Honky-tonk Lake George Village constantly bustles in the summer season, which means busy motels and crowded restaurants. Nearby Bolton Landing is quieter, with a few more upscale options. Farther west, Old Forge is the center of the activity, but you'll find serenity in the area around Inlet and Raquette Lake. We'd highly recommend a visit in the shoulder seasons, when lodging is considerably more affordable, and you'll have more Adirondack wilderness to yourself.

While many of the handsome grand inns and lodges that used to pepper these parts are long gone, there are a few still standing -- along with full-blown resorts, quiet and simple retreats, and plenty of rustic (and often run-down) roadside motels in between.

You'll find many chains, especially in and around Lake George. The Quality Inn, 57 Canada St. (tel. 800/4-CHOICE), offers decent rooms, and the Super 8, 2159 Canada St. (tel. 518/668-2470), provides a microwave in some rooms. The Holiday Inn Turf, 2223 Canada St. (tel. 518/668-5781), has a beautiful outdoor pool and microwaves, and is a short walk from downtown.

Also consider staying in one of the fine bed and breakfasts scattered throughout the region. The Boathouse B&B, 44 Sagamore Rd., Bolton Landing (tel. 518/644-2554), has a spectacular location right on Lake George, while the comfortable Cornerstone Victorian Bed & Breakfast, 3921 Main St., Warrensburg (tel. 518/623-3308), serves a candlelit five-course breakfast.

Camping -- Glen Hudson Campsite in Warrensburg (tel. 518/623-9871) is a nice riverside campground close to Lake George that offers wooded river and open sites from mid-May through mid-October. To get away -- far away -- from the crowds and the RVs, head to Lake George Islands (tel. 518/623-1200). Accessible by boat only, the 387 isolated shoreline campsites are on 44 state-owned islands. It's an amazing back-to-nature experience. The camping fee is $24 and sites are available mid-May through Columbus Day. They fill up fast, so reserve as early as possible. Golden Beach Campground (tel. 315/354-4230) has a prime perch on the southeast shore of Raquette Lake, and its 205 tent and trailer sites accommodate everyone from backpackers to 40-foot RVs. The fee is $19 and it's open mid-May to Labor Day.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.