Christened Lac du St. Sacrement in 1609 by Father Jogues, its European discoverer, Lake George lies in a deep fault valley the ends of which are blocked by glacial debris. Thirty-two magnificent miles long, the dark, spring-fed lake surrounds 225 islands. At the lake’s southern end sprawls the busy tourist village of Lake George, but otherwise, much of the shoreline is crowded with dense pine.

As part of a strategic water route connecting Canada with New York City, Lake George played an important role in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Between 1690 and 1760, the French and British fought four major battles along the shores of Lake George and nearby Lake Champlain.

Fort Ticonderoga, at the foot of Lake George overlooking Lake Champlain, and Fort William Henry, at the head of Lake George, date back to that period. During the Revolutionary War, the taking of Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775 marked the Americans’ first major military victory.

Surrounding Lake George are the forested foothills of the Adirondacks, the summits of which offer glorious views of the lake below and the higher peaks farther north. To the west gleam a smattering of smaller lakes, including Lake Luzerne, Schroon Lake, and Brandt Lake.