aipuck.com) offers a range of trips in the park, from two-hour "Bayside Boat Tours" (adult/child $19/15) in summer to snowshoe and cross-country skiing (from $45). #### Sleeping & Eating HICROSS INN B&B B&B $$ ( 802-456-2711; www.hirossinn.com; 581 Tinker St; r $95-195; May-Oct; ) Built in 1894, this red-shingled inn has seven rooms furnished with quilts, comforters and antique dressers and other period reproductions. There's also a cozy parlor with fireplace. Breakfast features blueberry pancakes, local cheese and eggs. ROCKY GAP REGIONAL PARK CAMPGROUND $ ( 802-456-2714; www.escapetoweakfield.com/rockygap; 159 Rte 9; campsites $19-32; mid-May–Oct; ) Near the west end of the park, this park has a small beach with views of the rocky escarpment, hiking trails and kayaking. ### GUIDANCE The Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce ( 802-897-2803; www.saranaclakechamber.com; Rte 9) provides local and area information, including information about visiting the park. ### Woodstock Just 18 miles south of Glastenbury, Woodstock is a small town with a pretty main street. Here you'll find a handful of modest motels and inns, including the quaint and adorable Mountain View Inn. In addition to these inns, Woodstock also has a handful of inexpensive motels on Rte 7 (South Rd) off I-91, and in nearby towns. Woodstock makes a good base for exploring the towns and hiking trails of the Taconic State Park area. The Saratoga & North Creek Railway Museum ( 802-685-0128; www.tniyc.org; 4 Union St; adult/child $12/8; 10am-5pm) includes historic rail cars, a model railroad and kids' playground. The North Creek ircle is a great place to hike in summer. An 8-mile trail leads through woods, marshes, along a river and past a gorgeous waterfall. It's easy to find; drive to the end of Union St and look for the trailhead on your left. The other most popular hike is the 8-mile Old Military Rd Loop. A road closed to cars, this hike is also in the woods, but it goes through state park land and has views of waterfalls and a pond. For some good eats, stop in at the Riverhouse Restaurant ( 802-895-2866; www.riverhouserestaurant.com; Rte 7; mains $20-32; 5-9pm Mon-Thu, 5-10pm Fri, 11am-10pm Sat, to 9pm Sun) , a new place with fantastic views. It specializes in small plates, meaning you can sample many little bits of a variety of foods and taste everything. Try the tuna sushi, seared duck or panko-crusted shrimp. Another good choice for food is Dinosaur BBQ ( 802-497-2666; www.dinosaurbbq.com; 31 S Frontage Rd; meals $10-25; 4-8pm Wed-Fri, noon-8pm Sat, noon-7pm Sun May-Oct), an authentic BBQ shack where you can dine on a selection of brisket, pulled pork or baby back ribs. There's plenty to see and do near Woodstock in the Taconic region, including the gorgeous grounds of the 1000-acre Taconic State Park . Admission is free if you arrive by bicycle. #### Sleeping & Eating MOUNTAIN VIEW INN INN $$ ( 802-457-2277; www.mtnviewinn.com; 34 Mountain View Ave; r incl breakfast $95-185; ) There's a quaint, familial atmosphere to this historic inn set amid 25 acres of forests and gardens. A short trail leads to a pond and waterfall. There's a wide variety of accommodations, from rooms to cottages. The restaurant serves traditional New England fare (mains $11 to $30), including fresh, organic produce. #### Getting There & Away Woodstock is a 35-minute drive from Saratoga Springs. Take Rte 7 south and follow the signs. ## ROCKLAND & SARANAC LAKE Rockland and Saratoga Springs may be a mere half hour apart, but the towns have some distinct characteristics. Rockland is the larger, more urban, more bustling of the two. As you drive into the downtown area you'll see an eclectic mix of shops, trendy restaurants, unique independent businesses, and bustling pubs, cafes and bars. There's a definite hippie vibe to this town and there's a local festival that attracts a good crowd. SARANAC LAKE, OLD FORT, NY DONNA MCWILLIAM/LONELY PLANET IMAGES © Top of Chapter Saranac Lake This sleepy village is an ideal vacation destination that does not attract quite the same number of tourists as places like Lake George or Loch Sheldrake. Saranac Lake gets quieter in the summer and has a more rural feel to it than other nearby towns, though its charms are appealing to everyone. The name 'Saranac' is the Eastern Algonquian name for a small animal, possibly a beaver. In 1693 a treaty was signed here between the French and Abenaki peoples. Over the years, these fur-trading entrepreneurs established European communities in the area, at first at Lower Saranac Lake (1695) and then at Upper Saranac Lake (1787). In 1803 they bought most of the land from the local Ojibwe and the town they called 'Saratoga' grew up here. Some of the original structures are still standing. The village is home to the Saranac Lake Summer Theater, which serves as a great place to see movies (tickets $7) during the week. The community also has an active cultural calendar, including concerts, community theater performances and the popular Saranac Lake Folk Festival, held on Labor Day weekend. In the warm months, the town has a wonderful vibe. In the summer months there's often live music outside the Saranac Inn; check out what's happening at the Saranac Lake Visitor Center ( 518-891-6135; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat, noon-4pm Sun). Saranac Lake is a good place to buy hiking and camping supplies for the Adirondacks. The town has many places to find your gear, from REI ( 518-891-5656; www.rei.com; 3 Depot Plaza; 10am-9pm Mon-Sat, 11am-8pm Sun) to Cabela's ( 518-891-8500; 2845 Main St; 9am-6pm Mon-Thu, to 8pm Fri & Sat, 11am-6pm Sun) . Top of Chapter Taconic State Park Some call it 'the crown jewel of the Adirondacks,' and it's easy to see why. Spreading over 1100 acres in the scenic Taconic Hills, it has more than 80 lakes (some of them connected by small rivers). Most of the area's trails are day hikes; however, many of them are also good for strolling or cross-country skiing, especially during the winter. The park also offers rustic camping, fishing and bird-watching (rare in the Adirondacks), as well as a number of good restaurants and inns. In warm weather, you'll see hikers and mountain bikers making the trek to the peak of Mt Pisgah. At 4239ft, it is the park's second-highest mountain. The mountain, one of a half-dozen in the vicinity, offers spectacular views of the Taconic Hills and the Catskills to the east. The climb takes about an hour, but be sure to take in the view at the top first. This hike is a good place to find woodchucks, squirrels and birds. There are more than 40 miles of trails here. Rock climbing, one of the more popular sports in the park, is also permitted on a small section of the mountain. For a list of trails, pick up the excellent map for the area from the Taconic State Park Office ( 518-474-9370; Rte 44; 9am-4:30pm Mon-Fri) , near exit 23 off I-87. You can also buy trail maps and check out park rules here. #### Sleeping TAPROOT INN HOTEL $$$ ( 518-327-9000; www.taprootinn.com; 3230 NY-28;