Summertime Activities to Do Around Glens Falls NY

The little town of Glens Falls has the charm of the beautiful Adirondacks, surrounded by countless attractions for anyone visiting, vacationing, or looking for something new to explore.

Let’s Grab Lunch at…

Spot Coffee

This cute cafe was my go-to “spot” (hah, funny) during high school. I would sit at one of the tables or on a comfy couch, with my strawberry smoothie and toasted bagel.

They serve breakfast and lunch items, with a wide range of house-made coffee options. My favorite drinks include their wild berry smoothie, strawberry solstice iced tea, and the cinco shake, a white chocolate and vanilla caramel flavored espresso shake.

For lunch, they have paninis, wraps, salads and stone-baked pizza. Their quesadilla was always my favorite!

Plus, don’t miss their Belgian waffles – weekends only! Spot is open early in the morning around 7am, and remains open until around 7pm. Check their website for updated hours and menus!

Juicin Jar

This vegan eatery is delicious, with everything from freshly pressed juices and smoothie bowls to rice bowls and baked goods. Some favorite bowls include the caprese salad with balsamic vinegar, the taco rice bowl with avocado and fresh hummus, and the strawberry-Nutella roll up.

My favorite has always been the chunky monkey smoothie bowl, a menu original. This smoothie includes bananas, peanut butter, granola, nuts, chocolate chips, toasted coconut and honey. The coffee smoothies (mmmmm, anything with Nutella or peanut butter, yes please) are the perfect pick-me-up!

Get your fresh juices and smoothies here any day excluding Sundays and Mondays, from 9am until 3pm.

Kelly’s Roots

This healthy cafe has the best sandwiches around town – and I mean it! For breakfast, they serve the tastiest bacon or sausage + egg + cheese on a bagel I’ve had in the entire area. Their bagels are so soft and tasty, and never too greasy or overly filling.

For lunch, I almost ALWAYS get the pesto chicken sandwich on ciabatta. You’ve got to try it. The homemade kale pesto mayo is to die for.

They also serve smoothies and smoothie bowls, and have one of my favorite breakfast shakes ever! Their Pick Me Up Smoothie is made with coffee, peanut butter, almond milk, vanilla yogurt, chocolate chips and a fresh banana. Make sure to try their giant pancakes too!

Let’s Get Outside and…

Go For a Hike

There are so many trails around the area to get in your steps and enjoy the views.

In northern Glens Falls, Queensbury, and towards Lake George, there are plenty of trails for all difficulty levels. Cole’s Woods in northern Glens Falls has fairly flat trails, with a 5k loop that is sometimes used for school races. Rush Pond Trail in northern Queensbury is great for walking and biking with a wide trailhead.

Over at Meadowbrook Preserve in Queensbury, the trails are often filled with flowers, dragonflies and lead to a peaceful creek. This woodlands area is great for children and families. In southern Queensbury, right on the Hudson River, the trails at Hudson Point Nature Preserve are dog-friendly and scenic!

For stunning views and a fairly gentle incline, check out Pilot’s Knob in Lake George. The trail leads up to a pavilion, where you can choose to continue or take a break and eat lunch with the stunning overlook of the lake.

Kayak

If you like the water, the Glens Falls area is a great place to be in the summertime! While it may not be the ocean, there are plenty of lakes nearby to check out for water sports.

You can rent kayaks on the quieter Glen Lake in northern Queensbury, near the Docksider Restaurant. Head north to Lake George and you’ll find even more spots to get out on the water – just be careful, because summertime in LG gets busy!

Ride a Bike

The area is known for its bike riding along the Lake George Bike Path. This paved trail goes through Glens Falls, Queensbury and Hudson Falls, all the way up 8 miles north to Lake George Village. You can hop on the pathway anywhere. I usually like to start (and end) at Cooper’s Cave Ale Co so I can treat myself with ice cream afterwards!

There are plenty of other trails around the area as well. Double check on websites and at trailheads to make sure that bikes are allowed.

Let’s Go Shopping at…

The Lake George Outlets

Between luxury stores, popular apparel, local gems and the occasional snack, there’s plenty to do at the outlets – not to mention the deals!

Rude Betty, Minky Mink & Fountain Square Outfitters

Shops line Glen and Ridge streets in downtown Glens Falls, especially with women’s apparel and outdoor gear. If boutique shopping isn’t in your budget, it’s still fun to window shop!

*Rude Betty has relocated into a new building on Glen Street and reopens at the end of the summer – but it’s still a worth a mention!*

Saratoga’s Many Shops & Stores

If you’re up for a day of shopping, browsing and walking through the artsy town of Saratoga Springs, Broadway Street will fulfill your shopping needs. With a much wider selection than nearby towns, downtown ‘Toga has it all.

Books, antiques, gelato, baked goods, locally sourced honeys olive oils, clothing, teas, boho chic decor, jewelry… need I continue?

Let’s See a Movie at…

The Glen Drive In

The drive in theater has been around for years, and continues to be popular in the summer months! One of my favorite things to do is to grab snacks and slushees across the street at Cumberland Farms, then make my way over to the drive in with pillows and blankets in the back of my car.

Bonus points if you have a truck, Jeep or anything that lets you make a bed to relax in, instead of those car seats.

Let’s Get Ice Cream at…

Martha’s Dandee Creme

The BEST soft serve you’ll get around. Or maybe anywhere. It speaks for itself. Featured on The Today Show and loved by literally everyone around… you NEED a Martha’s trip in your near future.

Cooper’s Cave Ale Co.

Is soft serve not your thing? Cooper’s Cave makes homemade ice cream in-house, and it is to die for. The Mocha Cookie Crunch is my favorite! You can’t go wrong here.

Rob & Deb’s Frozen Dreams

If you’re looking for a sundae, milkshake, flurry or just a cone, Rob & Deb’s is one of the best around – and much more low-key than Martha’s. It’s also conveniently right next to the baseball field, where the local team plays!

Happy Summertime!

There’s plenty to do around here, you just have to go find it. 🙂

Yours Truly,

Cat Taylor