So it does happen, not every day can be 85, sunny, windless and beautiful (even though we do love those days for hiking, biking, boating, fishing and Stand Up Paddle Boarding and swimming) So if it rains and you’re feeling a little cooped up, we’ve cooked up some ideas on how to answer the question.. What to do, what to do?

Plenty! Our knowledgeable Town of Long Lake Office Staff volunteered suggestions and here goes some favorites….

Steph Hample is Long Lake’s Events Coordinator and she is always creative, especially since she has two active children who keep her busy in addition to her duties for the Town of Long Lake. What to do with little kids when it is raining? Get puddle hopping. She suggests heading up to the Medical Center Complex/Rescue Squad building and splashing in the puddles. She also says, stop by the LL Transfer Station, pick up cardboard boxes and turn them into cars to watch a movie at your own personal drive-in. 

Cynthia Thompson, Long Lake’s Secretary to the Town Supervisor, recommends touring the iconic local hotspots including the Doughboys Statue, located on the school lawn. It was brought to Long Lake in 1959 by Long Lake American Legion members from the estate of C V Whitney on Long Island, sculpted by his mother Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. The sculpture is a tribute to those who served in World Wars I,II and the Korean conflict. Fun fact… how is Anderson Cooper related to Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and has he ever been to Long Lake? (No idea, but you can ask this when visiting this statue, or try googling!) Cynthia also recommends stopping by the Buttercup which is located behind the Long Lake Town Offices at 1130 Deerland Road. This boat has a storied history involving a sinking, Long Lake guides and a recovery and you can read about when you visit.

Abbie Verner is the Long Lake Archivist. She recommends a trip to Raquette Lake and a tour of Great Camp Sagamore coupled with a boat excursion aboard the WW Durant. It may be raining, but there is an indoor dining area and Captain Dean Pohl narrates this tour with historic facts, and local lore. Abbie also recommends the Long Lake Library for local art exhibits, information about the area, computer access and a newly installed mural celebrating Long Lake and painted by six local artists. The Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb has an exhibit room off the lobby, staff are always available to ask questions and it’s only fifteen minutes away from Long Lake. If the rain lets up you can even explore the nature trails around the building.

Dixie LeBlanc, Long Lake’s own Town Clerk and former operator of Camp Hilary, agrees with Abbie’s suggestion and suggests stopping by the library, get a couple of books or movies, take ‘em home to entertain the crew of summer visitors or …hide quietly in a comfy chair and read, far away from the chaos at camp.

Colleen King our town bookkeeper, aka the lion tamer, offers fun suggestions for those who are willing to hop in the car for a short excursion north twenty five minutes along route 30. Colleen lives in Tupper Lake full time, and while she and her husband both work in Long Lake and love it, they always remind me that Tupper has great activities too! Not only is it a beautiful drive, she recommends hitting the Adirondack State Theater to catch a movie, shopping for fun items at the Dollar General or Family Dollar, visit either Rite Aid or Kinney’s Drug store, or go bowling at the Lake View Lanes,1939 NY-30, Tupper Lake, NY 12986, (518) 359-2234.

Alex Roalsvig, Director of Parks, Rec & Tourism says head over to Incapahco Art Song Studio and take a class from Louisa Wright. Make jewelry,fairy houses or try your hand at something new, from Collography to Mixed Media art projects. You don’t need any experience and you take a creative project home with you. Another fun thing to do, is to take a scenic drive through town, head all the way down to Kickerville Road, turn around at the former Gatehouse for the Walker Estate and then drive down North Point Road to the bridge at the Raquette Lake Inlet. Take your picture and post on the Long Lake FB page, even in the pouring rain! Or make and take an indoor picnic. Pick up your picnic supplies or sandwiches at one of our selection of eateries and eat inside with the lights off and pretend the electricity is out, it makes for more ambience. And there is always the goto Adirondack activities of visiting the Adirondack Museum, The Adk Lakes Center for the Arts or The Wild Center in Tupper as alternative options.

And then for wild adventure and it won’t matter if you are getting rained on.. try RAFTING! Adirondac Rafting Square Eddy or Adventure Sport Rafting are excellent options and their headquarters are located in Indian Lake, NY only 22 miles down the road (and the scenery getting there is amazing, so take advantage of that great activity!)

Stumped, don’t worry, call our offices at 518-624-3077 or stop by. You can meet all of us and we’ll have more suggestions! Our office is located at 1130 Deerland Road next to Custards Last Stand.