The 10 best things to do in Lake George, NY

Most people picture Lake George in July, but plenty keeps going after the summer crowds leave. This list is for Saratoga County families and couples planning a day trip up the Northway and for visitors planning a weekend in any season. Seven of the ten picks are available into late fall or winter, and the three summer-only stops say when they reopen.

Most entries are in the Village or Town of Lake George, and two are a short drive north in the Town of Bolton. The mix runs from a steam-powered paddlewheeler and a summit road to a free contemporary art gallery, a treetop ropes course and a bowling center for rainy days. Our Lake George restaurants list covers where to eat.

How we chose

We looked for attractions, outdoor spots, museums and experiences with a steady local reputation and staying power, and we mixed seasons, ages and budgets. Each one was checked in late October 2026 against the place’s own website or the state or county agency in charge, and hours, seasons and prices come from those sources. Chain theme parks were left off. The list is unranked and in alphabetical order, and no business paid to be included.

Hours, prices and dates below come from each business or official source and change without notice. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.

Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course

Seventy-five treetop obstacles and 20 ziplines fill courses 1 through 4 at Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course, a park in the forest off Exit 24 of I-87 in Bolton. Tarzan swings and a long zipline over Alder Brook are part of the route. Children 6 and up get four kids’ courses, and parents can climb with them or walk the path below. Book ahead, because same-day spots are not guaranteed.

Hours and season: Fall season: Saturdays, Sundays and select weekdays through Nov. 7, 2026, reservations required; 2027 opening date not yet posted.

Address: 35 Westwood Forest Lane, Bolton Landing, NY 12814

Why they made the list

• Adult courses cost $55 for ages 9 and up, and the kids’ courses cost $40 for ages 6 and up, according to the park.
• Adult course climbers must reach 5 feet 9 inches with feet flat and arms raised.
• The Low Rider zip tour has 12 ziplines, including a 550-foot tandem line, according to Adirondack Extreme.

More details are in our directory listing.

Adirondack Winery

Seven pours for $15 make up a standard tasting at the Lake George tasting room of Adirondack Winery, a Canada Street storefront with a sidewalk cafe that looks across the street to the lake. The winery opened this room in 2008 and now makes more than 35 wines, from dry reds to fruit-infused bottles, plus hard ciders. Couples on a day trip fit right in. Plan ahead: there are no public restrooms or designated parking.

Hours and season: Lake George tasting room: Thu noon–5 p.m.; Fri noon–6 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sun 11:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; closed Mon–Wed.

Address: 285 Canada Street, Lake George, NY 12845

Why they made the list

• Each tasting includes seven 3/4-ounce pours of the guest’s choice, according to the winery.
• Well-behaved children are welcome, and the Lake George room has a Kids Corner with toys.
• Dogs are allowed on the outdoor patio, but only registered service dogs may come inside.

More details are in our directory listing.

Escape LG

A pirate’s brig, a 1925 speakeasy and a space mission are among the six 60-minute rooms at Escape LG on Canada Street in the village. Every booking is private, so a family never gets paired with strangers. Groups short on time can try one of three 15-minute mini escapes, at $15 a person with a $30 minimum. Children under 13 must play with an adult, and kids 5 and under are free.

Hours and season: Seasonal: open May through October, according to Escape LG; check the online booking calendar for times.

Address: 115 Canada Street, Lake George, NY 12845

Why they made the list

• A 60-minute room costs a minimum of $100 for two players and $35 per player for groups of three or more, according to Escape LG.
• What Happened in Raven Woods? is played in the dark and includes jump scares.
• Paid parking is on side streets west of Canada Street; arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.

More details are in our directory listing.

Fort William Henry Museum

Musket and cannon demonstrations bring the 1750s back at Fort William Henry Museum, a fort reconstructed from the original plans on the original footprint after local businessmen bought the land in the 1950s. Living history tours introduce British Regulars, Rangers and provincial troops. School-age kids and history fans get the most out of a visit. Admission is good for two consecutive days, so a split visit works.

Hours and season: Daily 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. through Oct. 31; Saturdays and Veterans Day in November; groups by appointment through December, according to the museum.

Address: 46 Canada Street, Lake George, NY 12845

Why they made the list

• French forces under Montcalm besieged the fort in August 1757, and the garrison surrendered on Aug. 9, according to the museum.
• A Field of Flags display of more than 10,000 flags honoring veterans runs Nov. 4 to 11, 2026.
• Parking is in the lot at 46 Canada Street, a short drive from Exit 21 of I-87.

More details are in our directory listing.

Lake George Arts Project

Admission costs nothing at the Courthouse Gallery, where the Lake George Arts Project hangs eight contemporary exhibitions a year inside the Old County Courthouse. Founded in 1978, the organization gives preference to experimental work made within the past two years by emerging and established artists. Art lovers and anyone with a gray afternoon to fill will enjoy a stop. The gallery entrance is on the north side of the courthouse.

Hours and season: Courthouse Gallery is between shows and reopens Nov. 6 with “My Backyard” (through Dec. 12); Wed–Fri noon–5 p.m., Sat noon–4 p.m.; admission free.

Address: 1 Amherst Street, Lake George, NY 12845

Why they made the list

• Paintings by Laura Von Rosk in “My Backyard” hang Nov. 6 to Dec. 12, 2026, with an artist’s reception Nov. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m.
• The Arts Project also puts on Jazz at the Lake, a free jazz festival in Shepard Park each September.
• Free Wednesday night concerts run in July and August, according to the organization.

More details are in our directory listing.

Lake George Beach (Million Dollar Beach)

Families come to Lake George Beach (Million Dollar Beach) for lifeguarded swimming, a volleyball court and grills along the sand on Beach Road. NYS DEC runs the site, and the beach house has changing rooms, showers and restrooms. Leave the dog at home, since pets are banned at DEC day use areas. Off-season boaters can still use the launch next door, open from ice-out until the ice forms.

Hours and season: Closed for the season; DEC lists a swim season of May 23–Sept. 7, and the Lake George Regional Chamber says swimming typically opens Memorial Day weekend, with beach hours of 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Address: 139 Beach Road, Lake George, NY 12845

Why they made the list

• DEC charges $10 per car, $5 per motorcycle and $50 per bus to park.
• Swimming is allowed only in designated areas while a lifeguard is on duty.
• The launch has a dock, an inspection station and a boat wash, according to DEC.

More details are in our directory listing.

Lake George Lanes & Games

Rain on Route 9 matters little at Lake George Lanes & Games, where bowling lanes share the building with an Adirondack Fort laser tag arena, an arcade and an indoor playground with over 1,000 feet of slides and climbing. A grille and bar serve pub food. Galactic Bowling runs late on Friday and Saturday nights. Families can save with the $69.95 Family Fun Pack, which covers bowling, arcade credits, pizza and soda for four, though not during Galactic Bowling.

Hours and season: Open daily: Mon–Thu noon–9 p.m.; Fri noon–midnight; Sat 10 a.m.–midnight; Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Galactic Bowling Fri–Sat 9:30 p.m.–midnight.

Address: 2211 Canada Street, Lake George, NY 12845

Why they made the list

• Open bowling is $6 a game plus $4 for shoes, and laser tag is $6 a game.
• The State Health Department inspected the food service, listed as Lake George Bowl, on Sept. 22, 2026.

More details are in our directory listing.

Lake George Steamboat Company

Three large boats leave the Beach Road dock each season under the Lake George Steamboat Company, which the state legislature incorporated in 1817. The Minne Ha-Ha still runs on steam, with a calliope on her top deck powered by her own boiler. The schedule mixes shorter sightseeing cruises with dining and family cruises, so kids and couples both have options. Off-season, the ticket office answers questions on weekdays.

Hours and season: Closed for the season; the Minne Ha-Ha returns in May 2027, according to the company. Ticket office open weekdays 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Address: 57 Beach Road, Lake George, NY 12845

Why they made the list

• The Lac du Saint Sacrement, about 190 feet long, was christened in 1989, according to the company.
• The Minne Ha-Ha’s hull was launched in 1968, and daily service began on Aug. 1, 1969, according to the company.
• State Health Department records list food service inspections on all three boats in June and August 2026.

More details are in our directory listing.

Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway

For a summit without a long climb, the Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway winds 5.5 miles past three overlooks to a lot just below the 2,030-foot peak. NYS DEC describes a 360-degree view that reaches about 100 miles. Hikers can leave the car behind and take the 1.5-mile trail from Smith Street in the village, which gains 1,630 feet. Trailhead parking is limited, so arrive early.

Hours and season: Highway open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. through Nov. 11, 2026, weather permitting, according to the Lake George Regional Chamber, then closed until Memorial Day weekend; DEC posts no season for the Smith Street hiking trail.

Address: U.S. Route 9, Lake George, NY 12845

Why they made the list

• DEC charges $10 per car and $5 per motorcycle, and picnic tables and grills sit near the summit.
• DEC has led New Year’s Day hikes on the trail and warns that it typically has snow and ice in winter.

More details are in our directory listing.

Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center

About three miles of marked trails lead to a lookout over the lake at Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center, a Warren County nature center on Lake Shore Drive north of Bolton Landing. Kids can visit the live turtles in the farmhouse and try the augmented reality sandbox in the museum. Snowshoe rentals depend on how much snow falls, so check before a winter trip. Every vehicle pays the day use fee at the farmhouse.

Hours and season: Open year-round: grounds Tue–Sat 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Sun–Mon, federal holidays and Nov. 10–11; museum closed Nov. 17–Dec. 9; $5 day use fee per vehicle September through June.

Address: 5239 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing, NY 12814

Why they made the list

• Alice and John Scott donated the farm to Warren County, according to the center.
• Pets are not allowed, and only a gravel section of the Base Loop suits strollers.

More details are in our directory listing.

Also worth knowing

For a second boat option, Lake George Waterfront Cruises runs one-hour narrated historic sightseeing cruises from 2 Kurosaka Lane, with tickets starting at $25, according to the company.

Frequently asked questions

What is open in Lake George in November?

Fort William Henry Museum opens Saturdays and Veterans Day in November, and the Prospect Mountain highway stays open through Nov. 11, 2026, weather permitting. Lake George Lanes & Games is open daily, Up Yonda Farm’s grounds are open Tuesday through Saturday except Nov. 10 and 11, and the Lake George Arts Project’s Courthouse Gallery reopens Nov. 6.

When do Lake George steamboat cruises start again?

The Lake George Steamboat Company has concluded the 2026 season and says the Minne Ha-Ha returns in May 2027. The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

How much does it cost to drive up Prospect Mountain?

NYS DEC charges $10 per car and $5 per motorcycle for the 5.5-mile highway. Hikers can take the 1.5-mile Prospect Mountain Trail from Smith Street in the village instead, which climbs 1,630 feet.

Last checked October 27, 2026. See a place we missed or a detail that has changed? Send us a correction.