Saranac Lake

The area was first settled in 1819; a dam and sawmill were built in 1827, a school was built in 1838, and the first local hotel opened in 1849. Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau arrived in 1876, believing the cold, clear mountain air to be helpful in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis; his Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium was established in 1884. The Trudeau Institute, an independent medical research organisation established in 1964, is a successor to Dr. Trudeau's 1884 Saranac Laboratory for the Study of Tuberculosis. Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau, the doctor's great-grandson, grew up in Saranac Lake and maintains connections there.
Hundreds of "cure cottages", private residences with large, glassed-in porches where patients could benefit from the clear mountain air, were constructed in this era. The 1944 introduction of antibiotic drug streptomycin largely supplanted prior treatments for tuberculosis by the 1950s; the buildings were re-purposed, with sixty-three of those still extant in Saranac Lake listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.
The "great camps of the Adirondack Mountains", elaborate summer homes for the wealthy, became common in the region near the end of the 19th century as rail travel placed upstate vacation areas such as the Adirondacks and the Thousand Islands within easy reach for New York City's well-heeled elites.
Five thousand people live in the village. North Country Community College, a two-year public college established in Saranac Lake in 1967, has 1500 students, 143 permanent and 300 adjunct faculty. Paul Smith's College, a private four-year college in the adjacent hamlet of Paul Smiths NY, was established in 1946 and now has a thousand students.

By plane

• Adirondack Regional AirportCape Air provides Essential Air Service flights twice daily from Boston.

By bus

• Adirondack Trailways runs from Albany or Montreal.

By car

Saranac Lake is within the Adirondack park and relatively isolated; there are no Interstate highways in the immediate area.

• From Lake Placid, take NY 86 seven miles (11km) northwest.
• From Plattsburgh and I-87, take NY 3 (the highway through the park to I-81/Watertown) some fifty miles (80km) southwest.

One quality of Saranac Lake is lack of heavy vehicle traffic. Walking is the perfect way to explore the town.
There is bus service twice daily to Lake Placid.

• Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial Cottage

  phone: +1 518 891-1462
  address: 11 Stevenson Ln
  Robert Louis Stevenson, author of 'Treasure Island' and 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', spent the winter of 1887-88 here writing 'The Master of Ballantrae.' The cottage has been carefully preserved. (July 1-Sept 15, open every day except Monday.)

• Visitor Interpretive Center and Wildlife Sanctuary

  phone: +1 518 327-6241
  address: 8023 State Route 30, Paul Smiths
• There is a small, but nice, museum in the basement of the Saranac Lake Free Library.
• During the winter, there is a grand castle of ice located on Lake Flower.

• Saranac Laboratory Museum

  phone: +1 518 891-4606
  address: 89 Church St.
  The Saranac Laboratory, established by Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau in 1894, was the first laboratory in the United States for the study of tuberculosis. It is now operated by Historic Saranac Lake as a museum describing the history of Dr. Trudeau's work on tuberculosis. Rotating exhibits, regular summer walking tours of historic sites.

• Pendragon Theatre

  phone: +1 518 891-1854
  address: 15 Brandy Brook Ave
  Live theatre.

• Saranac Lake River Walk

  phone: +1 518 891-1990
  address: 1 Main St
  A 1.5 mile multi-use path follows the Saranac River from the police station and village hall through the downtown. Paul Smith's Electric Light and Power and Railroad Company Building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stands next to the dam that created Lake Flower and a small power house. Across Mail Street is River Park, which has a band stand, the Saranac Lake Bears and boats for a tour of the lake. The path then winds through downtown from 15 Broadway through Woodruff Street to a supermarket at 156 Church St.
• Water Sports
• Lake Colby has a nice beach and places to picnic in the grass near the water.

• Adirondack Massage Therapy

  phone: +1 518 572-1881
  address: 449 Lake St
  Seasonal boat tours and massage cruises are available on a 24-ft pontoon boat for up to 7 passengers. Year round massages are available in studio office or via house call. Boat tours are also available near the Farmer's Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Events

• Winter Carnival

  phone: +1 518 891-1990 (Chamber of Commerce)
  One of the nation's oldest winter carnivals, held annually since 1897. Ten days, starting first weekend in February.
• First Night Saranac Lake, New Years Eve, fireworks and festival of the arts.
• Daffest, spring daffodil festival, late April/early May (two weekends)
• 4th of July Celebrations, a week of celebration with a July 4 kids' parade down Main Street, fireworks near Lake Flower.
• Can-Am Rugby Tournament, end July/first week in August.
• Plein Air Festival, landscape painting and art festival, mid-August.
• Canoe Classic - 90 Miler, three-day race from Old Forge to Saranac Lake, weekend after Labour Day.
• Artist at Work Studio Tour, tours of artists' studios on the last Saturday of July, August, September.
• Cycle Adirondacks, the first fully supported road-bike tour of the Adirondack Park, late August.

• The Community Store

  phone: +1 518 354-8173
  address: 97 Main St
  Locally-owned department store (clothing, housewares, craft supplies, books)

Saranac Lake has several very pleasant Art Shops. It also has book stores (one new, one used) and a fine Army Surplus store. Next door, is a beautiful Native American shop. For healthy, organic food, herbs, and peaceful atmosphere, try Noris. There are some antique stores, but if you want a real adventure, search through The Gold Mine.

• Fiddlehead Bistro

  phone: +1 518 891-2002
  address: 33 Broadway
  Farm-to-table dining

American

• DJ's Rustic Restaurant

  phone: +1 518 891-9735
  address: 151 Broadway
  Diner, burgers, breakfast and brunch

• Downhill Grill

  phone: +1 518 891-FOOD
  address: 74 Main St
  One of a pair (the original is in Lake Placid)

• Nori's Village Market

  phone: +1 518 891-6079
  address: 138 Church Street
  Organic, vegan food, bulk and wholesale food, grab-and-go deli

Asian

• Asian Buffet

  phone: +1 518 891-8818
  address: 542 Lake Flower Ave
  Hibachi and sushi.

• China Jade

  phone: +1 518 891-6145
  address: 65 Main St
  Take-out and sit-in.

• Number One

  phone: +1 518 891-9978
  address: 4 Bloomingdale Ave
  Chinese

Bakery and desserts

• Donnelly's Ice Cream

  phone: +1 518 891-1873
  address: 1556 State Route 86
  Open summers only.

• Lake Flour Bakery

  phone: +1 518 891-7194
  address: 23 River St

• Mountain Mist Custard

  address: 260 Lake Flower Ave
  On the edge of Lake Flower, with another location in Lake Placid. Seasonal.

Cafés

• Origin Coffee

  phone: +1 518 354-8102
  address: 77 Main Street
  Popular new coffee shop in the heart of the village

• Blue Moon Café

  phone: +1 518 891-1310
  address: 55 Main St
  Wine and cheese, tapas, breakfast, lunch, free wi-fi, Cold River Coffee Company.

• Left Bank Café

  phone: +1 518 354-8166
  address: 36 Broadway
  Limited hours outside high season

Mexican

• Borracho Taco

  phone: +1 518 891-TACO
  address: 7 Broadway
  Tex-Mex, fast food.

• Casa Del Sol

  phone: +1 518 891-2272
  address: 513 Lake Flower Ave

Pizza and Italian

• La Bella Ristorante

  phone: +1 518 891-1551
  address: 564 Lake Flower Ave
  Italian

• Little Italy Pizzeria

  phone: +1 518 891-9000
  address: 27 Main St

• Owl's Nest Pizza Parlour

  phone: +1 518 891-5500
  address: 51 Main St
  locally highly-rated pizza

Sandwiches

• Lakeview Deli

  phone: +1 518 891-2101
  address: 137 River St
  Sandwich shop

• Jreck Subs

  phone: +1 518 891-7691
  address: 57 Broadway
  Regional hot/cold submarine sandwich chain

• Belvadere Restaurant

  phone: +1 518 891-9873
  address: 102 Bloomingdale Ave
  Italian restaurant and bar, cash only.

• Grizle T's

  phone: +1 518 891-6393
  address: 53 Main St

• Red Fox Bar Restaurant

  phone: +1 518 891-2127
  address: 5034 NY-3
  Steaks, pasta, seafood, chicken, can accommodate events for up to 100 people.

• Rusty Nail

  phone: +1 518 891-9870
  address: 90 Broadway
  Seems like a rough joint, but is usually cool.

• Waterhole

  phone: +1 518 891-9502
  address: 48 Main St
  Waterhole #3 is a favourite of motorcyclists and has live music most weekends.

Hotels

• Ampersand Bay Resort

  phone: +1 518 891-3001
  address: 31 Bayside Dr
  Lakeside retreat and boat club, seasonal (May-Oct), 21 suites and cottages on 28 acres.

• Gauthiers Saranac Lake Inn and Hotel

  phone: +1 518 891-1950
  address: 488 Lake Flower Ave
  Established 1923, lakefront rooms and suites, wi-fi, USB device chargers, some rooms have microwave, refrigerator, DVD player.

• Hotel Saranac

  address: 100 Main Street
  Established in the 1920s, this historic hotel has undergone a $30 million restoration. Hotel has a ballroom, and a Great Hall with a ceiling modeled after the Davanzati Palace of Florence Italy. There are 86 guest rooms. Hotel Saranac has two restaurants: The Campfire for moderately upscale dining and The Great Hall Bar for pub-like fare.

• Lake Flower Inn

  phone: +1 518 891-2310
  address: 234 Lake Flower Ave
  Inn with outdoor pool overlooking Lake Flower, wi-fi, private docks and a canoe; a quaint, clean, pretty hideaway. No restaurant on site.

• Mountain Lake Inn

  phone: +1 518 891-1970
  address: 487 Lake Flower Ave
  Best Western lakeview hotel, free wi-fi, McKenzie's Grille restaurant, only indoor pool in town.

• The Point

  phone: +1 518 891-5674
  address: 222 Beaverwood Rd
  Resort with log mansions, pub, terrace, Great Hall dining room. Member, Relais and Chateaux.

Motels

• Adirondack Motel

  phone: +1 518 891-2116
  address: 248 Lake Flower Ave
  Lakefront motel with cottages and efficiency suites. Boat rentals $125-360/day.

• Amanda's Village Motel

  phone: +1 518 891-0922
  address: 185 River St
  Across from park and public boat launch.

• Saranac Inn

  phone: +1 518 891-1402
  address: 125 County Road 46
  Ten-room motel on the grounds of an eighteen hole, par 72 golf course. Greens fee (including cart) is $70.

B&B and guesthouses

• Doctors Inn

  phone: +1 518 304-3763
  address: 304 Trudeau Rd
  Traditional guest house, coffee and tea, no meal service. Refrigerators in-room. A three-bedroom chalet at 700 Bartlett Carry Road, Upper Saranac Lake may be rented from the same proprietors in high season.

• Porcupine Inn

  phone: +1 518 891-5160
  address: 350 Park Ave
  Full breakfast, outdoor hot tub.

• Saranac Lake Free Library

  phone: +1 518 891-4190
  address: 109 Main Street
  Wi-fi and public use computers.

• Lake Placid
• North Pole and Wilmington