Saranac Lake, New York

Saranac Lake has an attractive downtown area, bisected by the Saranac River that flows from Lake Flower.  This lake borders the downtown area and is popular with canoe and kayak enthusiasts. Lake Flower is the site of the annual Willard Hanmer Guideboat & Canoe Race held each July in Saranac Lake since 1962; it is a race of ten miles (16 km), for guideboats, canoes and kayaks. The Adirondack Canoe Classic, a three-day 90-Mile race from Old Forge to Saranac Lake, ends on Lake Flower. This small town is located in the northern section of huge Adirondack Park, a portion of the Adirondack Mountain Range.  The town is surrounded by a sparsely-populated countryside, landscaped with numerous mountains and lakes.    The Adirondack Scenic Railroad (a seasonal tourist attraction) to Lake Placid originates from the Saranac Lake train depot.   In the summer the Village of Saranac Lake offers free concerts in the park.   In 1998 the National Civic League named Saranac Lake an All-America City and in 2006 the village was named as one of the "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.   The village has 186 buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.