Champagne Brunch Cruise on Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks, NY

According to Wikipedia...

Raquette Lake is the source of the Raquette River in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. It is near the community of Raquette Lake. The lake has 99 miles (160 km) of shoreline with pines and mountains bordering the lake. It is located in the towns of Long Lake and Arietta, both in Hamilton County.

The origin of the name is uncertain. One account is that it was named for snowshoes (raquette in French) left by a party of Tories led by Sir John Johnson in 1776. Traveling by snowshoe, they were overtaken by a spring thaw when they reached the lake. They left the snowshoes en masse on the shore.

Raquette Lake developed into one of the most prestigious summer getaways for the elite in the 19th century. In 1877, William West Durant started work on what would become the first of the "Great Camps," Pine Knot. Other summer homes in the "great camp style" on Raquette Lake include North Point (the 1870 buildings replaced by Lucy Carnegie in 1903), Echo Camp (1883) and Bluff Point (1876).

Raquette Lake served as a mid-point to other Gilded Age retreats such as the Great Camps Sagamore (1897 now a National Historic Landmark), Camp Uncas (1890) Uncas became a National Historic Landmark Fall 2008, and Kamp Kill Kare (1896) on nearby lakes Sagamore, Mohegan, and Kora, respectively. Sagamore is open to the public for guided tours during non-winter months and also as an educational facility.

Raquette Lake is still popular, especially in summer, due to the scenery, wildlife, boating and hiking. There are several children's summer camps, including Raquette Lake Boys Camp and Raquette Lake Girls Camp. In winter, substantial snowfall makes the area popular for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

According to http://www.raquettelakenavigation.com/

Include a cruise aboard the WW Durant in your plans. Relax, rejuvenate and rejoice cruising and dining or just cruising with Raquette Lake Navigation Company, family owned and operated since 1991. We cruise no matter what the weather! You will be comfortable in our enclosed, heated dining room or outside enjoying the fresh air on the open upper deck. Fully licensed cash bar. Cruising from Memorial Day through October.

• Breathtaking scenery
• Delicious food
• Unobtrusive service
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Fascinating history
The W.W. Durant, built by Captain Dean during the winters of 1990 and '91, captures the ambiance of an opulent by-gone era Mark Twain dubbed The Gilded Age, surrounding one with wainscoting, stained and etched glass, gleaming brass, rich carpeting and polished oak, while at the same time offering the convenience and comfort of modern amenities. Great Camps, great food, great experience!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Raquette
• Lake
• Navigation
• Champagne
• Brunch
• Cruise