But life goes on and your days are consumed with ordinary tasks and responsibilities. Spoiler Alert: Sometimes to change how you live, you must change where you live.
When you own land in the Adirondacks, you’re committing to a backyard of recreational experiences, against the backdrop of unmatched beauty. Whether you choose to live in the Adirondacks year-round or purchase land for a second home or recreation, you gain access to a daily world of adventure, wellness, and memory-making.
Read on for four of our favorite Adirondack adventures to enjoy when you own land in the Adirondack Mountains.
Hot Air Ballooning
Remember in “The Wizard of Oz,” when the Wizard floats away at the end in a hot air balloon? Did you even think that hot air ballooning was possible apart from the ending of classic movies? It’s possible- and is such a prized pastime in the Adirondacks that they celebrate the Annual Adirondack Balloon Festival in Queensbury, NY, in the fall. Professional and amateur balloonists have been gathering to float above the mountains together at this festival for over 40 years.
But apart from the festival, go on a hot air balloon ride for a special event, an anniversary, or a family reunion. A number of companies in the Adirondacks offer hot air balloon rides, such as Adirondack Balloon Flights, and they’re eager to get you hooked on this whimsical and breathtaking hobby.
Maple Sugaring in the Adirondacks
Our own Mike Black enjoys maple syrup season in the Adirondacks. He boils sap in a log sugarhouse he built a decade ago at his homestead in Long Lake. It’s part of the simple lifestyle he cherishes and appreciates more in these chaotic and anxious times.
You and your family can make “Maple Sugaring” a seasonal experience when you own land in the Adirondack Mountains too. Just when the snow begins to thaw, and the daytime temperatures rise above freezing, sap flows in sugar maple trees. As communities participate in the yearly ritual of maple sugaring, they celebrate together that spring will soon arrive.
Just a short drive away, you can visit the American Maple Museum in Croghan, NY, home to the American Maple Hall of Fame, and the location of the yearly crowning of the Maple Queen. In addition to this flagship museum, plenty of maple producers in the area invite you to visit and participate in this historic (and sweet) seasonal tradition.
Seaplanes
A Seaplane flight allows you to explore wilderness difficult to access on the ground while providing majestic views of the mountains. Seaplaning enjoys a rich history in the Adirondacks, and hunters and fishermen still use these water-landing vehicles to transport them to remote camping spots. You can take a 20-minute sightseeing flight or book a Seaplane for a special events tour with Adirondack Flying Service.
Horseback Riding in the Adirondacks
You don’t need to own a barn to horseback ride regularly in the Adirondacks. Whether you are a horse-lover or just want to experience the area from a different angle, horseback rides through the hills are a wonderful way to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
If you do own a horse you can embark on one of the many trails that weave through the Adirondack Mountains. Otherwise, the Adirondacks host a number of Dude Ranches and stables offering full-day, or week-long equine adventures (horses included). You could also choose to spend an evening on a romantic ride into the sunset for two.
Come Home and Live Life
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers but as fountains of life.” John Muir published those words in the Atlantic Monthly in 1898, but their truth holds.
If you call yourself “tired” and “nerve-shaken,” it could be time to come home to the mountains. Own land in the Adirondacks and make a new life for yourself, surrounded by beauty and adventure. You’ll join many others who’ve gotten off the couch to discover that “wildness is a necessity” and new life can be found at any age.
There is Never a Shortage of Things to Do in the Adirondacks
This mountainous, lake-filled country speaks for itself, but it’s the simple peaceful lifestyle, if even on a part-time basis, that folks long for as much as anything. Contact Mike today to start the path to something different.