We’re officially making our way west, planning to reach Minnesota by the end of August for Carl’s harvest job. Our route through New York gave us a mix of new discoveries and one familiar favorite—and reminded us (yet again) that slowing down is an art we still haven’t mastered.
First Stop: Lake George
The drive from Killington to Lake George was short and scenic, and the town itself was buzzing with energy. Nestled in the Adirondacks, Lake George is a popular summer destination: shops and restaurants line the streets, the Million Dollar Beach draws swimmers all day long, scenic cruises are heralded by their loud foghorns, and New York State Parks offer island camping throughout The Narrows. Hiking, watersports, and other outdoor activities round out the experience.
Lake George also carries a surprising amount of history. Named after King George II, it’s home to Fort William Henry—originally built in 1755, destroyed during the French and Indian War, and reconstructed in the 1950s as a museum. The lake itself holds more than 200 shipwrecks.
We stayed a few miles away at Lake George Escape Campground, part of our Thousand Trails membership. We took a couple of trips into town and enjoyed one of the scenic cruises, but my favorite part of this stop was kayaking on the Schroon River. The river winds around the edges of the campground, calm and peaceful, and we could launch right from the property. Kayaking in both directions gave us quiet moments that balanced the busy lake scene.
Second Stop: Lake Ontario – Pulaski, New York
After a few days in eastern New York, we continued on to Thousand Trails Brennan Beach for a one‑night stay. The campground sits directly on the shore of Lake Ontario, with a beautifully maintained beach. We joined a crowd gathered to watch the sun set over the lake—a perfect reward after a travel day.
We definitely want to return. Brennan Beach has that rare combination of relaxation and family‑friendly energy, and it offers the feeling of lakeside living without the lakeside price tag.
Final Stop: Four Mile Creek State Park
Our last stop was an old favorite from our first year of full‑time RVing—Four Mile Creek State Park Campground. This time, though, we were able to take advantage of a free shuttle service (not available in 2020 during Covid) to explore the area between the campground and Niagara Falls.
Another old favorite – a visit to Schulze Winery. We discovered their crackling wine, Mon Cheri, six years ago, and it is one of my all-time favorites. So I picked up a few bottles of it for gifts and for my personal pleasure.
We visited Old Fort Niagara, where France first occupied the area as early as 1679. The main structure—the French Castle—was built in 1726. Its exterior was designed to resemble a castle rather than a military fort, but inside it held everything needed for survival and defense: fresh water from a well, housing for soldiers, food and weapon storage, and a third floor dedicated entirely for battle. The fort played a major role in the French and Indian War, was captured by the British in 1759, and became U.S. property in 1796. Today it stands as a museum and historic site.
We also rode the shuttle to Niagara Falls State Park—an hour‑long ride because of all the stops—and enjoyed the Maid of the Mist. We had planned to return later in the week and walk across the Rainbow Bridge to Canada for a different view, but smoke haze from wildfires blew in and marred the views. On top of that, one of us had a minor medical issue that needed attention. The cross‑border walk will have to wait for another visit.
On one of those smoke‑filled days, we took the shuttle to the Niagara Falls Public Library (interesting architecture called Russian Brutalist) so that I could do some book formatting work for one of my self-publishing authors. Unfortunately, cell/data service at Four Mile Creek was subpar this time around. We didn’t remember that from our first visit, but it definitely made an impact this time.
Making Time for “Normal Days”
My one complaint about our travels through New York is that we moved too quickly. One would think that we would have learned by now—since we’ve been full-time RVing for over six years—to SLOW DOWN! I need to have days where we do “normal” activities, like cleaning or computer work, laundry or grocery shopping. I could have used a few more days kayaking on the Schroon. One night at Brennan Beach was not enough; a few beach days would have been lovely. And, if we could get better cell/data service at Four Mile Creek Park, we could take a day for each stop along the shuttle route!
We’re trying to take it slower. I hope we succeed.
Check out a few of our other East Coast blogs this year:
Summer Boondocking in Killington, Vermont
Maine: Before, After, and Still Calling Us Back
New Brunswick Island Hopping
Leave a reply