Where to Stay: The Adirondacks
In the Gilded Age, when families like the Rockefellers, Posts, Guggenheims, and Astors were keen to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, they fled to the quiet and majestic woods of the Adirondacks. Those families constructed elaborate 'Great Camps' on the shores of the lakes dotting the Adirondack Park, which boasts more land than Yellowstone, Glacier, and Yosemite National Parks combined. These escapes provided access to nature which was thought to stimulate creativity, heal the body, and relax the mind.
One such camp, originally built by William Avery Rockefeller using logs hauled by work horses and stones pulled from nearby streams, exists on the shores of Upper Saranac Lake. The Point is an oasis of calm nestled in the high peaks region. This Relais & Chateaux property pays homage to the Great Camp era, allowing guests to escape the realities of daily life for the peaceful stillness of life in the Adirondacks.
On skis, foot, or antique mahogany boat, guests are set loose on the surrounding woods and reeled back in for cocktail hour and Black Tie dinners (an homage to the formalities of the original Great Camps), served around a large table in the great hall. Wine from The Point’s cellar flows, as guests connect over a shared love of “roughing it” in luxe Great Camp style. After dinner, a sprited round of pool or a sing along might break out among “strangers”.
Breakfast and lunch are more casual affairs, and can be enjoyed in-room, in a lean-to on the shore of the lake, or on a wooded island accessed by canoe. If a hike is on the agenda, The Point’s staff will ensure that Camp David, a nearby cabin situated a short hike away is waiting for you with a fire in the hearth and a thermos of spiked hot chocolate upon arrival.
Most of the guest rooms are luxe cabins equipped with stone hearths and fine Adirondack twig furniture craftsmanship, however The Point’s most requested room has to be The Boathouse. Located in an airy open hall above the water, the room boasts a canopied bed, stone shower, and two swinging day-beds on the balcony with panoramic views of the lake. Act fast on this one, it’s always the first room to be booked and is only available from May through October.
What originally brought America’s wealthiest families to the Adirondacks is what seems to draw everyone to this truly spectacular region. A desire to unplug, engage with nature, and connect with friends in a convivial setting. The Point is one of our favorite summer getaways, and in our opinion, the Adirondack's finest hotel.