AMTRAK'S ADIRONDACK
TRAVEL GUIDE
No train showcases the history and scenic beauty of a region better than Amtrak's Adirondack. More than 40 years ago, the Delaware & Hudson rail line began to provide service through upstate New York. Today, Amtrak's Adirondack (supported by the New York State Department of Transportation), carries on the nostalgic and romantic service from the Hudson Valley through the Champlain Valley to Montreal. Amtrak wants to show you the Adirondack region in high-style. We've added refurbished equipment that is perfectly suited for traveling in the colder weather of the north, and our cars are equipped to carry skis. Sit back and enjoy the view from our Adirondack lounge. An on-board Amtrak crew member will keep the train tidy as it travels from destination to destination. To cater to our international clientele, the menus on our Cafe Cars are listed both in English and in French, and many food and beverage products for sale will be produced in the Champlain Valley. Our specially packaged Adirondack bag lunch includes the items made in the region, and the canvas bag is suitable to take home. Molson and Saranac beers are offered, and a new "Champlain Cocktail" has been inspired by a secret ingredient from Quebec. We also serve cheese cake made locally by the nuns of New Skete Bakery. Amtrak is proud to be your escourt as you travel through one of America's most beautiful regions. All aboard!
HUSON VALLEY, NY In New York City, you can immerse yourself in the daytime fun and exciting nightlife that have made this one of the most famous cities in the world. Tour the Empire State building, see the Statue of Liberty, catch a show on Broadway or go strolling through Greenwich Village. The city is teeming with museums, art galleries and other cultural attractions that you won't want to miss, along with hundreds of great restaurants serving every kind of food. When you're worn out from the city that never sleeps, the Adirondack can carry you north into scenic, peaceful Hudson Valley. Past and present live sideby side in the Hudson Valley. There are more than thirty National Historic Landmarks, and many other locations are protected as historic sites. At the same time, efforts are underwayto create a network of parklands, recreational and environmentally protected areas. Agriculture thrives in the valley. Countless varieties of fruits are grown in orchards that have stood for more than a hundred years, and wine vintners carry on their trade in the oldest wine district in the country. From the Big Apple to the apple orchards, from hot nights in the city to cool mornings on the riverside, the Hudson Valley has something for everyone on board the Adirondack.
ALBANY-RENSSELAER, NY Albany, the state capital of New York, is situated on the Hudson River at the point where Henry Hudson ended his Voyage of the Half Moon in 1609. A thriving fur trading center during the French and Indian War, Albany has been a transportation center since the Indian trail days. Today it's a crossroads for bussines, industry and culture. In Albany, you can visit the State Capitol Building, a granite French chateau on State Street, or stop by the New York State Museum where thousands of photo murals and artifacts depict life in the Adirondacks. At the Albany Institute of History and Art, you can see regional silver collections, ceramics, furniture and 18th and 19th centuary Hudson Valley paintings and sculptures. The museum also houses a research libary with archival materials. Cherry Hill is an historic downtown house built for Philip Van Rensselaer, a prominent merchant and farmer. Tours feature nine priod rooms of original furnishings and personal belongings, along with the surrounding gardens. At the Knickerbocker Arena in Empire Plaza, you can catch sporting events, concerts and family shows. The Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League are at home at the arena, as well as Albany's arena football team, the Firebirds. A landscape view of the city can be enjoyed from the Adirondack or from the deckof one of several Hudson River cruise lines in Albany.
SCHENECTADY, NY The city of Schenectady is one of the oldest cities in the United States, founded by Dutch settlers who purchased a parcel of land from the Mohawk Indians along the Mohawk River. Today, Schenectady is a melting pot for people of many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Stockade Historic District features homes from early 1700s to the first quarter of the 19th century. The Stockade was founded in 1661. In 1690 it was razed during the Indian-French massacre and then rebuilt by the Dutch. Today, the preserved and restored Stockade Historic District features dozens of homes from before the revolution. You can set your own pace with a self-guided walking tour available at the Schenectady County Historical Society Museum. Downtown you can go shopping on Jay Street or visit the Schenectady Museum with its own planetarium. If theatre is more to your liking, you can go to Proctor's, one of the few remaining vaudeville-era venuesin the country, bringing thr best of Broadway to the region at off-Broadway prices. Nature lovers can visit Collins Park. Bordered by the Mohawk River, this park has everything you need: picnic pavillions, playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, and swimming in a beautiful lake. Schenectady County also offers many nature preserves for hiking and picnicking. Plotter Kill Nature Preserve is one of the most impressive, with three spectacular waterfalls and over 600 species of plants.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY Saratoga Springs has big-city excitment with all comforts of a mountain resort. This city is home to the springs, geysers and mineral baths that made the city famous, along with internationally-acclaimed harness and thoroughbred racing. The Sanatoga Race Course is home to thoroughbred racing during the summer, highlighted by the annual Travers race in August, one of the most exciting thoroughbred contests in the racing calendar. And at Saratoga Raceway, harness racing takes place from Febuary through November. From late June trough Labor Day, Amtrak provides special weekend service between New York City and Saratoga Springs. Special bus service is available to carry our customers to and from the racetrak. At nearby Saratoga Spa State Par you'll find a 2,200-acre park with public swimming pools, tennis courts, PGA rated golf courses, cross country ski trails, ice skating facilities, mineral bath houses and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. From June to September, the Arts Center is the home of the New York City Opera, the New York City Ballet, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Newport Jazz Festival and over thirty comtemporary artists ranging from rock to country musicians. You can also enjoy Saratoga Spring's Victorian downtown district with its sidewalk cafes, tree-lined streets, floral plantings and boutiques. The district was a 1996 winner of the National Historic Trust's Main Street Award. Just outside the city, you can tour the historic Saratoga Battlefield.
FORT EDWARD-GLENS FALLS, NY The towns of Fort Edward and Glens Falls are situated on either side of the Hudson River where it feeds into the Champlain Canal in beautiful Washington County. The rural countryside is dotted with unique shops, farms, apple and maple orchards, recreational shorelines and much more. In downtown Fort Edward you can visit the Museum Campus, a complex of buildings housing collections of antique toys and glass, Fort Edward pottery, furniture and 18th century artifacts. The John P. Burke Research Center contains collections of over 70,000 photographs and genealogical records dating to the 18th century. The gift shop offers historical books, prints, coins and pottery. At the Archaeology Field School, you can tour an excavation site of the original Fort Edward military complex. Or visit the Washington County Historical Society for a look at county histories, newspapers, prints and maps. The Chapman Historical Museum in Glens Falls is a period home with a gallery of changing exhibits on the history of the Southern Adirondacks. The exhibits also feature a large collection of Adirondack photographs by Seneca Ray Stoddard. You can also see works of art featuring the Adirondacks at the Hyde Collection In Glens Falls. The downtown merchants include antique shops, fishing and tackle stores, a deli and a pastry shop, where you can enjoy breakfast or lunch. When you're ready to relax, stop by the town of Lake George, where there's fishing, swimming and boating on the 32-mile lake, as well as golf and winter sports. During summer you can get a suntan on Million Doller Beach, a scenic stretch of lakefront shore with bath houses, lockers and lifeguards. In winter you can rent a snowmobile and cruise the wooded trails. Lake George offers a variety of accommodations, from rustic cabins to the famous Sagamore Resort. If you're passing through Glens Falls in late September, don't miss the Adirondack Ballon Festival. More than one hundred ballons are launched during the fun and spectacular event.
WHITEHALL, NY Tucked into the hills at the southernmost tip of Lake Champlain, you'll find the historic town of Whitehall, where the U.S. Navy was born. Settled in 1759, Whitehall was a pivotal location for struggles in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. It has been a transportation town ever since the Champlain Canal was completed in 1823 and the railroad came to the area in 1848. In Riverside Park, you can stroll around the 19 century fountain with a view of the canal. Follow the bridge over the canal and you'll find shops and brick buildings in the village center's historic district. Skenesborough Museum is within walking distance of the train station. The museum, housed in a 1917 canal terminal building, displays artifacts that exemplify life in Whitehall from its original settlement to the present day.
TICONDEROGA, NY Bordered by Lake Champlain in the east, Lake George in the west, and with the LaChute River running through it, Ticonderoga is a fisherman's paradise, luring anglers from far and wide for great fishing. From April through September, tournaments and derbies are held. Historic Fort Ticonderoga stands here, as do several French and British forts in nearby Crown Point that were crucial strongholds during the colonial wars that were fought in this valley. Fort Ticonderoga was built in 1775 by the French and was defended against the British through numerous attacks. The largest collection of cannons in North America is assembled on the grounds, and the Fort's museum houses weapons, paintings and articles of the soldiers stationed here through the years.Other attractions include the Ticonderoga Heritage Museum which depicts the area's industrial heritage, and the Hancock House is home to the Ticonderoga Historical Society and is a replica of the original house built for John Hancock in Boston. The rooms of the house display period furnishings, along with exhibits of civil history dating to the 1700's. If it's exercise you want, you can head to the Ticonderoga Country Club, where facilities for golf or tennis are available. The Putnam Pond State Public Campground six miles west of the village has tent sites, boating and bath houses, fishing, hikingand picnicking. The landscape jn this part of the Champlain Valley is dotted with family farms, and many welcome visitors stop by for tours and fruit picking in their fields and orchards.
PORT HENRY, NY The first you'll notice upon detraining in Port Henry is the chateau-style station. Built in 1888, the station is a monument to the prosperity generated by the rich deposits of iron ore found deep in the Adirondack foothills in Moriah and the other towns that adjoin Port Henry. For vacationers, the nearby town of Moriah boats 28 miles of Lake Champlain shoreline, including the scenic Bulwagga Bay. You can sail, fish, swim and water ski on the lake, an inland you'll find dozens of smaller lakes and ponds, fed by over 70 miles of pristine fishing streams. And for those of you who believe in monsters, Moriah has its own version of the Loch Ness Monster. "Champ" has been sited on a regular basis, swimming off the shores of Port Henry, so bring your binoculars!
WESTPORT, NY On the shore of Lake Champlain and in the shadow of the Adirondack peaks lies the town of Westport. A quaint, 19th century village with all the amenities of a four-season resort, including a full-service marina and country club, Westport is also home to the annual Essex County Fair in August. Just a few miles from Westportis Lake Placid village, the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Visit this premier yearround resort community, the only place in America where you can take a thrilling bobsled ride in the winter or summer. The Olympic venues are open to the public, including the 28-story Ski Jumping Complex, Olympic Arena and Museum, and the Whiteface Mt. Memorial Highway. You can go mountain biking in the hills, and scenic boat cruises are available around the shores of Lake Placid. The nearby town of Essex serves as a haven for craftspeople and boaters, linked by ferry to the Vermount shore in sommer. Many of the historic homes have been renovated and converted into bed and breakfast accommodations. From the Memorial Day Festival in the springs to the Foliage Festival in the fall, Westport offers a mix of excitement and relaxation all through the year.
PORT KENT, NY Port Kent is home to one of the oldest tourist attractions in the United States, Ausable Chasm, where centuries of running water has carved in stone what is commonly referred to as "The Grand Canyon of the East." The full range of Champlain Valley recreation resources converge at Port Kent, with access to horseback riding, golf courses and campgrounds, along with swimming and boating. Historically a resort community as well as port for stemboats and cargo transportation, Port Kent also serves as the doorway to the historic Village of Keeseville, with a stone arch dating to 1843. When you're ready to relax, you can go to the shores of Lake Champlain or visit the wildlife sanctuary at Wickham Marsh. From May though October, you can catch a ride on the ferry that connects Port Kent across Lake Champlain to Burlington Vermont.
PLATTSBURGH, NY Nestled along the banks of the scenic Saranac River, Plattsburgh is a town rich and early American history. City Hall is listed on the National Register and was designed by architect John Russell Pope, who also designed the National Archives and the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. The rotunda of City Hall is enlivened by colorful murals painted by Peter Charlap in 1985. The murals depict area history from its legendary beginings to modern events. The Macdonough Monument, also designed by Pope, was built in 1926 to commemorate Commodore Thomas Macdonough's victory over the British on September 11, 1814 in the Battle of Pittsburg. The First Presbyterian Church on Brinkerhoff Street, established in 1790, is the oldest church organization in Clinton County. While the church was under construction, it was used as barracks duringthe Battle of Plattsburgh. It burned in 1867 and was rebuilt in the 1870's. St. John's Roman Catholic Church on Broad Street was organized in 1827. A massive Italian marble altar was ordered for the church but sunk with the Titanic. Riverwalk Park is a pleasant pathway in downtown Plattsburgh with magnificent vistas of Lake Champlain. Strolling through the park, you'll see the Champlain Monument, a gift from France in 1909 to celebrate the three-hundred year anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's discovery of the lake in 1609. In Riverwalk Park, you can also enjoy historical museums, art galleries, shopping, restaurants and boat tours on the Saranac. In addition to the many touring opportunities, you can walk or jogalong the park's exercise trail or just relaxon the grassy hills that roll through the park.
ROUSES POINT, NY Rouses Point is a busy stopover on the way to Montreal. If you want to go exploring, there's a toll bridge that crosses Lake Champlain into Vermont. You can visit historic Fort Lennox ten miles north of the station, where tours are available, along with picnic areas and a cafe.
MONTREAL, QC Located on an island at the junction of the St.Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, Montreal has served as a trading post for over three hundred years as well as a home to festivals and exciting events. It began as a stockaded Indian settlement and was made a missionary outpost in 1642. The city later became an important fur trading center and served as the launching point for the western expeditions of Jolliet and Marquette. Today, Montreal is a sparkling population after Paris. Worldclass performers animate and the city's streets and pedestrain plazas with exciting shows day and night. The city is divided into main parts: the Old City, which is a maze of narrow streets, restored buildings and homes; and the modern part of the city, with towering skyscrapers, museums , theatres, the largest underground city in the world (18 miles), and almost 6,000 restaurants to choose from. Horse-drawn carriages can carry you on a tour of the city and Momtreal Royal Park, where you can enjoy picnicking, biking, and winter sports like skating and cross-country skiing. Next to the park is the Westmount area, an historic section of roads lined with charming homes from the early 1900's and English gardens. Visit the Notre-Dame Basilica, one of the most beautiful churches in the world, designed by New Yorker James O'Donnell. Built of Montreal limestone, the basilica's Noe-Gothic design features a main altar, pulpit and statues, and the walls are lined with stainedglass windows. While you're in town, go strolling down the oldest street in Montreal, St. Paul Street. And on nearby Notre-Dame Street, visit Chateau Ramezay, with furniture, paintings, costumes and porcelain dating to the 17th century. Five minutes from the city, visitors can experience the Casino de Montreal, where the view of the St. Lawrence River is alone worth the visit. You can come to play or watch the players on the casino's 105 gaming tables and 2,600 slot machines. Sports fans visitings Montreal during ice hockey season will want to catch the excitement of the Canadiens at the new Molson's Center one of the most innovative sports facilities in North America. Or you can visit Olympic Park, which houses the stadium where the 1976 Summer Olympics Games took place and is now home to baseball's Montreal Expos and the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes. The park is also home to the world's tallest inclined tower, with a viewing observatory next to the Biodome, with four ecosystems under the roof and the second most important botanical garden in the world. Last, but certainly not least, Montreal's restaurants offer over 80 different cuisines, including some of the finest French cooking available anywhere, the perfect way to sample the city's European dazzle and charm.
