Mikey and I were fortunate to go to the Adirondacks in upstate New York over a long 4th of July weekend. My cousin, Erin, had her wedding reception there, and we decided to make a vacation of it. Lake George is a very large lake with a ton of accommodation choices. Fortunately, I happened to pick a bed & breakfast that was about a half-hour drive away from Lake George Village, which is exceedingly touristy. There are certain vacations in which I enjoy tourist traps, but vacationing on a picture-perfect lake is not one of those times. I prefer serene and scenic to lively and loud.
Our bed & breakfast was very cute, although I don't think Mikey will agree to stay in another bed & breakfast anytime soon. They don't allow children under 12, which is fine by us. The only exception to this rule is the very young, very loud grandchildren of the owners. We were awakened both mornings they were in town, once by a kid banging on a piano around 7:00 a.m. Plus, it truly felt like we were sneaking into our parents' house every night. We got home way after everyone else went to bed every night, and we tip-toed up to our room, cringing with every floorboard creak.
The first night, we went out to a bar with Erin, her husband Walter and a few of their friends. We got there a day before just about everyone else going to the wedding, so it was the perfect time to catch up with the bride and groom and to get acclimated to the area.
We spent a lot of time at Walter's parents' house over our four days there. They are the most hospitable family you could imagine. Their house is situated in a beautiful spot on the lake, and we spent a great deal of time enjoying the view, listening to old stories, and eating fantastic food. We went on a tandem kayak our first morning. It was a great introduction to the lake. We also went on two hikes, one of which was on our own. It took us about 45 minutes to get up to a gorgeous lake...and then the skies opened up, and the thunder & lightning seemed to be chasing us. We literally ran down every part of the trail that wasn't too steep or full of rain-coated rocks. It only took us 20 minutes to get down. The other hike took longer, but we were able to go with Walter's brother and his wife, as well as four of their family friends. It was nice to see the area with people who have lived there and spent a lot of time on the trails.
The actual wedding reception was on a boat called the Adirondac on Friday evening. It rained much of the day, including while we were loading on the boat. But then somehow, just for Erin and Walter, the skies cleared, and it was gorgeous. We went to the top deck before the boat launched, and we stayed up there until about 20 minutes after they told us dinner was served. It was so pretty that I didn't want to leave, even though I was freezing. After dinner, we were treated to the sounds of a really talented live band. Needless to say, Mikey and I cut a rug until the boat docked.
On Saturday afternoon, we headed to the Sagamore, a beautiful, historic hotel in Bolton Landing. It really is worth it to drive out there and sit on the veranda for a drink. It was especially enjoyable because 1. It was 7/7/07, so there were FIVE weddings going on that evening, and we got to watch everyone pass by and 2. We went with my aunt Jan and my cousin Brooke's soon-to-be-mother-in-law, Louise. They are both great fun, and we laughed quite a bit. That evening, we went with the remaining wedding guests to a barbecue that featured a truly spectacular private fireworks show. It was handled by a professional fireworks company, and everything was set up about 30 yards from where we were laying in the grass. I haven't ever experienced anything like that. It was too cool.
Although the activities were fun and the landscapes were beautiful, my absolute favorite aspect of the trip was reconnecting with family. I have three cousins on my dad's side, and we hung out so much as kids. It's been a long time since we spent any significant amount of time together, and it was such a treat to see everyone and find out what their lives are like.
Another result of the trip is my resolve to buy a fancy camera and start learning how to manipulate it to get the pictures I want. I have always loved taking pictures, and I think it's time for me to make a full-fledged hobby out of it. So everyone--get ready for me to start annoying you even more than usual with my ever-present flash!
And as I said in the beginning...visit the Adirondacks. You won't regret it!
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