Entertain, exercise, and educate the kids as you step back in time with a visit to John Brown Farm State Historic Site, one of the few historical Civil War landmarks in the northeast. John Brown was a celebrated abolitionist leader whose assault on the US Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry in 1859 is noted as the “tragic prelude” to the US Civil War. Set on 270-acres near the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex, this historic site features John Brown’s beautifully restored Lake Placid homestead, his final resting place, and tranquil trails through the woodlands and fields for hiking, cross-country skiing, or winter snowshoeing – leashed pets are welcome!
The 8-seater Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort will transport you and the kids on a 15-minute scenic journey of the Adirondack High Peaks like no other – without the effort of a summit hike! Open for the summer and winter seasons, the enclosed glass gondola whisks summer explorers, skiers, and non-skiers above the evergreen forests and Olympic ski trails to the peak of Little Whiteface Mountain. The summit observation deck and picnic area boast breathtaking views for unbeatable bird’s eye view photography of Lake Placid, Lake Champlain, and the famous Adirondack High Peaks. The entire Whiteface Gondola experience is wheelchair accessible and kids ages 6 and under travel free!
From the famous Adirondack High Peaks to epic outdoor adventures in the rugged carved canyons, natural caverns, and rushing rivers at High Falls Gorge, one of the top family attractions in the Adirondacks. High Falls Gorge is an experience the kids will never forget – walkways, steel bridges, and glass floor viewing platforms set you in the heart of four majestic waterfalls, nature trails wind through the ancient Climax Forest, and they get to touch Anorthosite, one of the oldest rocks in the world and the base rock for the Adirondacks. Make a day of it and pack a family picnic to enjoy in the woods or head to the River View Cafe for lunch with a view!