Experience the Winter Wonderland of the Adirondacks for the Holidays

Are you looking for a unique way to spend the holidays? If you are, you might consider heading to the Adirondack Mountains to view their natural winter wonderland and take part in their many Christmas events and winter festivals.  The mountains encompass more than 6 million acres. There are more than 3,000 lakes and ponds and 30,000 miles of rivers. For the hiker, there are more than 2,000 marked trails, many of which are open in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. This mountainous area also has numerous small towns that love to decorate and celebrate the holidays. Let’s take a look at what makes the Adirondack Mountains a great place to get away for the holidays.

Start Your Holiday Vacation at the Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK)

The Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) boasts the longest runway in the mountain region. It’s located four miles northwest of Saranac Lake. Runway 05/23 is 6,573 feet long and 150 feet wide. That’s long enough to land a Gulfstream 650. Runway 09/27 is 3,997 feet long and 100 feet wide.

The airport is equipped with an all-weather ILS, and major airframe and powerplant services are available. There is no oxygen. Pilots can purchase Jet-A and 100LL. The airport amenities include tie-downs, hangar rentals, free Wi-Fi, a pilot lounge, and coffee. Rental cars and ground transportation are available, and there’s also an on-site cafe.

Choose a Region for Adventure

The Adirondack Mountains are divided into 10 regions, which all have their unique features. If you’re looking for lots of wilderness, you’ll want to head to Experience Our Adirondacks. If you want to stay close to the airport, you might choose Lake Placid. Other regions include the Adirondack Seaway, the Adirondack Coast, the Adirondack Tug Hill, the Adirondack Hub Region, Always Franklin, the Whiteface Region, the Lake Champlain Region, and the Lake George Area.

Make Your First Holiday Stop Saranac Lake

Saranac Lake is just four miles from SLK, which makes it the perfect first stop for a winter holiday vacation. Not to mention, they love the holidays in Saranac. December is full of Christmas events. ‘The Sparkle Village Craft Show and Sale’ will run from 4 PM until 9 PM on December 5th and from 10 AM until 3 PM on December 6th. ‘Light Up Saranac Lake’ is also on December 5th and includes a tree house lighting ceremony at 6:30 PM and Santa visiting from 7 PM until 9 PM. The ‘Hometown Hop and Shop’ is on December 13th, and the ‘North County New Year Fair’ is held on December 31st.

Once you’ve participated in your favorite events, there are lots of places in Saranac Lake to grab a bite to eat. Some local and visitor favorites include Early Dawn Confections, Origin Coffee, The 1892 Bar and Grill, and the Campfire Adirondack Bar & Grill.

Early Dawn Confections is known for its amazing donuts. Origin Coffee serves excellent drip coffee, cold brew, cappuccinos, mochas, and lattes. If you’re looking for breakfast items, you may want to try their biscuits, granola, breakfast burritos, or cinnamon rolls.

The 1892 Bar and Grill is known for its wonderful ambiance and amazing food. Some visitor favorites include jalapeno poppers, burgers, meatloaf, steaks, and chicken. The Campfire Adirondack Bar & Grill is known for its excellent venison chili, seasonal soups, chicken wings, Cornish hens, lamb shanks, and burgers.

Stop In and Check Out the Lake Placid Region

Lake Placid is best known for hosting the Olympics in 1932 and 1980 and being the title of a horror movie about a giant crocodile. While Lake Placid may seem like a place designed for only athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, or famous actors, anyone can vacation there. Lake Placid is known for its scenic location in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Visitors can enjoy stunning mountain views, and there’s plenty to do. Start your stay by booking one of the hotels or resorts, like The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort or the Lake Placid Lodge.

The Golden Arrow Lodge is pet-friendly and environmentally friendly. They have an indoor pool, a hot tub, and a sauna. WiFi is available, and the rooms come with refrigerators, hairdryers, and coffee makers. The lodge even has a restaurant where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

If you like the rustic look and feel of a traditional mountain lodge, you’ll love The Lake Placid Lodge. They boast that none of their rooms are the same, but they all offer a cozy cabin vibe. Guests can choose from one of the five rooms inside the main lodge, one of the overlook rooms that flank the lodge, a lakeside suite, or one of the relaxing cabins.

Lake Placid also hosts many events during the holiday season. One local and guest favorite event is the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll. This event runs from December 12 to December 14 and includes a scavenger hunt.

If you love ice skating, you’ll want to make your way over to the Olympic Rink on Friday, December 12, from 5 PM until 6:30 PM. On Saturday, patrons can take part in holiday card-making, photos with Santa, wine tasting, and a tree lighting. On Sunday, the Palace Theater is showing Polar Express at 11 AM. Guests can enjoy free cookies and cocoa with Santa at 11:30 AM, and the annual Christmas Concert at the Adirondack Community Church will start at 3 PM.

Experience Our Adirondacks

Experience Our Adirondack encompasses Hamilton County, New York, and it’s a favorite for enjoying the holidays. The areas within the county include Blue Mountain Lake, Wells, Hope and Benson, Speculator and Lake Pleasant, Indian Lake, Piseco, Arietta and Morehouse, Inlet, Long Lake, and Raquette Lake.

View a Real Winter Wonderland in Hamilton County

If you love snow and holiday spirit, you’ll love Speculator. It’s located on the coast of Lake Pleasant. This year, their annual fair, the Oak Mountain Holiday Fair, will be held on December 6, 2025, at 141 Novosel Way, starting at noon. The fair includes a vendor and craft market, a camp store, live music, and Santa’s Workshop, and if you feel like testing your skill, stop by the carnival games. It’s holiday fun for all ages. After the fair, many people choose to head over to the Acorn Pub and Brewery.

Go Ice Skating at Long Lake

Long Lake is known for its 14 miles of lakeshore and many miles of hiking and snowmobiling trails. However, there’s more to do in Long Lake during the holidays, especially in December. December 6 is Lunch with Santa from 11 AM until 1 PM at the Long Lake Town Hall. The Community Chorus Christmas Concert is on Sunday, December 14. It will be held at the United Calvary Methodist Church. If you’re planning to stay through the new year, check out the Winter Carnival on January 17, 2026, at the Mt. Sabattis Gelgor Arena.

Ice skaters can enjoy the town rink. It’s located at the Geiger Arena. It’s open to the public on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The free sledding hill is located next to the arena on Mt. Sabattis.

Once you’re done ice skating, sledding, or snowmobiling, you might consider heading into the Long View Lodge. The Long View Lodge has wonderful hotel rooms and a restaurant. The hotel part of the lodge has standard kings, standard queens, two queen rooms, two queen suites, and cabins that are pet-friendly.

If you’re in the mood for a hot meal, stop by the restaurant. Their menu includes guacamole with house-fried chips, Swedish meatballs, chicken wings and tenders, pork pozole, dinner salad, apple salad, shrimp rolls, ribeye steaks, bacon burgers, pot pies, creamed spinach, and seasoned fries.

Winter Activities in the Adirondacks

No matter where you celebrate the holidays in the Adirondacks, you’ll be able to participate in a plethora of winter activities. If you’re looking to go skiing or snowboarding, you’ll want to head on over to Oak Mountain or Mount Pisgah. It is said that the best snowmobiling is found on the Adirondack Tug Hill and around Saranac Lake. Winter hiking is also popular across the region. However, it’s recommended to hike with snowshoes or on cross-country skis.

The Adirondack Mountains are a winter wonderland. The area typically gets its first snow in October or November. The area receives about 90 inches of snow each year, with some areas, like Old Forge and the Whiteface Mountain Base, receiving up to 175 inches. With all that snow, it’s easy to see why it’s a popular destination for the holidays.