Five Lakes In New York To Buy A Vacation Home

A lake home is the perfect place to spend a long weekend or a family getaway. A home on a pristine lake with beautiful views away from the bustle of the city promises a relaxing and fun time. Lakes offer a variety of activities for people of all ages. Fishing, boating and swimming are just some of the activities most lakes offer. A home on the lake provides the opportunity to share time with your family and friends. The state of New York has many great lakes for a second home.

Here are 5 of the best lakes to consider.

Sacandaga Lake

For a quiet spot on the lake, Sacandaga Lake is a hidden gem in upstate New York. Nestled on the southern border of Adirondack Park in Indian Lake, New York, Sacandaga Lake provides a peaceful retreat with plenty of activities and amazing views. The lake stretches 29 miles and is over 41 square miles with 125 miles of shoreline. It is perfect for boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and other water sports. There are opportunities to hike, hunt and horseback ride around the lake. One of the largest lakes in the area, Sacandaga Lake is known to have a large variety of fish.

Sacandaga means “land of waving grass” in Native American. The valley in which the lake lays became a resort town in the 1920’s with luxury inns, a sports complex, a golf course, an amusement park and summer time off Broadway entertainment. Due to flooding in nearby towns and farms, the lake was enlarged by a dam creating a large reservoir. Today, the Sacandaga Lake remains a quiet, out of the way spot to vacation. Many of the lake homes are rustic and provide beautiful views of the pristine water and the Adirondack mountains. The small town is home to quaint antique shops, historic sites and lakeside dining.

Lake George

Named for King George II of England in the mid-eighteenth century, Lake George provides year-round beauty with the beautiful water and surrounding mountains. Located in Warren County in upstate New York at the southeast base of the Adirondacks and the upper region of the Appalachian Mountains, the lake drains north into Lake Champlain. Lake George was the historic home of Fort Henry which was featured in The Last of the Mohicans. The lake is called “Queen of the American Lakes”. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Lake George’s location halfway between Montreal and New York City attracted artists and the wealthy. The Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, Rockefellars and Whitneys built private country estates along the lake in what was called Millionaires’ Row. During the1950’s, Lake George began to attract tourists and hotels, shops and restaurants moved into the

Lake George stretches 32 miles and at its widest point is 2 miles. Its maximum death is 196 feet and there are over 170 small islands within the lake. Popular activities include boating, fishing, diving and other water sports. There is nearby golfing, horseback riding, hiking and skiing. Hot air ballooning is popular in the area. The lake has a nice mix of tourist spots and private residences. There is plenty to do around Lake George, and it also can be a relaxing second home.

Seneca Lake

Seneca Lake is the largest of New York’s glacial Finger Lakes. It is 38 miles long and almost 67 square miles. It is also the deepest of New York lakes with an average depth of 291 feet. The lake is abutted by the city of Geneva to the north and the city of Watkins Glen to the south. Seneca Lake is named for the Seneca Nation of Native Americans. There are many small towns and villages along the lake. There are hotels, resorts and private homes.

The unique macroclimate of the area around Seneca Lake make it perfect for growing grapes. There are more than 50 wineries along the “Winery Trail” surrounding the lake. Other activities around the lake include biking and hiking in several state parks. The most popular resorts which include fine dining are Geneva On The Lake and Belhurst. The lake itself provides views of pristine water, great for fishing, swimming and boating. Owning a home at Seneca Lake provides a peaceful escape from the city with activities close to home.

Saratoga Lake

Saratoga Lake is located in the quaint Victorian town of Saratoga Springs. The lake encompasses 6.3 square miles and has an average depth of 25 feet. There are 23 miles of shoreline around the lake which has a maximum width of 1.5 miles and a maximum length of 4.5 miles. The first European settler was the Jesuit Priest, Isaac Jogues, in the mid-seventeenth century. The town of Saratoga Springs developed around the lake. It is home to the Saratoga Race Course and Hall of Fame, the Spa State Park, the Yaddo Gardens, the North Creek Railway and the Saratoga Center for Performing Arts.

The middle to southern regions of Saratoga Lake are less populated and have many private homes. The northern end of the lake, Fish Creek, is home to a public boat launch and private marinas. Popular activities at the lake include boating, fishing and paddle boarding. Crum’s Place is a restaurant originally called “Mom’s Lake House” which may be where the potato chip was invented. Brown’s Beach is a public beach with a restaurant, Dock Brown’s, and Bed and Breakfast. Other restaurants on Saratoga Lake include Panza’s and Lake Local.

Flower Lake

Flower Lake is located in the Adirondack Mountain Valley, within Adirondack Park, near the town of Saranac Lake. The area was settled in the early nineteenth century as a logging center with a dam and sawmill. Over the nineteenth century, the lake and surrounding area became a popular destination for vacationers from the surrounding big cities. The area became the destination for people recovering from tuberculosis because of its fresh air and alpine and alpine climate. In the 1920’s Vaudeville artists from New York City set up a community in Saranac Lake.

Flower Lake encompasses over 200 acres and has an average depth of just 5 feet. Some areas are used for boating, but the lake is mostly used for swimming, fishing and paddling. The lower locks of Lake Flower lead to the Lower Saranac Lake, a popular place for summer camps. Many of the homes on Flower Lake are beautiful Victorians. Lake Flower and the quaint town of Saranac are not just scenic and restful places to visit during the summer, but popular all year. Winter provides opportunities for skiing, snowshoeing, and even sleigh rides. A winter carnival is held each year. Dining in the area includes Lake Clear Lodge, the Blue Moon Café and Makenzie’s Grille. There are several quaint shops including the Artists’ Guild and Fusion Market. A Farmers Market comes to Saranac Lake in the summer and fall. There is also nearby golf and horseback riding.  Saranac Lake provides scenic beauty and activities year round.