Washington County Guide: October 2008 Archives

Sometimes the greatest pleasures come from the simplest things - a clear sky, a cool breeze and the catch of the day, your catch, that is. Washington County offers access to Lake George and Lake Champlain with each offering incredible fishing opportunities year round.

The spectacular views of mountains exploding from the water create the perfect backdrop for the world class smallmouth bass fishing on Champlain and the exhilarating ice-fishing on Lake George. There are also Northern Pike, land-locked salmon and more that have people falling for this place hook, line and sinker.

As they say when in Rome...when in Washington County, snowshoe. Or snowmobile. There are literally hundreds of miles of trails for snowmobiling, the Washington County Association of Snowmobile Clubs not only maintains the trails, they offer a map that allows visitors to connect the dots of their own adventure.

And as far as snowshoeing, between the 446 acre of trails and scenic outlooks at Carter's Pond, the 38 acres at East Bay and the 435 acres facility at Carter Pond Wildlife Management Area, there isn't a fishing, hunting, hiking or trapping itch that you won't get scratched.

Beyond espressos and smoothies there is something that neither trends nor technology have changed: cider. Fresh apple cider served hot on the very orchard from which the apples were harvested.

A day trip to Hick's Orchard, from picking your own apples in the acre upon acre of beautiful apple trees, playing in the corn maze and visiting farm animals, to watching cider pressing the mill or noshing on cider donuts, is sure to please all the senses. Don't forget, there is also raspberry picking.

Don't just buy local, pick local!

For more details, please visit the Hick's Orchard website.

Whether you want to catch your winter air by tube or ski, Willard Mountain Terrain Park in Easton is your stop!

Jumps, rails and funboxes all await your adventurous side, if you prefer to catch your winter thrills lodge-side,

Willard Mountain has piping hot drinks and tasty snacks in the lodge. The Tubing Park also offer party and company outing options.

For more details, please visit the Willard Mountain website.

If ice fishing is your game there are no less than 21 sites listed with the DEC that can help you get started, right down to the species of fish you can expect to (and legally)  catch.

For leaf peeping you need only set foot, or tire, in Washington County to find an abundance of foliage worthy of gasps and exclaims. The work will be in deciding whether to tour the countryside or take it all in from the charming sidewalks and neighborhoods of the villages in the County.

Orchards boasting entertainment and corn mazes abound throughout the county. Simply plan out your choice of dining or shopping and you're sure to find apple picking and corn maze explorations to complement your itinerary.

There's even the opportunity to wrap in a bit of history at the Moses Vegetable Farm, which once belonged to Grandma Moses herself.

There is more to an overnight stay than electronic keycards, squawking elevators and noisy ice makers. How about fresh air, quiet nights and the kind of pie you read about in great American novels?

The Cambridge Hotel in Cambridge NY harkens back to a time when train whistles blew and lemonade and mint juleps were enjoyed on shady verandas. Seventeen rooms boast all the modern conveniences with the charm and one-of-a-kind elegance of true Victorian style. Add to the comfort, the simple thrill of tasting "pie ala mode" where it was invented.

Another option made for those traveling with boats or bikes, or who simply love the water, is the Lock 12 Marina on the shores of Lake Champlain in Whitehall. Drop anchor and enjoy beautifully appointed rooms overlooking the Lake, drinks in The Black Pearl and made-to-order meals in the on site restaurant, Finch & Chubb. A short drive, by water or land, leads to the memory of a lifetime.

Theatre through the ages has taken place everywhere from fields and amphitheatres, to grand halls and beyond. Throughout Washington County theatre-goers will enjoy everything from pastoral performances at "The Little Theater on the Farm" in Fort Edward to shows of suspension within a performance space built on a bridge over the Champlain Canal Lock 12. Others may enjoy theatre in the Fort Salem Theater, also known as the Brick Church, whose history involves repeatedly rising from the ashes to be rebuilt.

Whether you are seeking Shakespeare or late night cabaret you'll find it in Washington County without giving up the inimitable and endlessly appealing flair of the region.

Washington County is a study in history, with magnificent homes in every village and hamlet demonstrating the architectural mastery of generations past, and small mercantiles offering a service and geniality of days-gone-by.

The museums are equally illustrative and accessible, offering up close and personal looks at the slate that tops everything from mansions to barns throughout the county and beyond. The Pember Library and Museum in Granville actually combines history and nature with guided tours, hikes and day camps, delighting young and old.

Another spin on the slate legacy is the Slate Valley Museum, also in Granville, which lives within a New World Dutch Barn. Visitors will see every aspect of the slate industry through life size replicas and genuine artifacts from the bedrock of one of this area's greatestries.

For more details, please visit the Slate Valley Museum's website.

It may not be the bible belt, but Washington County sure has its share of divine triumph. The Monks of New Skete have long been known for their masterful work breeding, raising and training German Shepherds and many other breeds of dogs identified as "unruly." Animal Planet launched a show called "Divine Canines" in 2007 based on the Monks' work.

What you may not know is that the Nuns of New Skete have a claim to fame all their own, cheesecakes. That's right, cheesecakes, a dessert often referred to as heavenly, but never more appropriately than with those made by the Nuns. Attend any graduation party, black tie affair or family gathering around here and you are sure to be served one of the spectacular Nuns of New Skete cheesecakes. So, whether you have a sweet tooth or a training question, you are sure to have a dog gone good time.