Our family visited Lake George for the first time this fall. We stayed at Huttopia’s newest location and it was the perfect time of year for leaf peeping and hikes in the woods. For a full review on our stay, click here. We had such a great time exploring the area. Here is a list of our favorite activities in Lake George.

The best activities in Lake George

1. Lake George Steamboat Co

Taking a scenic cruise around Lake George is a great way to see the area. We did a one hour cruise on the Mini Ha Ha Paddlewheel. We took in views of the lakefront homes while the kids ran back and forth to the snack bar. The cruise is fully narrated so you can learn about the history of the surrounding area.

2. Fort William Henry Museum

Our most memorable experience of this trip was visiting the Fort William Henry Museum. This British fort which was built in 1755 played an important role in The French and Indian War. It was even featured in the movie The Last of the Mohicans.

The fort offers various tours and military demonstrations throughout the day. We did a tour called “Fort by Firelight” which took place at night. For this reenactment, the war had just ended. The fort was surrounded by the enemy and a soldier was trying to get us to safety. We snuck through dark passageways and ran across the courtyard while muskets went off around us.

I did not know how the boys would handle it all. While they were scared at the time, they now talk about it like it was the coolest thing they have ever done in their lives. They even set off a cannon from the top of the fort. The whole experience lasted 20 minutes and when we finally “escaped,” we sat around a bonfire and listed to stories about the war. It was like living through a piece of history.

This tour sells out quickly, so be sure to book in advance.

3. Prospect Mountain

We drove up Veterans Memorial Highway to enjoy the panoramic views of Lake George and the surrounding Adirondack Mountains. There were several areas to pull over to enjoy the view. It is a short drive to a large parking area at the top. After parking, we had to walk up the final quarter mile long path to the summit. It was quite steep but very worth it.

If you prefer to hike up, there is a trailhead along Smith Street in the village of Lake George. It is considered to be a pretty challenging hike and should take about three hours.

4. Charles R. Wood Park

This 12 acre park is home to the Festival Commons. Along the perimeter is a natural playground that my kids loved. There were also clean bathrooms and a nature trail across the street. The central location, easy parking and well manicured grounds make it a great area for enjoying the outdoors.

5. Million Dollar Beach

This is the largest and most popular beach in Lake George. The beach features first-come-first-served picnic tables, swimming, a volleyball court, showers/ changing rooms, and lifeguards on duty.

If you have a dog with you, head to neighboring Dog Beach where dogs are welcome to frolic on the beach and cool off in the water. There are trash receptacles to make cleaning up after your dog a breeze. While there is no fee to use this beach, there is also no lifeguard on duty.

6. Eat at the Boathouse Restaurant

This was the best meal we had in town. We watched the most beautiful sunset over the water as we enjoyed delicious food. They had a great children’s menu and the service was excellent. At the end of the night, they had golf carts to drive people up the steep hill. My kids thought that was the best part.

7. Play Mini Golf

There is no shortage of miniature golf courses in Lake George. The most popular is Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf. Another local favorite is Goony Golf. The Fun Spot has go-carts, laser tag and roller skating in addition to mini golf.

There are so many activities in Lake George. These were just a few of our favorites.