6 Best Hotels in The Adirondacks and Thousand Islands, New York

Accommodations at this posh lakefront retreat, a member of the Relais & Châteaux group, have stone fireplaces, featherbeds, twig-and-bark furniture—including many one-of-a-kind pieces created by local artisans—and views of either the woods or Lake Placid. Some rooms have balconies. Lodge suites include a sitting room, often with a fireplace of its own; an extra-spacious bathroom with a large soaking tub; and either a private balcony or patio. A stay is pricey, but includes breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, turndown service, and all activities on the property. Most of the cabins are one-room units with sitting areas and huge windows. The restaurant, Artisans, is a draw on its own and prepares new American fare.

The complex is on the small, pristine lake that is its namesake, and many get a view of the lake either in their rooms or at the resort's afternoon tea. Most guest rooms here are elegant, with traditional furnishings and large doses of neutral colors. Four-poster beds, fireplaces, private balconies, and couches are available in some rooms. Fodorites say that sitting in the big, cozy chairs next to the fire is heaven, but the resort offers a slew of organized activities, too—sunset cruises, kayak and fishing trips, guided hikes, snowshoe outings, cross-country-skiing lessons, yoga classes—and there's a full-service spa on the property. The Averil Conwell Dining Room earns high marks for its food.

Occupying a 72-acre island on Lake George, the Sagamore is an escape to a bygone era. Accommodations in the 1883 colonial-revival main house have views of the lake or gardens. The decor, including marble bathrooms and handsome wood furniture, is elegant but not formal, while accommodations in the newer lodge buildings are country-chic. Lodge rooms have garden views; suites have gas fireplaces and a terrace with a lake view. The separate condo units (starting at about $600 a night in season) have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, a dining area, and two lake-view terraces; leather couches, Adirondack-style furniture, and wood-burning fireplaces contribute to the lodge feel here. Notable facilities here include the spa and the sailing school.

The sprawling, family-owned resort has a private beach and a marina. Rooms have views of the lake, the pool, or the courtyard; some have private balconies or patios. Suites have sitting areas with sleeper sofas. Traditional dark-wood furniture is used throughout. The main dining room ($$–$$$) serves mostly Continental fare: steak au poivre, lobster ravioli, roast rack of lamb, scampi, and chateaubriand. From mid-May through October, the Terrace Room hosts dinner theater.

The 7-acre waterfront property that once was the Hilton has now become the newly renovated High Peaks. The property has accommodations in two buildings, one on Main Street in the center of town and another on the water. The entire property has been redone, so everything is new, including the lobby, the rooms, and three new restaurants—the casual Dancing Bears; the fine-dining venue Reflections; and PRs, a warm, elegant bar with a double fireplace. The breakfast plan, which includes a morning nosh at the Dancing Bears, costs extra. Rooms throughout the updated property are attractive, with tasteful wooden furniture and furnishings. Rooms in waterfront buildings have either a balcony or a patio for views of the lake. Complimentary rowboats and paddleboats are offered to guests for use at the resort's access to Mirror Lake.

Originally the home of William Avery Rockefeller, this ultra-exclusive retreat evokes the spirit of the great Adirondack camps. The secluded property occupies a forested peninsula on Upper Saranac Lake. Rooms, housed in four buildings, blend rustic furniture with handsome antiques and rich fabrics. Each guest room has a stone fireplace and lake views; some have pine-lined cathedral ceilings or private decks or patios. You may play billiards or darts at the intimate pub, which shares the Eagle's Nest building with three guest rooms. Overlooking the lake is the capacious Boathouse ($2,600 a night; offered from mid-April through October only), a favorite of honeymooners. Your day starts with Continental breakfast in your room or a hot meal in the dining room. Guests gather for lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner, and menus are set, but you may opt to have a lunch to go or eat in your room. Dinner is rather formal, with jacket and tie upgraded to black tie Wednesday and Saturday evenings. The deposit alone is $500, without which you don't get directions. But that's the point of exclusivity, isn't it?