At a glance
One big kid activity and one good meal per day.
Scenic drive + Oktoberfest
Scenic route through the Adirondacks, ~10–11 hr with stops · Sleep: Quality Inn Lake George
- Kid funOktoberfest rides + ice cream
- Grown-ups1000 Islands + Adirondack lakes
- FoodFlying Spatula lunch, festival dinner
- 8:00 AM
Leave Vaughan
Long day with four stops and a holiday Friday at the border. Expect to reach Lake George around 6:45 PM.
401 east.
- ~9:15 AM
ONroute Port Hope
Quick 15-minute stop on the 401 eastbound: washrooms, coffee, snacks for the car.
About 1¼ hours from Vaughan. Then about 2 hours to Gananoque.
- ~11:15 AM
Gananoque stop
125 Water St, Gananoque. Stretch, washrooms, coffee and a look at the 1000 Islands waterfront.
Keep it to about 30 minutes. The border is next.
- ~12:00 PM
Thousand Islands Bridge + border
About 15 minutes from Gananoque. Check border wait times while you're stopped in Gananoque.
Passports for all four ready at the booth.
- ~12:20 PM
Lunch at The Flying Spatula
24479 NY-411, La Fargeville. Casual diner just off I-81, about 15–20 minutes past the bridge. Known for homemade burgers, omelettes, pancakes and home fries, with big portions.
Allow about 45 minutes.
- ~1:45 PM
Lowville gas + washroom stop
5403 Shady Ave, Lowville. Quick 10–15 minute stop.
Fill the tank here. Gas stations get sparse inside the Adirondack Park.
- 2:00 PM
Adirondack drive
NY-12 to Boonville, then NY-28 past Old Forge, Inlet and Blue Mountain Lake, then NY-30 south. Lakes and fall colours most of the way, about 2½–3 hours.
Old Forge is the backup if you need more gas.
- ~4:45 PM
Speculator Public Beach
2859 NY-30, on Lake Pleasant. A 20–30 minute scenic stop for a lake view and to let the kids run around.
Sunset is around 6:25 PM, so the last 20 minutes or so will be in the dark. Watch for deer. Then I-87 south, about 1½ hours to Lake George.
- ~6:45 PM
Check in at Quality Inn
57 Canada Street. Breakfast is included. Park the car and leave it for the night.
- 7:00 PM
Oktoberfest dinner
Canada Street across from Shepard Park. Free. Bratwurst, schnitzel, potato pancakes, pretzels, carnival rides. Open until 10 PM Friday.
Still hungry? Giuseppe's Pizza is casual Italian and very kid-friendly.
- 8:45 PM
Ice cream, then bed
Chill Stop in the village.
Backup: Nina's Sweet Shoppe on Canada Street (custard, 30+ flavours).
Prospect Mountain, mini golf + the good dinner
Short drives · Sleep: Quality Inn Lake George
- Kid funPirate's Cove mini golf
- Grown-upsFall colours from the summit
- FoodBest dinner: The Log Jam (booked)
- 8:30 AM
Breakfast at Biscotti Brothers Cafe
Skip the hotel breakfast today for something better.
- 9:45 AM
Prospect Mountain
Veterans Memorial Highway: 5.5 miles, three lookouts. $10 per car. From the top lot the summit is a short, steep 0.2-mile walk. Allow about 2 hours.
Go early. It's peak foliage on a holiday weekend.
- 12:30 PM
- 2:00 PM
Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf
2115 Route 9, Lake George. Open 10 AM–9 PM on weekends. 18 holes: $14 adult, $10 kids 4–12.
- 3:30 PM
Waterfront walk
Shepard Park, Beach Road and the lakefront.
Around the World Mini Golf is on Beach Road if they want a second round. One course is usually enough.
- 5:15 PM
- 6:30 PM
The Log Jam Restaurant ✓ Booked
The proper dinner of the trip: classic Adirondack steak, seafood and American food on Route 9, a short drive south of the village.
Reservation confirmed for 6:30. Leave the hotel by about 6:10.
- 8:15 PM
Dessert + Oktoberfest round two
The festival runs until 10 PM Saturday. Kids pick dessert.
Minne Ha-Ha cruise + Great Escape
Cruise 10:15, park 12–5 PM, no Fright Fest · Sleep: Quality Inn Lake George
- Kid funBoo Fest, rides, Martha's
- Grown-upsPaddlewheel cruise on the lake
- FoodPark food + Martha's ice cream
- 8:45 AM
Hotel breakfast
Leave the hotel by about 9:50 to walk to the dock.
- 10:15 AM
Minne Ha-Ha paddlewheel cruise
One-hour cruise, 10:15–11:15, from Steel Pier on Beach Road, about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Fall colours from the water, and the kids get to see the paddlewheel up close.
Be at the dock by 10:00 to board. Bring a warm layer; it's cool on the water.
- 11:15 AM
Walk back to the car
About 10 minutes back to the hotel.
- 11:30 AM
Drive to Great Escape
About 15 minutes to Queensbury. You'll reach the gate right around opening.
It's run by Enchanted Parks now, not Six Flags. Buy tickets on the Great Escape site, not the Six Flags app.
- 12–5 PM
Rides + Boo Fest
Daytime trick-or-treating, crafts, hay maze and shows.
- Family and medium-thrill rides
- Each kid picks one must-do
- Don't chase every coaster
- Lunch
Eat inside the park
Keep it light. Don't leave and come back.
- ~5:00 PM
Leave the park → Martha's Dandee Creme
Route 9, right across from Great Escape. Huge soft-serve cones. The perfect park exit.
Seasonal; it usually closes for the year in mid-to-late October. Check it's open.
- 6:30 PM
Keep it easy
Back in the village by about 6. The Lagoon is a casual sit-down, or pizza if everyone's tired.
Pack most bags tonight.
Souvenirs, then Niagara at night
~5 hr on the NYS Thruway · Sleep: Seneca Niagara Resort
- Kid funSouvenir challenge + Falls lit up
- Grown-upsLong drive done in one go
- FoodFun themed dinner
- 8:00 AM
Hotel breakfast
- 9–10:30
Souvenir challenge
Walk the village and give each kid $15–20 to choose one souvenir. They decide; you only veto.
- 11:00 AM
Check out, early lunch
Something quick in the village.
- Noon
Drive to Niagara Falls, NY
I-87 south, then I-90 west. One 20–30 minute stop near Syracuse. The Thruway has cashless tolls (E-ZPass or bill by mail).
- 5–5:30 PM
Check in at Seneca Niagara
Treat it as the family hotel. The casino floor is adults only.
- 6:30 PM
Rainforest Cafe
Inside the Sheraton on Old Falls Street, a 5-minute walk. Jungle theme, the fun dinner of the trip.
Prefer better food? Use one of Seneca's full-service restaurants.
- 8:00 PM
Niagara Falls at night
Walk into Niagara Falls State Park to see the Falls lit up. Route: American Falls → Bridal Veil Falls → Prospect Point.
Niagara adventure + home
~1.5–2 hr to Vaughan plus the border
- Kid funCave of the Winds or Maid of the Mist
- Grown-upsShort drive home
- FoodGood lunch before the border
- 8:30 AM
Breakfast
Three Sisters Cafe at Seneca is easiest.
- 9:30 AM
Niagara Falls State Park in daylight
Check out or leave bags with the hotel, then walk the park. Allow 2½–3 hours. Route: Prospect Point → American Falls → Goat Island → Terrapin Point.
- Pick one
One paid attraction
- Cave of the Winds (top pick for 8 and 11): 9 AM–4:15 PM that week. $23 adult, $19 youth. On Goat Island, right on your walk. You get soaked; bring a change of clothes.
- Maid of the Mist: 9 AM–5 PM. $30.25 adult, $19.75 kids 6–12.
- 12:30 PM
Lunch before the border
Hard Rock Cafe by the park, or one of Seneca's restaurants.
- 1:30 PM
Head home
Rainbow Bridge or Lewiston–Queenston. Tuesday should be quieter than Monday's holiday return. Home by late afternoon.
To-do before we go
Ticks are saved on this device so you can come back to the list.
Book now
Pack
Tolls & E-ZPass
- E-ZPass auto-replenish is on ($25 top-up when below $10), so the balance covers the trip as long as the card on file works.
- Friday's scenic route skips the Thruway; the Thousand Islands Bridge is the main toll.
- Monday's Thruway (Albany → Buffalo) is the biggest toll, roughly $17–34 depending on account type, plus ~$2 for the Grand Island bridges.
- Rainbow Bridge home: $6 USD (E-ZPass accepted).
Good to know
- Great Escape is run by Enchanted Parks now, not Six Flags. Buy tickets on its own site.
- Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving and US Columbus Day; expect busy borders on Friday. Tuesday's return should be quieter.
- Fill up on gas in Lowville before the Adirondacks.
- Hours and prices change; recheck the day before.
Sources
Checked Oct 1–5, 2026.
- Great Escape hours, Boo Fest, Fright Fest
- Lake George Village Oktoberfest 2026
- Prospect Mountain Highway (NYS DEC)
- Pirate's Cove Lake George
- Lake George Steamboat Co.
- Cave of the Winds
- Maid of the Mist
- Rainforest Cafe, Niagara Falls USA
- The Flying Spatula (Tripadvisor)
- NYS Thruway tolls
- Niagara Falls Bridge Commission – E-ZPass