Fall on the Adirondack Coast is my absolute favorite time of year. It allows me to break out a whole new section of my closet…scarves, leggings, comfy sweaters, boots and more! And although I am not a fan of the traditional pumpkin flavor that everyone raves about this time of year (insert eye rolls here), I cannot get enough of the changing leaves, the smell of the crisp air and the many traditional fall activities that take place on the Adirondack Coast! Pumpkins and mums and corn mazes, oh my!
The other week I was lucky enough to get a tour of Whiteface Mountain and everything they have to offer during the fall season. Fun fact (for those who don’t already know): although Wilmington is only about 45 minutes away from Plattsburgh, their fall season peaks 2 weeks ahead of us, meaning many of their trees have started to change colors already! It was a gorgeous drive and even better when we arrived at the base of the Mountain.
The Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway was closed during our visit, but I highly recommend this as a fantastic scenic adventure. The highway takes you to the top of 4,867-foot high Whiteface Mountain where you can find some of the best views of the Adirondack Park, as well as a few things that are out of the norm for the top of a high peak, such as a castle, an elevator carved deep inside the mountain, a restaurant and a gift shop! You really can’t beat it!
Since the highway is a seasonal attraction (open Labor Day to Columbus Day), if it does happen to be closed during your visit, you can still experience the Cloudsplitter Gondola Rides, which take you to the top of Little Whiteface. These 8 person enclosed gondolas take you over streams, steep rock faces and thick forests; allowing you to look out over the beautiful surrounding landscape. Once you arrive at the top, you can explore the views from all sides of Little Whiteface, have lunch at the picnic area, and/or continue on foot up to the top of “Big” Whiteface. It’s a great way to spend a crisp fall day and some of the very best leaf peeping around.
Now, don’t think you can only climb a mountain to enjoy the fall on the Adirondack Coast. There are plenty of fall things to do on the ground! Grab some hot apple cider and enjoy the corn maze, pumpkin patch rides and apple picking that take place at many of our local orchards and farms. However you choose to enjoy the fall season on the Adirondack Coast, take lots of “FALLsies” (fall-selfies…get it?) because you are going to have some of the best backdrops to work with!
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