How to See Lake George on a Budget. Yes, you can go to a tourist trap and not spend this month’s mortgage while there and still have fun. Here is what we did on our day trip to Lake George.
The Trip to Lake George-
For us, it takes a little over two hours to get to Lake George.
Bring snacks and drinks. You can get a nice little travel cooler to keep everything in one place. Snacks keep the small ones occupied.
EZ Pass will help save money if you choose the toll route. However, oftentimes, GPS will give you a few route options. On our way home, we had zero tolls.
*COVID UPDATE AS OF LATE AUGUST 2020*
A lot of attractions did not open for the season due to COVID. Check before you go. We noticed several businesses hard hit by the situation and there are now several businesses for sale in the main area. Reserve your boat ride in advance. We went on a weekend and everything was sold out. Be prepared to wait a while to be seated if you go to a touristy restaurant for dinner. We went to an offbeat place on the main strip and it was not very good. We suggest a place outside of town for now. Bring your mask. We advise against the large public restrooms. We went to the one that heads down by the water and someone left half a weave in the sink. It was also crowded and dirty.
Now that we have armed and possibly scared you with all this new information, you can read on because Lake George is still awesome. There is still plenty to do. It just helps to know some of the lesser points when navigating in this current state.
The Outlet Malls-
You have to be careful at the Outlet malls that you don’t overspend because of the awesome bargains and you also compare prices to what you would spend at home. Sometimes, things are not that great of a deal. While other items are just the opposite.
At the Merrell Store, my husband scored an awesome pair of hiking sneakers for fifty dollars. They were over half off. He also got a steal of a deal on the small camping coffee pot he always wanted at the Coleman Store.
Abby got a great winter hat that reads “Happy Llama Days” from Osh Kosh B’Kosh. Her jumper wasn’t a steal because it was a new seasonal item. However, her sandals were thirteen. That isn’t too bad.
Another way to save at the outlets is to get a coupon book.
Also, if you can, park and walk. It saves a little gas pulling in and out of traffic and of course is easier on the nerves.
On the Way into Downtown Lake George-
We stopped at Frontier Town and the Leather Shop. We bought nothing. It was fun to go in and just look at all the cool stuff they had there. Just because you go into a store doesn’t mean you have to buy anything. One more tip, I talked at great length with a local lady working there and she had all the insider tips on places to go ride horses. Sometimes speaking to locals can help your budget and make your experience more worthwhile.
Downtown Lake George-
Park your car toward the beginning of the main strip and just pay the parking meter. Walking all over saves gas and additional parking charges. Obviously, this option is only if you are in good enough health to walk a lot. You can park more toward the middle or next to the one spot you would like to go too as another option.
Abby girl’s recommendation is to visit as many dogs as possible along your walk. Lake George is dog friendly. Just always make sure to ask before you pet any dogs.
Then, start walking. You can even bring a picnic with you. We were not budget-friendly and ate at Monte Cristo’s Restaurant as our one splurge. The cheeseburger was really good. The fries tasted like snack bar fries. Not impressive at all. At least if you bring your own food, you can sit by the Lake and enjoy it. I hear there is even music at Shepard’s Park in the summer and it’s FREE.
One way I saved money at the restaurant was by sharing my meal with my three-year-old as they are very unpredictable creatures. Sadly, she stole the best part of my meal, the pickle.
Toward the end of the strip on the right-hand side, there is a place that does wine tastings called Adirondack Winery. They even have a child corner so you can sample wines and keep your child busy. No judgment. Bad mom’s club shout-out.
However, bring your ID. I forgot mine and we couldn’t do the wine tasting. It was seven dollars a person and you even get a free wine glass with seven tastings included. There is an upgrade to a bigger wine glass for ten. They also have a couple of packages.
There is a small arcade with a few rides too. We spent ten dollars. Abby rode three rides. We avoided the arcade. That is a place you are surely going to lose a lot of your money.
Conclusion-
The only thing I would suggest is trying to book a place or campsite and stay one night at least. It was a lot going over two hours up and two hours back. Next time we go, we will blog about more budget-friendly places to go to Lake George and perhaps some awesome places to stay. Stay Tuned.
Housekeeping-
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