and pizza and wings on Sundays, and saddle up to their horseshoe-shaped bar for a cocktail.
The Raquette Lake Tap Room is a hotspot for locals, and the warm atmosphere pairs perfectly with flowing drinks and their delicious home-cooked food with daily specials focused on comfort food… ideal for cozy season.
The Adirondack Hotel in Long Lake is one of those spots where you can just tell that the walls hold so many stories. The snug atmosphere of the historic, family-owned Victorian Room restaurant makes it easy to linger while dining, particularly thanks to the fireplace and early-1900s decor. An extensive food and beverage menu will please most appetites.
The region’s small towns and hamlets become their coziest version of themselves in the winter months. Take advantage and pick your pairings for the ultimate relaxing winter getaway.
