Why People Move to Lake George, According to a Real Estate Agent

As a longtime real estate agent in Lake George, I interact with people from all over who have one thing in mind: to be able to call the Lake George area home (or a second home). In fact, I’m one of them – I vacationed here as a kid, and loved it so much I made it my permanent home!

After working with so many buying and selling in the region, and talking with those who are interested in what this area has to offer, I’ve found that the following are the biggest draws to Lake George:

crowd at million dollar beach in lake george

Beaches, Lake Cruises & Live Music in the Summer

Lake George is a prime tourist destination for those living in the Northeast, with folks coming from New Jersey, New York City, Rochester, Vermont, Massachusetts, and even farther away to vacation in the summer.

The Village turns into a bustling place to be, with visitors dining by the lake at the Lake George Beach Club, relaxing at Shepard’s Park Beach or Million Dollar Beach, and walking the strip to pop into unique souvenir stores or to try a tasting at Adirondack Winery.

Summer recreation abounds on and off the water. The lake itself welcomes boat tours, sightseeing cruises, parasailing, and kayaking. Nearby on the Hudson or Sacandaga Rivers water lovers can take on the thrill of the rapids with whitewater rafting. Adventure seekers can get high in the trees at treetop courses, like at Adirondack Extreme and Adirondack Adventure Course.

Lake George is known for its Thursday night fireworks in the summer, Fridays by the Lake concert series, and more musical events that take place in Shepard’s Park or Charles R. Wood Park, like the epic three-day Memorial Meltdown music festival around Memorial Day Weekend.

kid at lake george winter's dream, man at lake george ice bar, keg toss at lake george winter carnival

Unique Attractions, Ice Bars & A Carnival in the Winter

Lake George has become a year-round destination over the years, primarily because of incredible attractions, ice bars, and the annual Lake George Winter Carnival.

The year 2021 saw the first Ice Castles in Lake George, which returned for 2022. Ice Castles had challenges in all of their locations relating to weather, so organizers pivoted to offer Winter Realms for the 2023/2024 season. Winter Realms encompasses ice skating rinks, ice sculptures, and beautifully lit-up walkways.

The 2023/2024 winter season saw a second brand new attraction, Lake George Winter’s Dream. This unique experience includes interactive lights, original music, video, special effects, and more, all designed to bring out the magic of winter that you enjoyed as a child.

Ice bars take place at select Lake George restaurants on weekends in January and February, including at the Fort William Henry Hotel and The Lagoon, plus The Gem, The Barrel, and the Sagamore Resort in nearby Bolton Landing.

Finally, the Lake George Winter Carnival is every weekend in February, and always draws a huge crowd for outhouse races on the ice, themed cookoffs, a skillet pan toss, a keg toss, kids activities, and more for the whole family.

view from sleeping beauty mountain summit of lake george in fall

Gorgeous Views & Fall Foliage

If you want mountain and lake views that you can get in the Adirondacks, without having to live in a rural area to see them, you’ll love Lake George. The views of the lake and surrounding mountains from the southern basin of Lake George at Fort William Henry or Million Dollar Beach are stunning.

Prospect Mountain is just one of the many hiking hotspots in the area that offers picturesque views, and this is also one you can simply drive up. Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway is open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. The fee is $10 a car to drive up and see a 100-mile view from the 2,030’ summit.

You can’t mention the views without the foliage. For a brief time each fall, usually around the second week of October, the region is immersed in the cranberry reds, burgundies, canary yellows, and soft oranges of fall foliage everywhere you look, but are particularly striking if you’re observing them from a mountain summit.

quasi aerial view of lake george street with lake and mountains in background

Small & Friendly Community

Not only is the Lake George school district well regarded, but so are the neighboring municipalities of Queensbury and Glens Falls. While Lake George has more of a tourist destination feel with some year-round residents, Queensbury and Glens Falls are both heavily family oriented areas.

If you’re looking into moving to the area with school-aged kids, you can’t go wrong with the local school districts, offering opportunities for sports, clubs, and community involvement.

pond seen on scarface mountain hike in the adirondacks

Close Proximity to Seclusion

Lake George can get busy during the more popular times of year, like the Thursday night fireworks in the summer, or weekends in February at the Lake George Winter Carnival. But if you’re seeking seclusion, you have the entire Adirondack Park at your fingertips.

Lake George is nestled in the southern part of the six-million acre Adirondack Park, and you are a short drive away from winding hiking trails, secluded lakes, and dwindling cell phone reception that can help you get away from your day-to-day and come back to nature.

street in albany with overpass and signs for troy and rensselaer

Driving Distance From Noteworthy Cities

Not only is Lake George close to so many rural and secluded areas within the Adirondack Park, it’s a not-too-far-away drive from prime cities in the Northeast:

  • 26.6 miles from Saratoga Springs (30 minutes)
  • 60.5 miles from Albany (1 hour)
  • 162 miles from Montreal (2 hours, 25 minutes)
  • 166.6 miles from Syracuse (2 hours, 45 minutes)
  • 200 miles from New York City (3 hours, 15 minutes)
  • 226.7 miles from Boston (3 hours, 30 minutes)

Not to mention, the Berkshires of Massachusetts, and skiing areas and quaint towns in Vermont. They’re all a drivable distance away!

If you’re thinking of making a move to Lake George from one of the above cities, you can be rest assured you’re not far away if you want to make a trip to your old stomping grounds to visit family or friends.

Ready to Look at Houses? Let’s Chat!

I’m your go-to Lake George real estate agent for everything in the southern Adirondack region, down to Saratoga and the Capital Region. Whether you’re interested in putting down roots in our area or buying a second home for vacations, I can help you to start looking at the right homes for sale in the southern Adirondacks for you.

Contact me >>

See how to go about buying a lakefront home in the winter >>