Northern Region

The St. Lawrence River in the northern region is dotted with approximately 1,800 islands. State parks, campsites and fishing are the order of the day along its banks. The scenic Seaway Trail completes the picture of this outdoor destination. One way to view these islands is to ride a balloon with Champagne Balloon Adventures at Alexandria Bay. At Massena, the Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area consists of habitat for waterfowl and other birds of the St. Lawrence River corridor. For an unusual tour, Natural Bridge Caverns offers a quarter-mile underground boat trip on the Indian River. Paddlers will appreciate the Indian River Canoe Route at Watertown, extending more than 100 miles for canoeing and fishing. Pulaski is home to the Fernwood Hydro Processing Facility, a century-old feedmill housing one of the few restored water turbines in New York.

The Adirondack Mountains' peaks, forests and streams attract hikers, mountain bikers and boaters. Lake Placid with its Olympic Center, including the Winter Olympic Museum and Hall of Fame, and Lake George with its amusement parks and beaches, place the Adirondacks area on the upper tier of visitor destinations. The Lake George Steamboat Company, whose fleet includes the M/V Mohican, SS Minnehaha and Lac du Saint Sacrement, offers narrated cruises with meals. For the land-lubber, the 5.5-mile Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Hwy boasts a 100-mile panorama of the Lake George region and the Adirondacks.