Historic Downtown

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way — things I had no words for." - Georgia O'Keefe For a small village, Saranac Lake is fortunate to have more than its fair share of talented local artists, plus galleries to view their work. Whether you're interested in painting, photography, jewelry, or simply curious to see some of... [Read More]

There is an old lady in Saranac Lake loved by everyone. She is famous, infamous, and in spiffy shape for her age; she's seen a lot of activity in her 92 years. She's the Hotel Saranac  — known as Hot Sara to many locals — and she is the perfect base for your fall vacation in Saranac Lake. [img:sl-1.jpg] Hotel Saranac was built in 1927, full of modern conveniences and unusual architectural... [Read More]

What to Expect The Saranac Laboratory Museum is open year-round Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Admission is $7, students pay $5, and children 12 and under are free. Visitors typically spend 30 minutes to one hour exploring the museum. Exhibits are self-guided, however staff is always on hand to help guide visitors through the exhibits and answer any questions. While at the... [Read More]

There’s nothing more Saranac Lake than Third Thursday ArtWalks. Every third Thursday in June through September, the galleries open their doors and showcase their artwork. Art and oftentimes the artists who created it literally spill onto the streets from 5-7:30 p.m. There’s music and laughter everywhere, providing a lively backdrop to the positive energy and celebration of all... [Read More]

Saranac Lake is a beautiful conglomeration of mountains and people. The downtown captures this essence in a wonderful way — eclectic eateries are interspersed among art galleries, music is on everyone’s mind, and mountains and lakes play peek-a-boo from behind the historic architecture. People visit for a lot of reasons, but they always find more than they expected while they... [Read More]

As I got ready for my thrift shop expedition, my husband cautioned me, "Now don't go crazy." I don't know why he is always asking this of me. I consider my enjoyments to be springing from enthusiasm, and there's nothing wrong with enthusiasm. Like in the photo above, where I found a beautiful purple coat for only three dollars. Who wouldn't be excited about that? The... [Read More]

Lets do this! With less than a week until Christmas, its time to check those final things off your gift list. In Saranac Lake, shopping downtown offers a low-pressure experience and so many different options. Plus, smaller stores mean shorter lines. So, go! Find the ideal gift, make it meaningful…and get back to enjoying the holiday season. Here are six gifts for those types... [Read More]

I love the the Roaring Twenties. This was an amazing era in American history when what we think of as modern life really began. The Saranac Lake Laboratory Museum has a new exhibit which features the experience of staying at a 1920’s hotel. This activity, commonplace to most of us, was relatively new to people back then, along with cars, home appliances, and talking on the telephone. This... [Read More]

The talk on the streets is that "Hot Sara is back!" This joke references the only partly lighted sign that once stood atop Saranac Lake's tallest building: the Hotel Saranac. But a new era is dawning for this important part of the town: February 11, 2017 (the same day of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Gala Parade,) the new sign was lit up. It spells out the entire name. That's not all that is... [Read More]

Mexicans honor their dead relatives and friends during Dia de Muertos by visiting cemeteries, spending time with the souls of the departed and giving them offerings and saying prayers to them.My mom was a Spanish teacher, and she loved teaching her students about Day of the Dead this time of year, so I grew up hearing all about it. I was captivated by the idea of hanging out in the cemetery to... [Read More]

If we have a yen for history, we've come to the right place. Saranac Lake has both a celebrated backstory and a devoted group of fans. This makes our local history museum something special.There is the lab itself, which has exhibits detailing the decades when Saranac Lake was an international curing center. There's also the addition built during the Roaring Twenties, which houses rotating... [Read More]

SARANAC LAKE — The historic village of Saranac Lake is reopening tuberculosis cure facilities throughout the village.A subset of parents have decided not to vaccinate their children over the last few decades, often citing pseudoscience that suggests that vaccinations have horrible side effects like autism. They’re often referred to as anti-vaxxers.Because of that, tuberculosis, once a disease... [Read More]

I love shopping Saranac Lake's historic downtown. The recent holiday season lured me there, where I found unusual gifts for many of the folks on my list. They were all great hits for the recipients. Our historic downtown is pedestrian-friendly, with plenty of parking. There's an abundance of benches, dining spots, places for coffee and baked goodies, and a river running through the center of it... [Read More]

Saranac Lake is not the usual shopping. It's a real Adirondack browsing paradise. Instead of big, bustling, and impersonal, we are small, quiet, and very friendly. We offer some items which can be found nowhere else, because they are handcrafted by our own Adirondack artists and artisans.Many of our shopping opportunities are found in our scenic, walkable, historic downtown. Bounded on the north... [Read More]

One of the best ways to enjoy our Saranac Lake galleries is to attend an art opening. A gallery opening might sound intimidating, but don’t worry… our gallery openings are just like the Adirondacks:  easygoing, welcoming, and fun! They generally happen on Friday evenings, near the beginning of the month. I've put together four "insider" tips that will help... [Read More]

Get your groove on...The month of February in Saranac Lake kicks off with the longest running winter carnival in the USA. Saranac Lake Winter Carnival has grown over the years to a full-on 10-day celebration of everything winter and then some. Each year the winter carnival committee chooses a theme nearly a year ahead of time to give everyone involved a chance to come up with costumes, floats,... [Read More]

Updated: November 13, 2015When the weather gets chilly, the chilly turn caffeinated. It’s not just the coffee. Hot beverages, like chocolate or cider, are another famous Adirondack tradition we love to share.There’s something special about warming hands around a mug, and warming hearts around a good chat. If the blood is feeling a bit thin, pop into a place where the meal crowd has left, the... [Read More]

There are some great restaurants in Saranac Lake, but probably the most unique eatery (and one of my favorites!) is Eat ’n Meet Grill and Larder.[img:eatnmeetentrance.jpg]The Real Thing...Eat ’n Meet, located at 139 Broadway in Saranac Lake, is what owner John Vargo likes to call a “neighborhood joint.” He tries to produce the quality of food you’d get for $40 a plate in a nice restaurant, but... [Read More]

so much more than a beautiful viewTop things to do when you don't feel like being outsideWe love our Adirondack outdoors. We love our changeable mountain weather. But sometimes, they just don’t go together the way we planned it. Still, many weather challenges are not as daunting as they might appear.A misty day is easy to dress for and does not disturb a lovely walk in the woods. If it's a... [Read More]

Norman Bethune is a famous Saranac Lake artist. His most celebrated work was created here, in the Trudeau Cottage Sanitarium, where he was both a doctor, and a patient. He was also an inventor: the Bethune shears, for thoracic surgery, are still in use today. He was a humanitarian: his many medical patents were donated to the cause of socialized medicine. He was an innovator: he organized... [Read More]

Above:  Be sure to check out the video above, featuring the Saranac Lake Region portion of the 3 day 90-Miler Canoe Classic from Old Forge to Saranac Lake, finishing on Sunday, September 7 in Saranac Lake. By all accounts, September in Saranac Lake is a very busy time for events. The leaves have barely begun to show colors at this point and as they do change, there'll be several events... [Read More]

Saranac Lake has an extraordinary place in its history, tucked between the lumbering and ice harvesting of its earliest times to the lure of its gorgeous scenery in the present. At the turn of the 20th Century, it was a world famous center for tuberculosis care (known as Taking the Cure) and research.While there were many local sanatoriums, some people were able to “take the cure” in a private... [Read More]

Here are just a few of the events happening around Saranac Lake in the next few weeks.  Don't forget you can use your mobile to also search for more events and nearby restaurants, lodging and activities and attractions.ARTS IN THE REGIONArts are a large part of our summer event offerings here in the Saranac Lake area. Every week there are a multitude of cultural events for everyone to choose... [Read More]

it's all about the bloomWhen Spring hits the Saranac Lake Region we know Daffest isn’t too far off!  Initiated a few years ago, Daffest has grown into a community family event consisting of many smaller events within Daffest.  The spectacular, sweeping Daffodil plantings have been expanded every year so the displays within the Village have become quite amazing when they bloom in... [Read More]

Building with IceSaranac Lake's Winter Carnival is a wonderful Adirondack festival. One of the strongest attractions happens even before Carnival officially begins. That would be the building of each year's Ice Palace.Festivities began back at the turn of the century, when Saranac Lake was already established as an internationally famous wellness center. Between winter enthusiasts,... [Read More]

Art & Dining = Blue Moon CafeFood and art go hand in hand. A glass of wine, a plate of cheese and crackers, and an oil painting says gallery opening to us. But what about adding a caesar salad, or salmon and cream cheese on a bagel? We can have it all… at the Blue Moon Cafe in Saranac Lake. While the saying is “once in a blue moon,” we can enjoy this local dining favorite every day. At Blue... [Read More]

While the leaves are busy beginning to change for our annual Adirondack Fall spectacle, think about joining in on one of our regional events. Saranac Lake will be alive with many cultural and historic events during the next couple of weeks.A most popular weekly summer event comes to a close with the final Third Thursday Art Walk on September 19th.  Galleries and sidewalks come alive with... [Read More]

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As the skies clear and a mid-July weekend approaches, area visitors and residents alike will be entertained by numerous fun events and cultural offerings this coming weekend.Take a drive over to The Adirondack Interpretive Center in Paul Smiths to check out their Birds of Prey Demonstration with Mark Manske. Spend Saturday afternoon immersed in the lives of birds of prey. Mark Manske of... [Read More]