Queensbury makes a useful base for the southern Adirondacks. Lake George village, with its boat cruises, the rebuilt fort and the lake itself, is five minutes north. The eastern shore of Lake George leads into the Adirondack Park, the largest protected area in the lower 48 — with several million acres of forest, lakes and mountains. Half-day hikes within easy reach include Prospect Mountain (a 25-minute climb with a long view over the lake) and Buck Mountain (a more serious morning up the east shore).
Going north along the I-87 corridor, Lake Placid and Saranac Lake are about two hours away and worth at least one overnight. Going south, Saratoga Springs is forty minutes; its racecourse and the natural mineral baths in the state park are the standouts. The Hudson cuts through Glens Falls a few miles south of Queensbury, with a walking path along the river and the Hyde Collection art museum nearby.
