WE LOVE BUSES!
Come to the Heart of the Adirondacks. The Drive is Beautiful. The Setting is Breathtaking. The History is Enthralling. Great Camps. Great Scenery. Great Time. The luncheon cruise, either as a single event or combined with visits to Sagamore, Adirondack Museum or Wild Center, can provide you with a unique day in the Adirondacks, we call the "Gilded Age Heritage Tour."
Mark Twain called it The Gilded Age...A time when vast fortunes were made in America by the Captains of Industry who built railroads, manufactured steel and established Wall Street. For these wealthy entrepreneurs fabulous wilderness estates were built in the heart of the Adirondacks so these American aristocrats could live in luxury in the most remote wilderness.
When combined with tours of the Adirondack Museum (dubbed the "Smithsonian of the Adirondacks") and Great Camp Sagamore (the Vanderbilt family wilderness retreat), the Luncheon Cruise on Raquette Lake makes an exciting and educational day trip package we call the Adirondack Gilded Age Tour. All within twenty minutes driving time of each other, the three attractions together provide your patrons with a comprehensive tour through a period in American history known as the Gilded Age, an era when fabulous country estates were conceived and built for the truly wealthy in the heart of the Adirondacks so American "aristocrats" like J.P. Morgan and Alfred Vanderbilt might escape the summer heat and live in luxury in the most remote wilderness.
We partner with other attractions too in order to offer groups a variety of experiences. Up to the first third of the 20th century visitors to Old Forge and Raquette Lake arrived by train. You too can relive the golden years of train travel with a 90 minute wilderness train ride, roundtrip, from Thendara to Otter Lake or a 150 min, one-way ride from Utica's Union Station to Thendara (motor coach deadheads). We're happy that the North Creek to Saratoga Springs Rail Company now offers a scenic ride and the meals are delicious! Be sure to order a Bloody Mary on the North Creek train! The company buys Rachel's Bloody Mary Elixir as their mix! One phone call does it all! Package price, itinerary, confirmations. It doesn't get any easier!
Sample day trip itineraries:
Itinerary variables include your schedule, season, day of week, type of cruise, how much time and/or your budget. These are just examples. We customize to suit your needs.
Sagamore & Sail
11:00-1:00 Luncheon Cruise on Raquette Lake
1:30-3:00 Guided tour Great Camp Sagamore
Rail and Sail
11:00-1:00 Luncheon cruise on Raquette Lake
3:00-4:30 Wilderness train ride to Otter Lake and back
Rail, Sail & Sagamore
9:15-11:30 am Train from Utica to Thendara (bus deadheads)
Lunch on own and free time in Old Forge. (Ask about our step-on guided tour of Old Forge with local historian.)
2:30-4:00 Guided tour Sagamore
4:30-6:30 Buffet dinner cruise on Raquette Lake
Adirondack Gilded Age Tour
10:00-1:00 Adirondack Museum self-guided tour w/ lunch in Museum's cafe
2:00-3:30 Guided tour Sagamore
4:00-6:00 Buffet dinner cruise on Raquette Lake
Great Camps Grand Tour, Visiting TWO National Historic Landmarks!
9:30-9:50 Water taxi to Pine Knot
10:00-11:30 Guided tour Camp Pine Knot
11:30-1:00 Luncheon cruise
1:30-3:00 Guided tour Sagamore
Take a Boat to Church!
9:30-9:50 Water taxi to Pine Knot, south shore of Long Point
10:00-11:30 Guided tour Camp Pine Knot
11:30-11:50 Walk to St. Williams on the north shore of Long Point
12:00-12:45 Guided tour St. Williams
12:50- 2:20 Luncheon cruise aboard the Durant with historic commentary
Hot Critters & Haute Cuisine!
11:00-1:00 Luncheon cruise aboard the Durant with historic commentary
1:15-2:15 Drive to Wild Center in Tupper Lake
2:30-5:00 Self-guided tour Wild Center, the new natural history museum with a private Animal Encounter (your choice of Otters, Porcupine, Raven, Owls or Muskrat) hosted by one of the Wild Center Biologists.
All attractions have ample motor coach parking, rest rooms, gift shops and snack bars. 1 complimentary admission (driver) with 20-29 paying; 2 comps (driver & tour escort) with 30+ paying . Max 56 people. Email or call for group or tour operator rates. Contact Donna Pohl at 315-354-5532 or email rlnav@frontiernet.net.
Click here for Multi-day itinerary ideas. www.adirondackreceptive.com