Lovely piece, Margie, thanks for sharing it.

Nicely written story. Having recently moved from Coopersburg to Smith Mountain Lake in SW VA, my wife and I remind one another, daily, how lucky we are to be here and we do try to take it all in. We are hopeful that this feeling will stay with us through the years as we settle in and make a life here. I love the Albert Einstein quote.
Ed McNamara

The sign used to say "Women--no peeing from the porch." Equality has come to the Adirondacks. ;-)

It's as close as you can be to experiencing the country as it was seen by the first Europeans to encounter this land. Adirondack Park is larger than Yellowstone and much less crowded. It is a national treasure. Einstein was right.

Averse to vacationing where there is no hot shower, I once reluctantly agreed to go camping near Blue Mountain Lake. The first night, it rained and I awoke in our tent to see, through the dark, my sneaker float past my head. I still laugh at the memory. An Adirondack vacation is about the joy of "being" rather than the pride of "producing." It's about the sanctity of life trumping secularity, where we are daily valued for what we do, not for who we are--and thus falsely under-value ourselves.

The biblical value was to take one day a week in which we did not have to feel "useful." In this world, perhaps a week each year in a place like the Adirondacks is the closest most of us will come to that goal.

Lovely writing about a lovely place I hope to see some day. Thanks Margie for reawakening all our senses.

Thanks Mary Anne, Edward, Jonathan and Ann. I'm glad it resonated with you.

The Adirondack Park is the largest in square miles of God's country in this great land of ours. The spectacular USA Olympic sites of Lake Placid is worth your vacationing there in any season. Fresh air and a pristine environment of mountains and lakes prevail. The Ironman will be held there this weekend. It's my favorite place on earth.

I grew up here, but moved away for nearly 20 years. I finally came back "home" six years ago, and marvel daily in how beautiful the Lehigh Valley is - all those "mountains", trees, hills and beautiful old homes. I asked my mom once if she realized how pretty it is here (she grew up here and never ventured far from home) - she said to me, "Every day!". That resonates with me - every day! Thanks for sharing this lovely piece.

My parents lived (and died) in the Adirondack Park. A region that gets 200+ inches of snow a year does not make for an easy retirement, but they made it their home, and adopted the rugged ways of the year-rounders--and the attitudes--complaining about the "touri" (that is, you and me) and looking forward to the day in late August when they (we) would all go away and the lakes and loons would be theirs again. I still love visiting the quiet woods there, walking on the cushiony layers of spruce needles. I can hear the waves of Fourth Lake lapping at the dock as I write ...

My mom sent me this article this morning. The Adirondacks truly are a magical place that hold a place very near and dear to my heart. I have climbed the 46 High Peaks of the Adirondacks and they are a part of who I am. If you have never been there before, it is hard to explain just how special of a place it is. One trip is all it takes and the mountains will pull at you for the rest of your life. When I'm asked if I could go anywhere, where would it be? I don't have to think twice....Lake Placid. This article is very timely as just this past weekend I was pondering a move to the Adirondacks with my family....actually to one of the places pictured. The Adirondak Loj at Heart Lake. Unfortunately, the timing is just not right at this time, but I assure you, if I had moved there it would be a privelige everyday to live in such a special place!

I'm on my way up to the Saranac Lake region on Sunday and I cannot wait! Thanks for reminding me of why I love it up there so and whetting my apetetite for the wind in the pines and the call of the loons.

I appreciate all of you are sharing your Adirondack memories. I've recommended the mountains to friends who have a six-year-old daughter. My kids are much older now so I'm wondering, is there a particular area or town that might be a good place for that family's first trip up there? A place with lots to do for young kids?

John Brown's body (of Civil War fame) lies under a stone marker on the outskirts of the village of Lake Placid.

Thanks for including my loon photo! I took it in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near the Minnesota/Canada boarder and wrote about the entire trip in a blog post at http://www.photosbyhaines.com/2012/02/travel-davids-2011-bwca-solo/

I enjoyed reading your article as well!