Days 33-39: Adirondack Wonders – Olympic History, Scenic Gorges & Fort Ticonderoga
After weeks of bouncing between destinations, we were finally reunited with our Airstream—our home on wheels—at Black Bear RV Campground. From there, we picked up our truck, hitched up, and set off toward Lake Placid, but not without a few classic road trip mishaps that lead to an impromptu roadside repair at 2 AM. Despite the challenges, we made it to the Adirondacks, where we explored Olympic history at the Olympic Museum, tackled high ropes courses, and ventured into the stunning Ausable Chasm. Between adventure, history, and unexpected detours, this leg of the journey was anything but dull!
Days 33-36: 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.
RV Home Yet?
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. After resting for the night, on Day 33, we headed to Black Bear RV Campground in Florida, NY, where our Airstream has been parked for last 2 weeks. It felt so good to be back in our Trailer, back in our bed, and our own dinner table.
We unpacked the Jeep rental and loaded our stuff back into the Airstream. Enjoyed a meal again back in our Airstream. The kids jumped quickly into their board games like National Parks Opoly Junior, and their all time favorite, the magnetic Chess.
Let’s Get Hitched, Again!
We were all looking forward to our next destination in Lake Placid, NY—but first, we had some logistics to tackle! Day 34 was all about retrieving our Ford F-250 Truck so we can tow our Airstream Travel Trailer again.
Anxiously waiting, we finally got the call from Ford that our truck was ready for pickup! It wasn’t until 4pm when we picked up our fixed-up truck from Sunshine Ford in Newburgh, NY. We then returned the Jeep Cherokee we rented from Enterprise. From there, we filled up on groceries and gas, drove back to Black Bear RV Campground again to hitch up our Airstream, and had a light dinner. We finally left black bear around 7pm!
The Bike Mishap
About 10 minutes after leaving the campground, while at a red light, a lady pulled up next to us and rolled down her window. My head in that moment was zipping through with what could be wrong? Before I had time to think, the lady yelled out, “your bike dropped about a mile back by the farm!.” Whoops! It was raining so I guess we didn’t hear it fall off. We circled back with the Airstream in tow. Knowing that we likely can’t just pull over on the street where the bike fell off, we found a large parking lot by a church and pulled in. 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.
As it turns out, one of the end caps on the Yakima Bike Rack came loose and the rear wheel slipped off. I secured the bike again while also wrapping the bike with a bike lock just in case.
The TPMS Alert!
As if one mishap wasn’t enough, at 1:45am., 4-miles from Lake Placid KOA, our TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) alerted us to a drop in the Airstream’s tire pressure. Down to 40 PSI from the usual 68 PSI we run the tires on. I immediately stopped in the middle of the single lane road, turned on the emergency blinkers, and went to assess the situation. After a few minutes, I found the culprit. A nail-sized puncture in the driver’s side front axle tire! No nail to be found though.
Moments later, one gentlemen pulled up in his car and asked if I needed help. Keep in mind it was almost 2am at this point so I didn’t want to bother him. It likely would have just been him watching me figure things out. So I thanked him for offering and rolled up my sleeves. For the next hour, there was no other cars insight. Only heard sounds of some wild animals from a distance.
Swapping the wheel for the spare was a first for me, turning it into a late-night learning experience. My first thought was to pull up youtube to follow a video. Turns out, there was no signal on my T-mobile serviced phone. Hoping for that T-mobile Starlink partnership for data one day!
Fortunately, I already had everything I needed. I pulled out my Tire Changing Kit from Airstream Life which came with precisely everything needed including a how to guide. It came with a premium torque wrench for tightening lug nuts accurately. A long breaker bar wrench to remove the lug nuts with leverage. An extension bar, a 3/4″ and 13/16″ sockets to fit all modern Airstream trailers. A “one size fits most” flourescent/reflective safety vest for your projtection!
Once I figured out how to drop the spare wheel and to get the flat wheel lifted up without a jack, the rest came easy. Since our Airstream is a double axle, all it took was to backup the driver-side rear axle onto the yellow lego pads, which lifted the front driver side axle up, just enough to remove the wheel.
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, located in the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, NY, celebrates the town’s legacy as a two-time host of the Winter Olympics (1932 and 1980). The museum offers a deep dive into the history, athletes, and moments that made Lake Placid an iconic Olympic destination.
Immersive Natural History Museum in the Adirondacks
We explored The Wild Center, a unique museum in Tupper Lake, NY, that combines interactive exhibits, outdoor trails, and hands-on experiences. Our kids had the most fun with the Ball Run, which is a 1-mile hike with ten different unique tracks where kids can roll balls down different tracks and experiment with gravity and movement. The Stickwork was also a hit with our kids where they can use sticks to build forts, play game, and let their imagination lead them. There are plenty of outdoor and indoor exhibits that could last you a full day here. So much education, adventure, and fun!
After the Wild Center, we enjoyed a bbq dinner at Tail O’ The Pup BBQ. Great outdoor play area for the kids, live music, and variety of food for adults and kids to enjoy.
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, river rafting, 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. A via ferrata is a protected climbing route that uses steel cables, ladders, and other fixed anchors to make it possible to climb up, down, or across a mountain face. The term “via ferrata” is Italian for “iron way”.
It was an adrenaline-packed activity that gave us a unique perspective of the canyon’s breathtaking beauty. There is a minimum height of 48 inches tall. Landon did not meet the requirements. Next year!
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
Day 38: Adirondack Experience Museum
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 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!
