Escape The City At This Northeastern, Lakefront Lodge With The Loveliest Winter Views
New Yorkers know that the best way to escape the city is by heading upstate, where natural landscapes and a slower way of life are abundant. While summer may be the most popular time for a getaway, winter offers cozy lodging, fun activities, and stunning views of its own.
One ideal spot for a winter vacation is at Lake Clear Lodge & Resort, located in the Adirondack Mountains, about a five-and-a-half-hour drive from New York City. The property boasts 25 acres of serene nature, from the picturesque lake it sits on to its relaxing wooded hiking trails. And nope, you don't have to wait for the weather to warm up before enjoying all the resort has to offer. Lake Clear Lodge & Resort comes to life in the winter, turning into a snowy wonderland chock-full of unique experiences — both outdoors and indoors (for when you can't bear to peel yourself away from the fireplace). If you don't consider yourself a winter person yet, this destination might just change your mind.
Fill your trip with skiing, speakeasy dinners, and other activities
Don't mistake Lake Clear Lodge & Resort for just another upstate retreat. The business has been around since 1886 and has been owned and operated by the same family since 1965, so you can trust that they go to great lengths to offer timeless experiences. In the winter, that means magical sleigh rides and cold-weather adventures. Strap on cross-country skis, provided at the resort, and explore the Adirondacks via the property's trails. Alternatively, grab some complimentary snowshoes and hike around the lake at your own pace. Take in the area's snow-covered trees, powdery paths, and storybook cabins before heading inside to warm up.
The speakeasy-style cottage restaurant, complete with a hidden beer and wine cellar, is perhaps the best place to cozy up after a day of trekking through the snow. Guests are given the password required for entrance at the secret door, and once inside, they're treated to a 1920s-style dinner and the region's largest selection of craft import beers. Keeping in line with the Prohibition-era theme, performative raids may take place, where diners are instructed to use hidden tables to avoid blowing their cover.
For more frothy fun, sign up for the resort's beer workshop and tasting, a 30-minute dive into the history of beer. To take the lodge's delectable indulges home with you, attend one of its cooking classes, where you'll learn how to recreate traditional and seasonal dishes.
Sleep tight in one of the lodge's comfy cabins
The accommodations at Lake Clear Lodge & Resort are rustic yet inviting, with warm interiors, wooden detailing, and sweet antiques that serve as a nod to the accommodation's long history. The Guest House Suites pack the most amenities, with kitchenettes, living rooms, gas fireplaces, jacuzzis, and gorgeous lake views. Each suite offers space for four to six guests, making them the perfect choice for larger groups.
The lodge's chalet-style cottages are another cozy pick, and are the only pet-friendly accommodations on the property. Enjoy your own private cabin space, with a large deck and roaring fireplace, just steps from the lake and nature trails. For a romantic escape — without sacrificing the rustic, woodsy flair Lake Clear Lodge & Resort is known for — book one of the Specialty Adirondack Cabins. These cabins are fit for two to three people and offer luxurious touches, such as a double jacuzzi and steam shower. The Lodge even offers Winter Romance packages that include flowers, champagne, and robes for you and your sweetie to use as you cuddle before the fire.