It’s never too early to start planning your next adventure. In fact, campsites often fill up before summer even begins!
Check out these itineraries for a few of my personal favorite destinations to have the best NY summer this year!
1. Thacher Park
John Boyd Thacher State Park, locally known as Thacher Park, is located about a half hour away from Albany, New York.
It’s the perfect weekend getaway for Capital Region residents who don’t want to drive too far out of town.
There’s a little something for everyone, especially for families, casual hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
If you’re wanting to get away for the weekend, I recommend camping at Thompson’s Lake, a New York State campground about 10 minutes away from the park.
Thompson’s Lake amenities include a public beach, kayak rentals, playground, and well kept bathrooms with showers. Perfect location for families with children looking for a campground that will keep them occupied.
Reserve here.
There is plenty to do outside of the campground!
Hike: Spend the day exploring all the trails Thacher Park has to offer. Indian Ladder trail is a short loop hike with spectacular waterfall views.
Visit the parks website for more information on trails and amenities (https://parks.ny.gov/parks)
Picnic: Bring a packed lunch and picnic at Thacher. They have tons of picnic tables, grills, and vast open fields for kids to run around in.
Climb:
Did you know that you can rock climb the cliffs at Thacher Park? All you need is a permit!
Obviously this opportunity is for experienced sport climbers who have all of the proper gear.
You MUST have a permit before you climb. Click here to get a permit.
Not an experienced climber? Don’t worry!
Just five minutes down the road from the Thacher park entrance is Wild Play, a zipline and obstacle course for kids and adults. No experience required!
Visit their website to view their rates and open availability (https://www.wildplay.com/thacher).
2. The Adirondack Loj
I had an absolute blast camping at the ADK Loj in the summer of 2022, definitely the highlight of the year.
My friends and I were looking for a place to stay near the trailhead so we could hike Wright, Algonquin, and Iroquois early the next morning.
This campsite was perfect. There are so many trails leading directly from the campground.
Camp: The campsite is very well maintained and is centrally located in the heart of the Adirondacks. Since it is located on Heart Lake, campers can access the beach for swimming and paddling (boat rentals on site).
There's nothing more refreshing than swimming in a mountain lake after a long hike.
Find more information here.
Hike: There are so many different hikes available for both experienced and moderate hikers. The hikes I’ve done from the Loj include: Street, Nye, Wright, Algonquin, Iroquois, Jo, and Avalanche Pass.
There is a parking fee if you park in the Loj lot: $15 for a full day for non-members. A half day is $7.
Find more trails from the Loj, look here.
Sunset Hike: Mt. Jo is the perfect short hike with amazing views, especially for watching the sunset.
I’m usually hesitant on doing sunset hikes, because I don’t want to climb down in the dark, but that’s not an issue with this trail since it’s so short.
It took maybe 30-45 minutes to climb up, watch the sunset, and get down the mountain and back to our campsite before it was completely dark (bring a headlamp or flashlight just in case).
Check out the alltrails link in the section above for more trail details.
3. Wellesley Island (Thousand Islands Region)
I loved the campground at Wellesley Island State Park so much that I booked the exact same site two years in a row!
Wellesley Island is located in northwestern New York, near the Canadian border, and is one of the thousand in the St. Lawrence River.
Campsites range between $18-$36/night, with an additional $5/night for non-NYS residents.
This park also offers cabins which run between $294-$322 for the week.
Make a reservation here.
The campground has everything you need: nice bathrooms and showers, a camp store, beach, nature center, hiking trails, paths for biking, and plenty of campsites on the water (a must for me).
You can rent pontoon boats at Mac’s Boat Rental. Unfortunately, you have to leave the island and head to the mainland, but it’s totally worth it to spend a day on the water.
The Thousand Island Region truly lives up to its name and spending a day on the St. Lawrence allows you to experience the area's surreal beauty.
There is a bike and kayak rental as well at a shop called Boomerang located on the southwestern part of the island. Learn more and check out rates here.
4. Keene, NY
Some of my favorite summer memories were made in Keene.
Below is my itinerary to spend a perfect day in the cutest little town in the Adirondacks.
Most people head to Keene for the High Peaks, but it’s also a great swimming hole destination.
Next time you’re in the area check out these amazing spots:
Chapel Pond - serene little spot with a small beach, perfect place to relax after a long hike (bring your tube!)
Split Rock Falls - for the more adventurous, check out Split Rock Falls for some cliff jumping
Five Mountain Loop Trailhead - a true hidden gem, enjoy swimming in some calm waterfall pools
Hit up Old Mountain Coffee for all of your caffeine needs to get you through the day!
If you get hungry, Noon Mark Diner is a great place for a satisfying meal.
5. Lake George
Lake George has literally everything. Mini golf, parasailing, swimming, kayaking, boating, arcades, bowling, you name it.
It’s a beautiful destination with so many tourist attractions.
I park at Million Dollar Beach and walk to wherever I’m interested in going for the day.
Usually, I start my day in Lake George by getting coffee at Caffe Vero and doing a lap around the main strip hopping in and out of shops.
For lunch, if you want a great lakeside view, I would recommend eating at the Boardwalk Restaurant and Marina.
After lunch I like to treat myself and buy rolled ice cream from Alif Cafe. Very friendly staff and delicious ice cream.
You could spend a week in Lake George and not run out of things to do.
Visit https://www.lakegeorge.com/ to plan your visit!
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