Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again.
- Joseph Campbell
At six million acres, the Adirondack Park is the largest protected region in the contiguous United States. In fact, it's larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Parks combined! From accessible nature trails to rugged mountains towering at over 5,000 feet, small ponds to the enormous Lake Champlain, there is a destination for every size and kind of adventure - and it is yours to explore. (credit: https://dec.ny.gov/welcome-to-the-adirondacks )
Saying I have a soft spot for lakes might be an understatement. Growing up on the beautiful Saratoga Lake gave me a taste of how special it is to make core memories at a summer camp. Moving there year 'round when I turned 13 was probably a gift that I didn't necessarily appreciate or value until long after my time there became permanent. Looking back now, I realize my passion for sunsets, nature and serenity are a direct result of growing up in a place that most considered a luxury back in the 60's and 70's. While I may not have understood how lucky I was back then, for a long time now I have realized why my father was so drawn to that 4-mile body of water. Though that home is no longer our family home, I still find myself drawn to 'my lake' - and other lakes - and when I'm near a body of water, I feel a peace that is indescribable. Perhaps it's a sense of home.

The Adirondack Region of NYS boasts 3,000 lakes and ponds. A few weeks ago John and I switched up our usual backroad destinations for an adventure in the Adirondacks, specifically to lakes in the Adirondacks. I mapped out a route that would take us to around ten lakes, many we'd never seen before. Naturally the day ended with lots of photos of lots of bodies of water, so many that I can't even be sure which photo is which lake. But....I'll share our route so that you can enjoy them too!
We travelled out Route 29 to the Great Sacandage where we crossed the bridge in Northville and followed Route 30 north. Our next stop was in Wells, NY, Lake Algonquin. From there, we veered left onto Gilmantown Road and passed Charley Lake and Gilman Lake. In Speculator, we headed south on South Shore road along the shores of Lake Pleasant. From there we headed south on Route 8, past Oxbow Lake followed by the gorgeous Piseco Lake. From there we headed south on Route 10 to Wheelerville past Canada Lake, Green Lake and onto Caroga Lake and East Caroga Lake. At that point we could have done Peck Lake, but having done that before, we knew visibility is limited by the private homes around that lake. It'd been a long day and we were ready to head home.
We may not have found an abundance of autumn color but it was hard to be disappointed with a day as picture perfect as this day was. Taking this road trip in autumn definitely added some extra special something to these beautiful bodies of water and may have given me a little more appreciation for the Adirondacks. On almost every road trip we take, I find new places to explore, some almost in our own backyard. In life, we often travel far and wide in search for beauty and adventure and sometimes we need only to explore our own home state. This trip was the perfect example! Thanks for coming along on this Life As I See It road trip.
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