State Route 149 in New York State covers over 30 miles of rural road in Washington and Warren counties. The drive intersects the hamlets and villages of Queensbury, French Mountain, Fort Ann, Kingsbury, Hartford, Granville and Hillsdale where some interesting historical sites and attractions are worth a stop. Golfing is available in Queensbury at the Bay Meadows Golf Course, Hiland Park Country Club and the Glen Falls Country Club.
Champlain Canal
The 60-mile canal connecting the Hudson River to Lake Champlain opened in 1823 to move commercial freight, and was used for that purpose until the 1970s. Today, the Champlain Canal is used for recreational boating. The New York State Canal System, known as Clinton's Ditch (named for the state governor who endorsed the canal system in 1825), was a popular vacation spot for traveling on packet boats. Pleasure boats using the canal for cruises now dock at the marina at Fort Edward, New York. The Feeder Canal, a historic canal towpath, is now a seven-mile linear park that connects to the Warren County Bikeway, which is nearly 10 miles of paved cycle path that takes cyclists all the way to Lake George. A map to the canal area from State Route 149 is available at champlaincanal.net. The canal and park area make for an excellent place to stretch and walk along the water. Summer history tours are available.
Champlain Canal
Feeder Canal Parks and Trail
P.O. Box 2414
Glen Falls, New York 12801
(518) 792-5363
Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom
The Six Flags theme park, Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom, is found in Queensbury along Route 149. This amusement park is a perfect stop for children and adult amusement park fanatics. The park is open from May until late autumn. Over 30 rides are available, and the rating system offers a choice of "mild, moderate or max" scare factors. The Comet, the historic 80-year old wooden roller coaster, is located at the Great Escape. A water park is featured during the summer for families requiring a cool water bath after the long car ride along Route 149. Admission varies with age of the visitor and parking is available at the park site. An online Flash Pass purchase allows guests to schedule rides on the most popular amusements, eliminating long waits in lines.
The Great Escape
Route 9, P.O. Box 511
Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 792-3500
sixflags.com
Adirondack Winery & Tasting Room
The Adirondack Winery and Tasting Room is open to guests throughout the year. The winery makes the wines on site from grapes purchased from outside sources. Guests get a peek into the crafting process, as well as tastes of the finished product. A gift shop features bottled wines made at the location and a selection of wine ice cream, cheeses and chocolate products. Custom-labeled bottles may be ordered from the gift store. Reservations are not necessary for tours or wine tasting, and the tasting fee includes a souvenir wine glass. The winery provides free on-site parking.
Adirondack Winery & Tasting Room
285 Canada St.
Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 668-WINE
About The Author
Lee Grayson is an ethnographer and freelance writer. She has written for both Oxford and Harvard University presses and research publishers, including Facts On File and ABC-CLIO. She holds certificates from the University of California campuses at Irvine and San Diego.
