Come to the heart of the Adirondacks. The drive is beautiful. The setting is breathtaking. The history is enthralling. The food is fantastic! Great camps. Great scenery. Great time.
The luncheon cruise, either as a single event or combined with visits to Great Camp Sagamore and/or The Adirondack Experience, the museum on Blue Mountain Lake, can provide you with an enlightening day trip in the Adirondacks we call the “Adirondack Gilded Age Heritage 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.
It was Mark Twain who dubbed the era as 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.
Though the Adirondack Gilded Age Heritage Tour is our signature package, 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). One of my favorite train rides is via Amtrak from Saratoga Springs north to Plattsburgh. The rail journey along Lake Champlain is gorgeous.
Sample Itineraries
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(This timing available June, Sept & Oct midweek; ask about timing in July & August)
- 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
Or this:
- 10:00-11:30 Guided tour Great Camp Sagamore
- 12:00-2:00 Luncheon cruise on Raquette Lake
- 2:30-5:00 Self-guided tour Adirondack Experience, the museum on Blue Mt Lake
There are many other possible ways to arrange an Adirondack Gilded Age Heritage Tour for your groups. Give Donna a call and let her help you figure it out.
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(Available June-October)
- 11:00-1:00 Luncheon Cruise on Raquette Lake
- 1:30-3:00 Guided tour Great Camp Sagamore
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(subject to train schedule)
- 11:00-1:00 Luncheon cruise on Raquette Lake
- 3:00-4:30 Wilderness train ride to Otter Lake and back (Adk Scenic RR)
- 3:00-5:15 North Creek train to Saratoga Springs (North Creek RR)
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(subject to train schedule)
- 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
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Visiting TWO National Historic Landmarks! (Subject to Pine Knot availability)
Pine Knot Chalet
- 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
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(Subject to St. Williams & Pine Knot availability)
- 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
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(Available June-October)
- 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.
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.
All attractions have ample motor coach parking, rest rooms, gift shops and snack bars. For tour operators, one 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 donna@raquettelakenavigation.com