Week 6: Adirondacks, Olympic Museum, Ausable Chasm, and Fort Ticonderoga
- Week 0: The Craziness Before The Adventure
- Days 1-4: Mississippi Children’s Museum & Moochdocking at Friends
- Days 5-9: Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga-TN, Natural Bridge State Park-VA, and Outdoor Drive-in Movie Theatre
- Days 10-16: NYC Playscapes, Brooklyn Bridge, Liberty & Ellis Island, and Legoland New York
- Days 17-22: Boston, Museums, and Family
- Days 23-26: Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor
- Week 5: White Mountains in New Hampshire
- Week 6: Adirondacks, Olympic Museum, Ausable Chasm, and Fort Ticonderoga
- Week 7: Upstate New York and Niagara Falls
- Week 8: Mid-West Route Home-Ohio, Lousiville, and Memphis
- Trip Recap: 56-Nights North East Summer 2024 RV Trip
Days 32-36: Airstream Pickup, Flat RV Tire, Olympic Museum (Aug 13 – Aug 17)
Lincoln NH to Lake Placid, NY – 165 miles.
Lincoln, NH to Abington, MA – 152 miles, 2.75 hours.
Florida, NY to Lake Placid KOA, Wilmington, NY – 250 miles, 4.5 hours.
Our next destination was Lake Placid, NY—but first, we had some logistics to tackle! On the morning of Day 32, we checked out of our hotel in Lincoln, NH, and headed back to Abington, MA, to gather our belongings from our relatives’ house (with a quick visit to the John Adams Historical House). After resting for the night, Day 33 was all about retrieving our Ford F-250 and Airstream.
We picked up our fixed-up truck from Sunshine Ford in Newburgh, NY, then drove to Florida, NY, to collect our Airstream. By 7 p.m., we were back on the road, headed toward the Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA. But the road had other plans for us!
The Bike Mishap
About 10 minutes after leaving the campground, a kind lady at a red light flagged us down to let us know Thao’s bike had fallen off the back about a mile away near a farm. It was raining so I guess we didn’t hear it fall off! We circled back with the Airstream in tow and parked at a nearby church. I began running to retrieve the bike when a generous couple offered to drive it back to us, saving me a long trek on foot.
The TPMS Alert!
As if one mishap wasn’t enough, around 1 a.m., our TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) alerted us to a drop in the Airstream’s tire pressure—down to 40 PSI from the usual 65–75 PSI. We pulled over just 4 miles from our campground to find a nail-sized puncture in the tire. Swapping it for the spare was a first for me, turning it into a late-night learning experience.
Once the chaos settled, we finally reached our campground and caught some much-needed rest.
Exploring Lake Placid
The following day, we visited the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, where we immersed ourselves in the history of the Winter Olympics, from famous athletes to iconic moments. We also explored The Wild Center, a unique museum in Tupper Lake that combines nature exhibits with interactive trails. Kids had the most fun with the Ball Run.
Day 36-37: The Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks (Aug 17 – Aug 18)
Lake Placid KOA, Wilmington, NY to Ausable Chasm, NY – 25 miles.
We were super excited about our next adventure in the Adirondacks. On this morning, we drove our Airstream straight to Ausable Chasm, often called the “Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks.” The scenic canyon activities, guided tours, and cliffside hikes are totally worth it. The highlight of the day for Logan and I was the Rope Adventure Course, a guided rappelling experience that took us over the chasm and along the river. It was an adrenaline-packed activity that gave us a unique perspective of the canyon’s breathtaking beauty.
After an exciting day at Ausable Chasm, we checked into the Ausable Chasm Campground, conveniently located just two minutes away. We capped off the evening by grilling burgers, enjoying live music, and soaking in the lively yet peaceful campground atmosphere before calling it a night.
Days 37-40: Adventure Courses, Museums, Forts, and Farms (Aug 18 – Aug 21)
Ausable Chasm, NY to Rancho Pines Campground, Chestertown, NY – 71 miles.
The Rancho Pines Campground, nestled along the Schroon River in the heart of the Adirondacks in Chestertown, NY, became our home base for several days. From here, we explored a variety of attractions, including the Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course, the Adirondack Experience: Museum on Blue Mountain Lake, Fort Ticonderoga, and even ventured into Vermont.
Rancho Pines Campground
The kids were very much looking forward to the Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course since we started this trip. The Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course is a treetop experience featuring zip lines, rope bridges, and other high-flying challenges. I love that it has courses designed for two age groups: 6+ and 9+ years old. Both our boys, aged 10 and 8, were able to enjoy the courses together, while our 10-year-old joined me for the more advanced challenges
We spent Day 38 diving into the rich history and culture of the Adirondack Experience: The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake. Plenty of hands-on activities , historical exhibits, and stunning views of Blue Mountain Lake, it’s a must-visit for anyone in the area. Unfortunately, the rain kept us from enjoying some outdoor activities like canoeing on the lake, but the museum itself was entertaining and informative nonetheless.
Mishap at Rancho Pines Campground
When we returned to the campground, I noticed something odd about our Airstream awning—or rather, our 8-year-old noticed. “Uhm, Dad, I think there is something going on with the awning,” he said nonchalantly. I looked up and immediately thought, “Oh sh*t.” I had left the awning halfway out and untilted, and the sudden heavy rain created a puddle that weighed it down significantly. Another lesson learned: always retract or tilt the awning when expecting rain!
Day 39: Pencils, History, and Farms. We visited the Ticonderoga Pencil Museum, For Ticonderoga, and drove our Truck onto a ferry to visit Vermont.
Our next day started with a quirky stop at the Ticonderoga Pencil Museum, where we learned the fascinating history behind one of the world’s most iconic writing tools, produced right here in Ticonderoga, NY. It was a quick but interesting visit that left us appreciating the humble pencil a little more.
Afterward, we visited Fort Ticonderoga, a historic site that transported us back to the Revolutionary War era. The interactive exhibits and reenactments made history come alive, and the breathtaking views of Lake Champlain added to the experience. The kids especially enjoyed navigating the Corn Maze, a fun addition to the historic site.
Later, we crossed Lake Champlain on the Ticonderoga Ferry to visit Daona Farm, an American Wagyu beef farm. The lovely owner gave us a personal tour, sharing her expertise and passion for sustainable farming. It was both educational and inspiring—a unique way to end the day.
Both Vermont and New York are famous for their maple syrup, and Landon, a true maple syrup enthusiast, took full advantage. During our time in the region, he built up an impressive collection, including maple candy, maple cotton candy, and both dark and medium maple syrup. Let’s just say we’ll be well-stocked for breakfasts for a while!
