Lake George Vacations

My first Father's Day without my father

My son’s 2nd birthday party will be this Saturday – one year since my dad last came to my house. Sunday is Father’s Day – the first one since my dad passed away last September.

This will be a very rough weekend.

My dad was ailing for a few years and part of me knew the inevitable was always close. I never seriously considered it because, after all, he was my dad. He was always there.

I had a hard time with my father’s death. I still do. I feel guilty for never acknowledging the job he did raising me. My dad worked long hours as a police officer to make sure we had a decent house in a good neighborhood and that we were able to afford yearly luxuries like vacations to Lake George or Walt Disney World. He even loved me despite the fact that I was a Boston Red Sox fan in a decidedly New York Yankees household.

But he also had to deal with a parent’s worst nightmare – when I was 2-years-old I was in a very bad accident that left me with a shattered skull. My dad’s strength and composure was what kept my family together.

In the end, a harmless fall caused my mom to take my dad to the hospital. It wasn’t the first fall for my dad, who was sick for a lot longer than he was letting on. He got worse every day he was in the hospital and within two weeks he was gone. Just like that. There was cancer in his system. They never did find the source.

I remember my mom calling me while I was on the way to the hospital. She told me it was time. I drove like a maniac to get to my dad’s room but I was fifteen minutes too late. My mom said it was like he didn’t want me there to see it, but I hate that I wasn’t there. When I was hurt, my dad was there for me. At the end, I wasn’t there for him.

If there is a silver lining to my dad’s story, it is that he got to hold all three of his grandchildren. He loved them very much and they still miss him and tell me they wish he was still here. As I raise them, I want to make sure I impart the lessons my dad taught me. I don’t want the pressures of the adult world to get to my children, but at the same time I don’t want them to be unprepared for them. I want them to have vacations and good times to remember. I want them to know that I will always be there for them.

This Father’s Day, I thank my dad for teaching me what it means to be a responsible parent. I hope I can make him proud by passing that wisdom down to my own children.

Lake George and Lake Placid Family Vacation - Mom's Favorite Stuff

Last year, we had the opportunity to visit Lake George, New York, for a family ski vacation, and we had a great time!  This spring, we decided to head back to the Adirondacks to see what this family-friendly vacation spot is like in the spring.

We started out in Lake George Village, at the Admiral Motel.  The Admiral Motel is more like a family-run bed and breakfast, with coffee served on the front porch by the pool, and inviting flowers and artwork throughout the motel.  For visitors to the lake in the summer, there’s no better location than this!

We found Lake George Village to be so different in the summer – much busier, with everything open (unlike in the winter when many businesses were closed).  The lake is absolutely gorgeous, and there’s so much to do – from boat rides to the Six Flags.

Family Fun in Lake Placid

After our night in Lake George, we headed up to Lake Placid, about an hour and a half away.  Lake Placid is very different from Lake George – a lot slower and more tranquil.  We stayed at the Mirror Lake Inn, right on Mirror Lake.  We had a fabulous room – a three-bedroom suite with two bathrooms and a large dining room table.

We spent the long weekend exploring the village, canoeing (free at the Mirror Lake Inn ), and swimming in the pool.  Because the village is right down the street from the Inn, we were constantly walking back and forth – for lunch, dinner, and shopping.

The kids loved the trip, and we did too.  It was exactly what we needed – a nice long weekend to hang out together.  I’d love to do this every spring/summer – it’s a great family vacation!

Disclosure: The Admiral Motel provided us with a complimentary night stay and the Mirror Lake Inn provided us with a two night stay at no cost.  The third night at the Mirror Lake Inn was at a media rate.