The Adirondacks are easy to associate with mountain trails, quiet lakes, and long days outdoors. Spend a little time walking through Saranac Lake and another side of the destination begins to reveal itself.
Paintings inspired by familiar peaks brighten gallery windows. Photographers capture the landscape through changing light. Local makers turn regional materials and Adirondack traditions into pieces worth taking home. Independent shops make a simple walk downtown feel less like shopping and more like discovering the personality of the village.
That creative spirit is one of the reasons a stay at Hotel Saranac can be about far more than outdoor adventure. Our historic home in the center of Saranac Lake places guests close to galleries, local businesses, dining, and cultural experiences, making it easy to slow down, explore, and discover another side of the Adirondacks.
Begin with Art Shaped by the Adirondacks
There is something especially rewarding about seeing a landscape through the eyes of someone who lives and creates within it.
The Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery is a natural place to begin. Hotel Saranac’s own guide to local shopping highlights the gallery for works by regional painters, sculptors, and photographers, with many pieces drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of the Adirondacks.
Instead of bringing home a souvenir that could have come from anywhere, visitors can find something that feels connected to the place they have just experienced.
Downtown Saranac Lake carries that creative energy beyond a single gallery. The village tourism office describes galleries throughout town exhibiting local artists and photographers year-round, with work ranging from scenic photography to landscape oil paintings.
Give yourself time to wander rather than rushing between stops.
A gallery visit might turn into a conversation with an artist. A painting may change the way the mountains look the next time they appear in the distance. A photograph could become the piece that brings the Adirondacks back long after the trip ends.
A gallery visit can become the beginning of a conversation with an artist. A painting might change how the mountains look the next time they appear in the distance. A photograph may become the one piece that keeps bringing the Adirondacks back long after the trip ends.
Shop for Something That Could Only Come from Here
Saranac Lake’s downtown mixes galleries with one-of-a-kind shops, locally owned businesses, restaurants, and other places that reward travelers willing to explore on foot. The community’s official tourism site specifically encourages visitors to stroll downtown among unique shops and inspiring art galleries.
Take time to look for something locally made rather than rushing through a traditional souvenir shop.
A handcrafted piece for the home, regional artwork, jewelry, Adirondack-inspired décor, or something created by a local maker can become a more meaningful reminder of the trip.
There is even an opportunity to continue browsing without leaving our hotel.
Academy & Main is Hotel Saranac’s artisan boutique, adding another locally inspired retail experience to the property. Hilton’s official listing for the hotel also identifies Academy & Main among the hotel’s on-site offerings.
It feels like a natural extension of a day spent appreciating creativity, allowing the experience to continue even after guests return to their room.
Let the Hotel Become Part of the Artful Experience
Hotel Saranac has its own story to tell. Opened in 1927 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, our hotel has been restored while preserving the character of its original era. Its design blends historic architecture with Adirondack influences, giving the property a sense of place that feels closely connected to the village around it.
Settle into our rooms for a little downtime, take another look at whatever artwork or local find came back from the day’s wandering, and decide just how slowly the evening should unfold.
Turn the Evening into Another Local Experience
A creative day deserves an equally relaxed ending. Campfire Adirondack Grill + Bar brings the surrounding region into the dining experience through Adirondacks-to-table comfort food, creating an easy place to settle in after an afternoon of exploring.
Afterward, the Great Hall Bar offers another reason to stay awhile. Hotel Saranac highlights the Great Hall Bar as one of its signature amenities, giving guests a place to enjoy a craft cocktail without leaving the historic setting of the hotel.
There is something especially appealing about ending the day this way. A morning spent browsing original art. An afternoon devoted to independent shops. Dinner downstairs. A cocktail in a room shaped by nearly a century of hotel history.
Start Your Day with Breakfast Included
Make the most of your Saranac Lake stay with our Breakfast Included package.
Enjoy breakfast each morning at Campfire, your basecamp before a day on the Adirondack Rail Trail, browsing downtown galleries and local shops, or heading into the mountains for a hike.
Breakfast is included for every registered guest, every night of your stay, giving you an easy and relaxed start before another day of Adirondack adventure.
If you haven’t already, be sure to book the Breakfast Included package today and wake up ready to explore Saranac Lake.
Add a Little Restoration to the Itinerary
reative exploration does not have to mean filling every moment from morning until night.
A visit to Ampersand Spa adds a quieter, more restorative chapter to the stay. Our on-site spa features four treatment rooms and offers personalized massages and other treatments designed around relaxation and restoration.
After a few hours spent exploring downtown on foot, it is the perfect invitation to slow down and recharge.
Browse in the morning. Stop for lunch. Visit a gallery. Find something locally made. Then return for a treatment before dinner and let the pace of the day soften.
At our hotel, there’s no need to choose between discovery and downtime. You can enjoy both, all in the same stay.
Add Live Music to Your September Stay
Best of all, there are even more activities to look forward to in Saranac Lake this September. There’s no better way to welcome the month than by following the sound of music through Saranac Lake, just beyond our doors.
On September 6, Hotel Saranac is proud to sponsor Northern Current at Riverside Park, a free, family-friendly event bringing a full day of live music, good company, and time spent together in the heart of the village.
Spend the day enjoying the music, wander through Saranac Lake between sets, discover a local shop or gallery along the way, and make a weekend of it at the Adirondacks’ Historic Hotel.
It is an easy way to experience the creative spirit of Saranac Lake beyond gallery walls, surrounded by the community, music, and energy that make the village feel so distinctive.
See Saranac Lake Through a Different Lens
Saranac Lake may be known for its mountains, trails, lakes, and forests, but its creative spirit offers another way to experience the Adirondacks.
Spend the day wandering through local galleries, browsing independent shops, discovering the work of Adirondack artists and makers, or following the sound of live music through the village. Then return to our historic hotel for dinner at Campfire, a cocktail in the Great Hall, and a comfortable place to unwind.
With Hotel Saranac at the heart of it all, experiencing the artful side of the village feels effortless.
Stay curious, wander a little longer, and discover Saranac Lake through the people, places, and creativity that give this Adirondack village its character.