The Adirondack Carousel

On the second day of my sister's visit, we left the dogs at home and drove south, into the Adirondack Park. When we arrived at the village of Saranac Lake, we stopped at the Adirondack Carousel:

We walked right inside and began taking pictures. The top of the carousel featured paintings of beloved Adirondack scenery and wildflowers:

The animals of the carousel were all Adirondack wildlife:

Before it began turning, the man in the green shirt told each kid what kind of animal they were riding and a little bit about the species as it lived in the Adirondacks:

The music played, the carousel turned at a surprisingly rapid speed, and the children appeared to be having a great deal of fun:

A beaver, a red squirrel, a raccoon and either a lynx or bobcat (I wasn't sure which, as both are native to the area):

Here's a closer look at the cat. What's that other animal? I'm guessing it's a toad:

We investigated the gift shop and were told that each hand carved carousel animal had a ladybug, New York's official insect, on it somewhere - and they sold ladybug umbrellas:

There were a few extra carousel animals like this red fox which, we were told, are occasionally switched out so that all the animals get a chance on the carousel:

You can see that this frog has a ladybug at the rear center of its saddle. It also has a series of tadpoles, growing into adult frogs, around its neck:

It was a great diversion and an interesting stop along the way, but we had another destination in mind. So we bid farewell to the Adirondack Carousel and continued on our way to Whiteface Mountain. I'll post about that tomorrow:

The Adirondack Carousel

As you read in yesterday's post, I'd parked behind the Adirondack Rail Station in Saranac Lake in order to find a shaded, secluded place where I could leave the dogs in the car. Then I walked a short distance to the newly opened Adirondack Carousel, anxious to see its hand carved animals:

The children (or adults) ride Adirondack animals and there are local wildflowers and Adirondack scenes painted overhead. The animals include Blue Heron, Large Mouthed Bass, Brook Trout, Beaver, White-Tailed Deer, Black Bear, Bobcat, Bald Eagle, Red Fox, Snowshoe Hare, Hermit Thrush, Draft Horse, Loon, Moose, Otter, Porcupine, Red Squirrel, Raccoon, Salamander, Skunk, Turtle, Toad - and my very favorite, the Black Fly:

You can read all about it at their website:

All the riders were clustered in one section of the carousel and they sure were having a good time:

Ah, there's a brave little girl riding the infamous Black Fly:

The Bass and the Loon also had riders:

But the carousel's speed kept increasing and I could tell that my photos would be blurry:

So I set my camera to video:

Keene Valley Cemetery And The Adirondack Railroad

The dogs and I were on our way up to the farm for a weekend visit and had just had an extended, fun and interesting rest stop at Frontier Town. We traveled up the Northway to Exit 30 and continued on our way via Route 73 through the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks. The day was so clear and lovely that I pulled up into the Keene Cemetery for a nice view of the surrounding mountains:

I stood beside the car snapping pictures in every direction, and wherever I looked I saw more mountains:

This was a peaceful and lovely scene, a nice way to begin our journey through the Adirondacks:

Because they'd just had a long run at Frontier Town, I kept the dogs in the car. They got to view the sights through the windows:

I snapped one last photo and then pulled out down the long access road and back onto Route 73 to continue our journey:

I'd already decided that I wanted to visit the newly opened Adirondack Carousel in the town of Saranac Lake, but didn't know where I could safely park to keep the dogs cool and unperturbed by passersby. I pulled up to the Adirondack Railway Station adjacent to the Carousel. And to my surprise, they were boarding a train which had stopped out behind the station:

I drove around the station, across the tracks and up to the rear of the building to watch the boarding process:

Still looking for a safe and cool place to park, I pulled down the dirt lane behind the station. It offered no traffic at all and a superb view of the Adirondack Railroad:

I could see people boarding the train and milling around inside as they made themselves comfortable. I've since checked their website and discovered that this would have been the 12:30 departure to Lake Placid, costing $10.00:

Do you see that small, dirt lane beside the tracks? That's where I had my car. I pulled ahead and parked beneath those trees. I left the dogs in the car and walked to the Adirondack Carousel. But I'll post about that tomorrow:

From The Keene Valley To Saranac Lake To Brighton

The Keene Valley is somewhat settled, but it also affords some spectacular views of the surrounding high peaks. This rustic brown house and its large stack of firewood were nestled at the foot of two Adirondack mountains:

And there were many places to pull off onto the shoulder of the road and snap photos of the mountains which were sprinkled with puffs of clouds:

I stopped at Marcy Field to snap a photo of the surrounding mountains which appeared to be swimming in mist:

And rising out of the steamy forests:

Farther along Route 73, the low clouds had almost consumed the view, but I've always loved to see mountains as the clouds tickle past them. It makes everything both mysterious and alive:

Even the more distant peaks hid shyly behind their clouds:

In a few places I even got to see the clouds up close and personal:

As I passed through the town of Saranac Lake, I stopped to check on the progress of the Adirondack Carousel and found it looking as if it might open soon:

And then we drove on through Brighton, where Whiteface Mountain can be seen in the distance. By that time the dogs were wanting another rest stop, so I knew I'd have to plan something. But I'll post more tomorrow:

Sightseeing In Marvelous Saranac Lake, New York

I was on my way home with the dogs from a weekend at the farm. I stopped in the Adirondack town of Saranac Lake to buy gas and a sandwich and noticed that construction on the Adirondack Carousel had progressed. It was right across the street from the store, so I walked over:

It was beginning to show its final form. I could imagine what it might look like when finished. Click here to read some news articles on the carousel and see some pictures, including an artist's portrait of the finished product:

The Adirondack Carousel riders will sit atop Adirondack animals such as beaver, fox, eagle, deer, loon - and to keep it honest, a black fly! Click here to see a gallery of the animal carvings:

I walked forward while the workmen kept themselves busy:

And less than a block away was the historic Union Depot, a restored Railroad Station. I drove over there in spite of the short distance so that I wouldn't have to leave my car filled with barking dogs in the convenience store parking lot:

Click here to read more about Saranac Lake's Union Depot:

A scenic railroad passes through here on its way between Utica and Lake Placid. I'm sure it's spectacular, but I'll never get to try it myself because I'd have nowhere to leave the dogs. Click here if you'd like to learn more about it:

Out behind Union Depot was a hill lined with pine trees and fine old homes. Saranac Lake was a very nice Adirondack town, but I had a long drive ahead of me still. So I continued on my way. I'll post more tomorrow:

From Saranac Lake To Hays Brook Horse Trail

The dogs and I made as far as the town of Saranac Lake and, as I often do, I stopped there to fill my gas tank and to buy a sandwich. But there was a new attraction that day right across the road from the convenience store. I'd already heard about this new project so I knew right away that it was the beginning of the Adirondack Carousel. Instead of just horses, the riders will sit on carvings of Adirondack Woodland Animals (and one horse). I hope to chronicle its progress in my future trips up to the farm:

And from Saranac Lake I drove up through the broad, flat fields in the town of Brighton where Adirondack high peaks frame the view in nearly every direction:

I stopped just long enough for a snapshot at Barnham Pond. Notice how close the road is to the water:

At the far side of Barnham Pond:

But it was time for another doggy rest stop, so I pulled off the highway into the Mountain Pond fishing area. No one else was there so I opened the car doors and let the dogs run:

Mountain Pond is always lovely:

We walked along the shore. The waterline was still higher than normal, a lingering result of Tropical Storms Irene and Lee:

The dogs played along the shoreline:

And then I loaded them all back up into the car:

But instead of leaving by the way we'd come, I continued on for the length of the pond to Hays Brook Horse Trail. And for the first time, I actually saw horses there. I wanted to stop and say "Howdy" to the horses and their owners, but I did not want my dogs to start barking. So I simply snapped a picture of the horses, waved to their owners and kept driving: