I was in this area in 1986 and at the time I thought it was a beautiful area. Recently, I met someone who grew up in this area and loved it. So it was worth a return visit nearly 30 years later.

When I was at the lake (both the eastern side and the southwestern side), it was a mostly sunny day, the first real sun I had seen the entire week I had thus far been in New York state. The lake looked fantastic from the eastern side after I first spent 40 minutes driving 22 miles along a dirt and gravel (and several muddy spots) road to get to a wilderness parking spot. Then I spent a half hour hiking up the side of the mountain (zig-zag path) to get to Shelving Rock -- 1.7 mile hike. However, when I drove along highway 9 on the southwestern side, the lake was rarely visible because of the layers of houses and businesses along the shore that did not allow the traveler to actually see the lake. I did sneak into the parking lot of a set of cottages that were still closed for the winter plus another small nearly hidden street that went to some homes along the shore.

Lake George apparently has a yard waste pickup program because as I drove through town people had raked their yard waste just into the street at their curbs. Piles were everywhere and somewhat hindered traffic along the roads.