The Point

New York
United States

The Experience

You can build a hotel with all the modern bells and whistles. Or, you can take an old camp on a secluded Adirondack lakeshore, train your staff to never say no and open the front gates—luring in the wealthy and powerful from all over the world to sit around communal tables, share blueberry pancakes and become lifelong friends. Life at The Point isn't about extravagance or cutting-edge; it's about feeling at home. Spend your entire stay in the kitchen assisting chef Kevin McCarthy, hike the woods, canoe Upper Saranac Lake or see how much champagne you can drink in one day. The best part is that stays here are all-inclusive. As in: everything.

The Rooms

What this place lacks in amenities (no televisions!) it makes up for in comfort. Is there anything finer than sinking into your Adirondack-style bed with a book from your in-room library and falling asleep in front of a roaring fire that you built yourself? (Unless, of course, you prefer to have it done for you.) The rooms vary in size from big to very big; all have massive stone fireplaces, cozy sitting areas and sky-high custom-made luxurious beds. From the outside, cabins look like Lincoln Log models; inside, they're all warm spruce and fir walls, waxed to a high honey shine. All rooms have broad views of the lake.

The Service

Want to chat? Ask the general manager, John, to join you for a scotch. Feel like a picnic? Just let the kitchen know where and when. Want to eat dinner in your room rather than the extravagant hunting lodge-style Great Hall? Someone will dedicate their evening to serving you in your room, course by course, at whatever pace choose. When you leave, don't be surprised if you find your car cleaned, your tank full and lunch packed and waiting irresistibly in the back seat.

The Highlights

Seasons don't matter at all here, but each one brings new activities. Snowshoeing or ice fishing in winter, leaf-peeping in fall, hiking the trails that wind through the mountains in the spring. In good weather, take one of the resort's canoes or Adirondack guide boats onto the lake. Or tour the lake in the classic 33-foot mahogany Hackercraft. Golfers will be happy to know that the Saranac Golf and Country Club is minutes away. Licensed guides are always available to take you into the wilderness or give some valuable fishing tips. After a long day in the woods, relax with a pint in the warm glow of the Pub. Again, everything's included. The point of The Point: Don't even think of using it as a base to explore the rest of the region; you won't want to leave.

 

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