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Posts Tagged ‘vacation’

History Comes Alive at Fort William Henry

June 18th, 2013 by James Hood

The Fort William Henry Museum and Restoration has added a new feature – Living History!!

Living-History

Step back in time at Fort William Henry. What was like to be at the outpost in the wilderness in 1757; the hardships and fears of being the front line in defense of the British Colonies from French invaders? Talk with those that were there!

Meet a British soldier of the 35th Regiment of Foot, sent to the New World to fight the long-standing enemy of Britain and finding yourself in an area very different than your homeland.

Talk with a French soldier who has traveled south from New France with the army of Montcalm, who will soon lay siege to Fort William Henry.

Ask the Ranger about the different tactics they learned from the Native American people who lived here that changed the way war is fought. Tactics that are still in use today with the modern military.

Listen as a soldier of the 42nd Highland Regiment plays the bagpipes to rally the men’s spirits and lead them into battle.

Learn the important part women played at the 18th century fortress and entrenched camp. These women kept the army clothed and fed while enduring great hardship.

History is alive at Fort William Henry! Open daily 9:00 am – 7:00 pm with tours on the hour (last tour begins at 5:00 pm). Call 518-668-5471 for more information.

Fireworks – No better spot to see them!

May 17th, 2013 by James Hood

fireworksThe Village of Lake George has fireworks on the Fourth of July and every Thursday after that for the rest of the summer. The fireworks are launched from a barge just a few hundred yards offshore. They light up the lake and the noise echoes of the surrounding mountains. One word: spectacular.

The Fort William Henry Hotel has the best view of the lake. Therefore, the FWH Hotel the best view of the fireworks.

Don’t fight for parking a half dozen blocks away. Don’t fight the traffic after it’s over. Don’t lug chairs (with kiddies it tow) like a herd of cattle.

View the fireworks with us. Park in our large lot. Sit on our landscaped lawn or on one of our wicker chairs on the Veranda. Enjoy a cocktail at the Veranda Bar and take in the amazing show. Doesn’t that sound so much nicer?  Ooh and aah if you agree…

If you are staying in one of our lake view rooms, you have a clear view of the show right from your room. It would be like your very own private fireworks show!! How romantic is that?

Book your room online or by calling 1-800-234-0267.

When you think of fireworks, think of the Fort William Henry Hotel. You can’t beat it. You just can’t.

After the Con – Wrap up of the Para History Convention

May 1st, 2013 by James Hood

Adam-Berry-Ghost-HuntersHere is a report from John Tobin, one of the organizers of the “Preserving the Haunt – Para History Con” which took place at the Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center on April 26 and 27, 2013. The event was sponsored by Glory Haunt Hounds and Beyond Ghosts.

Joe-Chin-Ghost-Hunters-International

Overall the event was a success. The convention had great foot traffic and our vendors, fans and celebrities were very pleased. The lecture rooms were full and many who attended – in particular the majority of celebrity guests -cited the convention as “the best that had ever been to.”

The featured celebrities included Adam Berry (SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters”), Joe Chin (SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters International”), John Zaffis (SyFy’s “Haunted Collector”), and Rachel Hoffman and Tina Storer from Paranormal Xpeditions.

Paranomal-Xpeditions

The Ghost Hunt at the Fort William Henry Museum was great. It was very cold but most people stuck it out for the majority of the event. The (paranormal) activity was very high and almost everyone had an experience.

The ammunition area was particularly active with disembodied voices, and feelings of being lightheaded. The other very active area was the dungeon where reports of feelings of being touched, disembodied voices and feeling of being watched and followed.

The Fort did not disappoint on a paranormal level.

Many thanks to Fred Austin and Lauren Sheridan at the Fort for their amazing support and hard work.

Booking your stay for Americade

March 29th, 2013 by James Hood

Row of motorcycles at Americade - Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center, Lake George, New YorkWell, it is almost April, but we’re already thinking about Americade which is June 3rd through 8th. Americade has become the world’s largest multi-brand motorcycle touring rally, and, once again, the Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center is very proud and excited to be the official headquarters for Americade 2013.

Almost all of the events, the vendor booths and the demo rides are located on the Fort William Henry property. You MUST register and have a wristband to be allowed on property.

ONLY the Fort William Henry offers a discounted Americade wristband. No one else, not even Americade, sells a discounted full week Americade wristband! When you book online at www.fortwilliamhenry.com, we will automatically include an Americade full week wristband for only $60.

Motorcycle Row at Americade - Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center, Lake George, New YorkWe strongly suggest that you make your reservations by calling the Fort William Henry Hotel at 800-234-0267 and ask for the “Americade Package.” The online booking engine through the FWH website is set up ONLY for room reservations. If you book a room through the website, you must them contact Americade to register to receive your wristband.

Back by popular demand is the Motorcycle Stunt Show. This always draws big crowds. This year, we will have the Smage Brothers who appeared on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Each year, there has been a different trick rider and this year’s show will be bigger and better and crazier! BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WRISTBAND to see it! Here’s a video from last year – Americade 2012: Americade Motorcycle Stunt Show Part 1

 

Paranormal Convention at Fort William Henry in April

February 27th, 2013 by James Hood

FWH Rev 2-11-13 smallOn Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th, 2013, Upstate NY paranormal groups Glory Haunt Hounds and Beyond Ghosts will be hosting a celebrity filled weekend for Paranormal and Historical enthusiast alike. “Preserving the Haunt” Para-History Con will be held at Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center.

Celebrities who will be attending are John Zaffis and Brian Cano from SyFy’s Haunted Collector, Joe Chin from Ghost Hunters International, Adam Berry from Ghost Hunters, Aaron Sagers from Paranormal Paparazzi & Paranormal Pop Culture, John Tenney from A&E and Teenage Psychic Cassidy Rae. Other local celebrities such as Rev. Tim Shaw of Para-X’s The Black Cat Lounge, Chris Di Cesare of SyFy’s School Spirits and C2D1 Hauntings and John Tobin of Para-X’s “Keeping the Spirits Alive!”…and several others!

The weekend begins with a Celebrity Hosted VIP party on Friday night beginning at 7pm. The night also includes a DJ, Cash Bar and Ghost Walks of the Fort. Tickets are limited, advance purchase requested. Tickets for this event are $40pp.

The “Preserving the Haunt” Para-History Con will be held Saturday, April 27th 10am – 6pm and will feature many vendors, lectures by celebrity guests, movie screenings of “Please, talk with me”; a true account of the C2D1 hauntings that took place at SUNY GENESEO in the 1980’s and “Shattered Hopes” the true story of the Amityville murders. Tickets are $40pp.

Join the celebrities again on Saturday night at 8pm until Midnight for a Ghost Investigation of Fort William Henry! Tickets are limited, advance purchase requested. Tickets for this event are $50pp.

We are also offering ‘all inclusive’ packages which include 2 nights’ luxury accommodations at Fort William Henry and tickets to all of the weekend’s events! $300 pp + taxes. Vendor spots are also still available.
For more information and purchase tickets please to go www.gloryhaunthounds.com or www.beyondghosts.com .

The lectures will be based around great historic locations that each speaker has experienced, and a focus on how the paranormal community can help in preserving these great locations, each will be interactive and include a Q&A session for the fans.

We have vendors ranging from Paranormal Teams from all across the country, to Jewelry sellers, Psychic mediums, Wood Carvers and many many more.

What is Para-History?

Para-History is a term used to describe historic locations with a Paranormal history. What we hope to accomplish is leverage our paranormal research in hopes of raising awareness to great historical locations buy taking the popularity of the Paranormal and reminding people how important it is to preserve and remember these great locations, and and our slogan is “Keeping the Spirits Alive” with a goal to keep the spirit of these great places in the forefront of the mind of lovers of the Paranormal

It is important to “Preserve the Haunt” because if we in the Paranormal community can give back and help the great historic locations that have helped us to conduct our research, the great heritage and history of the locations will be passed on for many more generations to come and hopefully not neglected or forgotten about.

Improvements to Fort William Henry Museum in the works

February 19th, 2013 by James Hood

Aerial View of Fort William HenryJust to the east of the Fort William Henry Hotel‘s Premium Wing is the Fort William Henry Museum and Restoration. This popular attraction has entertained and educated several thousand tourists and locals since the 1950s.

The restored fort is located on the site of the original fort which played a major role in the French and Indian War in the mid-1750s. Its log construction is painstakingly maintained on a yearly basis and archaeological work continues to unearth buttons and bullets from the fort’s time as well as tools from earlier Native American settlements at the site.

The upcoming 2013 Season

The fort has always featured guides dressed in period uniforms. However, the upcoming 2013 season will feature an effort to create more of a living history experience, in a similar vein as Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon.

soldiers-firing-musketsAs part of that effort, there will be two encampments featuring re-enactors from all over the Northeast region. The first will be in mid-August with a smaller one in mid-September.

Other scheduled improvements include updates to many of the displays, including the Underwater Archaeology on Lake George exhibit which opened last year with the help of Joe Zarzynski and John Farrell from Bateaux Below.

The popular Ghost Tour will also be improved and expanded. This family-friendly tour by candlelight takes place evenings during the summer. The fort and surrounding grounds are popular with paranormal enthusiasts and it was featured in an episode of Ghost Hunters on the SyFy Channel.

Put the Fort William Henry Museum and Restoration on your list of Things to Do in Lake George.

Where’s the Love this Valentine’s Day?!

February 5th, 2013 by James Hood

have_a_smurfy_valentines_day

A quick review of the Wikipedia entry about Valentine’s Day provides a daunting view for the holiday’s future. Oh, there will always be a Valentine’s Day, but where’s the love?!

Valentine’s Day has been associated with romance and lovers since the Middle Ages. By the 15th century, it was common practice to send flowers, candy and hand-written notes or cards with heartfelt expressions of love.

According to the U.S. Greeting Card Association, an estimated 15 million e-valentines were sent online in 2010. We can only hope that most of those were sent by grandparents to their grandkids or friend to friend… co-worker to co-worker.

Where’s the love in “Have a Smurfy Valentine’s Day”?

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Here is the Fort William Henry Hotel’s “Recipe for Romance” -

- Place 2 hearts in a beautiful setting

- Add a gourmet meal

- Toss in some wine

- Let simmer until hot

- Serve by candlelight

Executive Chef Anthony Teta has put together a spectacular menu for this Valentine’s Day, and we’re making it available on Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th as well. Entrees include Sauteed Duck Breast, Filet Mignon, Tandoori Tuna, Broiled Twin Lobster Tails, and Braised Veal Osso Buco.

Photo_12

Dinner reservations can be made by calling 964-6614.

But why stop there? Show your sweetheart just how in love you are by going “all in” this Valentine’s Day.

Book one of our Lakeview Rooms to complete this special evening. We have a limited number of Jacuzzi Suites and Fireplace Suites available for the Ultimate Valentine’s Day Celebration. Room reservations can be made by calling 518-668-3081 or by booking online.

Don’t get caught on thin ice!

January 30th, 2013 by James Hood

When is it safe to go out on the ice?

ice-fishingWell, here is an ice safety guide tip from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) -

Ice Thickness = Permissible Load
2 inches = One person on foot
3 inches = Group in single file
7.5 inches = One car (2 tons)
8 inches = Light truck (2.5 tons)
10 inches = Truck (3.5 tons)
12 inches = Heavy truck (7-8 tons)
15 inches = 10 tons

But… better safe than sorry.

Winter in Lake George and the Adirondacks

January 4th, 2013 by James Hood

The big tourist season for Lake George runs from late May to mid-October… but I’ll let you in on a secret: Winter might be more fun than summer. Sure, it can get pretty cold, but the daytime temps usually don’t get much below 20 degrees on average. What makes winter so wonderful is the fluffy white stuff: SNOW! Just the sound of the word might make some people think of shoveling the driveway. But it can also mean off-the-charts fun!

Skiing (downhill and cross-country), snowmobiling, snow tubing, snowshoeing… Now, that’s what I’m talking about.

You don’t need to own expensive equipment. You can rent pretty much anything you need to take part in these awesome activities.

It’s great fun for the whole family – from toddlers to seniors.

Rates are lower in the winter than in summer and it’s a lot less crowded. Yes, many of the restaurants and shops are closed, but there are plenty of great restaurants open year-round and the factory outlet stores are open year-round as well. The only thing you’re really missing is the snack shacks and t-shirt/souvenir shops.

The Fort William Henry Hotel is located at the southern tip of Lake George – just off the Northway I87. We are the perfect and most convenient jumping off point for all winter activities in the Adirondacks.

For downhill skiing, there’s West Mountain just minutes to the south. There’s Gore Mountain just 45 minutes north. Hickory Ski Center just 20 minutes to the north.

For cross-country skiing, there’s Crandall Park just south in Glens Falls. There’s Garnet Hill a little further north from Gore Mountain.

Snow tubing is really big now and about as cost-effective as it gets for family fun. Great tubing runs can be found at West Mountain and at Tubby Tubes Outdoor Fun Park. Both are minutes from FWH. Both have groomed tubing runs, with snowmaking and lights for night tubing. They have tubes already there, so all you need to do is dress warmly.

Snowmobilers love us. There’s the Southern Warren County trail system less than a stone’s throw away. There are miles and miles of trails to the east in Washington County and to the west in Old Forge. You can rent snowmobiles and even take guided tours. We like the guided tour up Prospect Mountain through Extreme Off Road Sports right here in Lake George.

The Lake George Winter Carnival takes place each year – every weekend in February. There’s an ice castle, entertainment, great food/drink… and, if the lake freezes enough, you can walk out on the lake and watch motorcycle/ATV races as well as the famous Outhouse Races.

For the hearty, outdoorsy types, you can try snowshoeing up the many mountains around Lake George. Some good ones are Pilot Knob, Cat Mountain and at Up Yonda Farm in Bolton which also has a nice museum with wildlife displays.

Tons of fun things to do, less expensive, no crowds… What’s not to love about winter in Lake George?!!

Make the most of your Lake George vacation

December 11th, 2012 by James Hood

Want a friendly tip to make your Lake George vacation as memorable as possible? That’s easy! Just remember this simple phrase: “It’s all about the view.”

There are lots of things to do in Lake George and the Adirondacks, but there is really one main reason why so many people visit here. Say it with me: “It’s all about the view.” The sapphire blue water of the lake. The thick green forests on the mountainsides giving way to rocky summits. No matter where you are (for the most part), the view is spectacular.

Now. Keep this in mind when booking your stay and planning your activities.

First, stay at the Fort William Henry Hotel. Self-serving? A little. However, we have 18 acres of landscaped grounds and hands-down the best view of Lake George.

When making your reservation, ask for a “Lakeview” room. One side of the hotel faces the lake. The other faces away from the lake and looks south. Ask for a room on an upper floor of the Grand Hotel – 3, 4 or 5. The higher, the better. Again, this picture shows the view from a Lakeview room on the 5th floor.

aerial-view-small

Next tip: Know what type of room you are booking.

The Grand Hotel is the newest of the 3. It is the largest and has the nicest rooms. It also has the highest rates but it is worth it.Here at the Fort William Henry Hotel, we have 3 buildings: Grand Hotel, Premium East Wing and Standard West Motel.

The Premium East Wing is a 2-story, interior hallway building. The rooms are still quite nice. Again, ask for a Lakeview room. The view of the lake is still spectacular. There is no elevator in this section. If you have a lot of bags or a stroller, you may want to get a room on the first floor.

The Standard West Motel is a 2-story, exterior access building. The kind you may have stayed in for vacations when you were a kid. The rooms have been remodeled with new furniture but it still has an older feel to it. Some people are more put off by this than others. Decide which type of person you are. The rates for this building are the lowest of the three buildings. Again, ask for Lakeview. This building is close to the outdoor pool. Some of our most loyal, come every summer guests prefer the Standard West for this reason. You can sit on the patio right outside your room and watch your kids splash in the pool. There is no elevator for this building either so keep that in mind as well.

So, when booking your stay with us, you need to factor the rates into your budget, but one thing is always free: (Everybody together) It’s all about the view. Lakeview. Lakeview. Lakeview.

What you do for activities during your stay is up to you. Steamboat ride? Great views. Hiking? Great views. You see what I mean?