Hours before Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. won the Home Run Derby in Seattle, I proudly belted two in a row in Bolton Landing on Lake George. I showboated around the bases because I hit them off my eight-year-old son, who tossed me two meatballs that I handidily took deep. Were they moonshots like Vlad, Jr? No, but they were more meaningful than any Major League dinger.
My sons and I were obviously not present during the All Star festivities. We were at The Sagamore Resort as we are every summer soonafter the Fourth of July. We were playing ball on the cool indoor baseball field of “The Rec” at the resort, which also boasts mini-golf, a rock climbing wall, movies, ping pong tables, and video games. The aforementioned star-turn I’m jokingly referring to in the opening paragraph occurred on a complete washout of a day. At The Sagamore, the weather rarely matters though, of course, you always want sunny skies. The Rec has plenty to do on those rainy days and there’s restaurants to dine in while you wait it out plus an indoor pool. The quaint town is fun to visit as well when you need to go indoors. I highly recommend Happy Jack’s. But, I digress. Rain or no rain, The Sagamore is the story here with so much to do for you and your family. That’s why we’ve returned each year for nine years.
Looking Forward
The countdown usually starts midway on our way home after we stay at The Sagamore and literally continues all year round. My three children refer to The Sagamore as “vacation.” All other places we go on vacation are called by the specific places we visit. DisneyWorld is DisneyWorld. New Hampshire is New Hampshire. But, The Sagamore is always vacation. It’s an oasis for us, and we look forward to going even if it’s been minutes after we just left.
Stay at the resort, and you’ll see why immediately. From the welcoming staff to the beautiful room (we stay in the lodge suite) to the spectacular views of the lake, you’ll be put at ease from the daily grind almost immediately. I find it extremely difficult to relax. I work a lot, and it’s nearly impossible to unwind but when I come here, I’m instantly zen from the second I jump into the lake for the very first time. As a matter of fact, it’s a tradition for my kids to watch me jump in and take a pic while I’m mid-air. I post this pic every year on my socials — so much so that I had a friend text me this year “did I miss the lake pic?”
Aside from the lake (The Sagamore has a lovely private spot along it with an area to chill at with tubes and another place to swim around and jump in), there’s a wonderful outside pool offering panaromic views. There’s a 24-hour gym that also comes in handy to burn off the calories you’ve consumed at the pool bar / pool service. I lost count how many lobster rolls I had at poolside.
Speaking of food, The Pavilion is always a favorite — delivering fresh seafood and wonderful views. La Bella Vita is also a can’t miss. The Caldwell breakfast buffet is also killer. I could go on about all The Sagamore has to offer, but I feel I’ve done so in past articles. What I will say is this. Even after nine years of coming here, this place never gets old. The S’mores at the firepit are always a hit. The free ice cream mid-afternoons at the pool is always a fam favorite. The cocktails hit different at the lake.
There’s a reason people return to places they love. You know what to expect. The Sagamore is all about excellence. They never disappoint and know matter how often we come here, we are never let down. We always have new memories to add to a proverbial chest of memories we’ve already created. This 70-acre island that the resort sits on truly is an oasis like I said before. It’s “vacation” not simply a spot we go on vacation to if that makes sense. It’s a place we can truly leave all our baggage behind and simply be present.
