Memorial Day Mailbag: Adirondack Summer Starts Here
ADK TALKS PODCAST EPISODE
Just in time for Memorial Day Weekend 2026, Jane and Steve share travel tips and answer listener mailbag questions.
It’s the sound of boats heading north on the Thruway. The return of outdoor dining. Camp chairs and deck furniture coming out of storage. Small-town parades. First paddles. First hikes. First sightings of people confidently swimming in water that is objectively still freezing.
It’s also one of the busiest and most misunderstood weekends in the Adirondacks.
In this new episode of ADK Talks, Jane and Steve open the reader mailbag and answer listener questions about Memorial Day weekend, summer travel, hidden gems, podcasting, favorite Adirondack experiences, and why trying to “do the Adirondacks” in one weekend is usually a mistake.
The conversation wanders — in the best possible way — through traffic strategy, black flies, local parades, favorite museums, motorcycle rallies, Adirondack brewing culture, star-gazing, and the surprising similarities between Adirondack life and rural Italy.
Because honestly, that’s kind of what a real Adirondack conversation sounds like.
A weekly guide to Adirondack stories, food, and events. Subscribe to the ADK Taste newsletter for hand-picked recommendations, podcast episodes, weekend events, and the places worth pulling over for.
What you’ll hear in this episode.
Why Memorial Day weekend feels more like the Adirondacks “waking up” than peak summer
The biggest mistake visitors make when planning Adirondack weekends
Jane and Steve’s hidden gem picks — from mountain views to dark-sky stargazing
Why ADK Taste is curated and not pay-to-play
Summer events they’re most excited about, including Americade and the region’s growing arts scene.
Like what you hear? Subscribe to ADK Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or YouTube and never miss an episode.
Pipe band marching in Hague’s annual Memorial Day Parade on Lake George.
Memorial Day weekend isn’t summer. Yet.
One of the most refreshing things about this episode is its honesty.
Jane and Steve don’t pretend Memorial Day weekend is always sunshine and perfect lake weather. Sometimes it’s 48 degrees and drizzling. Sometimes the black flies are relentless. Sometimes, where the New State Thruway and the Northway meet turns into a parking lot.
And yet, that unpredictability is part of the charm.
The episode captures the emotional shift that happens in the Adirondacks every May:
seasonal restaurants reopen
boats return to the water
bike racks replace ski racks
camps and cabins come back to life
Even longtime Adirondack residents can feel it.
The conversation also highlights several classic Memorial Day weekend traditions, including local parades and the Great Adirondack Garage Sale — a sprawling Adirondack treasure hunt stretching across Routes 28, 30, and 3.
Heading North to kick-off the summer Season.
The Adirondacks are bigger than people think.
One of the episode’s funniest — and most accurate — moments comes when Jane compares overplanning an Adirondack weekend to trying to see all of New Jersey in 48 hours.
The Adirondack Park is roughly the size of New Jersey, yet many first-time visitors attempt to:
Stay in Lake George
Have dinner in Lake Placid
Chase waterfalls near Keene
Visit breweries in Tupper Lake
And squeeze in museums, hikes, and fireworks
…all in one weekend.
The result?
More windshield time than Adirondack time.
Instead, Jane and Steve encourage listeners to slow down, choose one region, and experience it firsthand.
It’s classic ADK Taste philosophy:
less checklist, more connection.
Summer concert series in Tupper Lake.
Hidden gems, favorite places, and summer excitement.
The reader mailbag section gives listeners a deeper look into both hosts and the philosophy behind ADK Taste itself.
Questions include:
How did ADK Talks get started?
Why should listeners trust ADK Taste recommendations?
Why hasn’t ADK Taste featured every Adirondack business?
What podcasts do Jane and Steve listen to?
The answers reveal something longtime listeners already know:
ADK Taste is less interested in being critics and more interested in being trusted curators.
The episode also includes hidden gem recommendations ranging from scenic overlooks in Newcomb to stargazing opportunities under Adirondack dark skies, plus praise for places like the Adirondack Experience in Blue Mountain Lake.
Summer preview highlights include:
outdoor concert series
Adirondack theater and arts organizations
cycling and paddling season
birding opportunities
William Shatner’s return to the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour
Fishing on Lake Champlain. Photo provided by lakechamplain.com (ROOST).
ADK Taste recommendations.
For Memorial Day weekend visitors:
Pick one Adirondack region and stay there
Expect weather changes
Pack layers
Build flexibility into your plans
Explore local museums, theaters, and arts venues if it rains
Don’t underestimate drive times
Most importantly:
leave room for discovery.
Photo from the top of a fire tower overlooking Indian Lake courtesy ROOST.
The Adirondacks change fast between Memorial Day and Labor Day. New restaurants open. Summer events fill calendars. Hidden gems become favorites.
Stay ahead of it.
Subscribe to the ADK Taste newsletter for a weekly guide to Adirondack stories, food, events, and the places worth exploring next.
The latest news and insights from ADK Taste.
Ultimate Guide to the Adirondacks
Your insider’s guide to exploring the Adirondacks—where to go, what to eat, and the experiences that make this place unforgettable.
Shop for unique Adirondack apparel, gifts and merchandise.
ADK Talks Podcast
Love the Adirondacks? You’ll love our podcast. We take listeners beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of the Adirondacks. We share stories from the people behind the best places to eat, shop, stay and explore in the ADK. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
