Nestled along the north-western shore of Lake Champlain is the city of Plattsburgh in New York.
Surrounded by waters, Plattsburgh offers on-water activities, such as windsurfing and paddling.
But it doesn’t stop there!
If you need a break from the waters, you can take leisurely walks on trails and let your eyes wander on the beautiful scenery.
Be taken back in time with an array of museums Plattsburgh has to offer.
Want to know more?
Check out the 22 best things to do in Plattsburgh, New York!
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Would you just let your trip to Plattsburgh pass by without fishing at Lake Champlain?
Lucky for you, there are actually licensed fishing charter services around the city.
Wherever you choose to drop your fishing rods, there is plenty of fish at your disposal, such as yellow perch, bluegill sunfish, smallmouth bass, and more.
Get your much-needed dose of Vitamin D and work on your tan lines at Plattsburgh City Beach.
This freshwater beach is just about what you need to rest your mind.
There are available picnic tables and outdoor grills in case you need one.
Your kids can also fly kites and play Frisbee.
This is definitely the place to take off your mind from everything.
So, pack your favorite swimwear and head towards Plattsburgh City Beach.
Just before your trip ends, don’t forget to drop by Pray’s Farmer’s Market.
The retail store offers a variety of items, from fresh local produce to smoked meats and cheese.
There are also plants and flowers available for purchase.
You can actually see their garden to handpick the plant of your choice.
The store also sells materials and gardening soils for your landscaping needs.
Cumberland Bay State Park offers a slightly different experience from other parks with its hundred-plus campsites.
This state park is famous for its extensive natural sandy beach view.
On its season dates, campers flock to enjoy water activities, such as swimming, boating, and paddling.
Apart from these water activities, there are picnic grounds you can lay on, as you watch your kids play tag-and-chase in the playing fields.
That’s right! There are playing fields, too!
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Reconnect with nature by taking the trail that follows the Saranac River!
The sound of rippling water in the background makes your trekking more memorable.
Whether you walk, run or bike or just take a moment to enjoy the view, an experience of a lifetime is all guaranteed.
Despite being the oldest Resort Golf Course in North America, Bluff Point Resort still offers relaxation.
The course is well-manicured and has man-made features, like ponds and dug bunkers.
Bluff Point has a panoramic view of Lake Champlain, making it more appealing to guests.
Yes, you heard it right!
Bluff Point offers private beach sand for guests to enjoy the crisp water and fine sand.
There’s just so much to do at Country Dream Farm!
Apart from all the water activities and museums, another fun thing to do at Plattsburgh is experiencing country life.
Enjoy seasonal activities such as pumpkin picking and horse-drawn wagon riding.
For the best experience, visit the farm during the fall season and engage in fun-filled activities.
Discover your inner fondness in farming and get the chance to experience the farm.
The farm is also open in spring and summer for visits to their petting zoo and more product sales.
In winter, their site in Lake Placid offers horse-drawn sleigh rides.
Country Dream Farm got everything for you!
Whether you go wine-tasting for passion or just for the fun of it, Elfs Farm Winery & Cider House is a must-visit.
This vineyard is a licensed New York State Farm Winery and is celebrated for producing a premium product.
It produces cold climate grape wines, fruit wines, and hard cider.
Elfs Farm also produces apple cider the old-fashioned way using an antique rack and cloth hydraulic apple press.
Museums are not just for adults. At Children’s museum, your kids can participate in interactive programs to stimulate their curiosity and creativity.
There are also activities that allow family interactions to encourage collective learning between parents and children.
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Take a look into the past by visiting this historic home originally built in 1797.
This rectangular two-story home, topped with a gable roof, is one of the oldest houses in Plattsburgh.
Henry Delord had originally purchased a simple one-story house and then changed the house into a splendid structure.
In 1924, William T. Miner became the house owner and decided to turn it into a museum for the residents in the area.
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Kent-Delord House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
If you think that’s all there is, well, there’s more!
Inside the house are an outstanding collection of artworks, furnishings, and family archives that portray the development of Plattsburgh through time.
Don’t forget to capture your visit to this historical marker!
If you’re an art enthusiast, then Plattsburgh State Art Museum is most certainly the place for you!
The museum collects and exhibits original works of art, ranging from ancient to contemporary.
It is a repository of the most complete collection of works of Rockwell Kent, a renowned American painter, and is also the home of thousands of arts and artifacts.
What’s more, the museum sponsors a variety of public and academic programs.
In addition, it provides an academic minor in Museum Studies to aspirants.
Research facilities and internships are offered as well.
The Battle of Plattsburgh Association runs the War of 1812 Museum to honor the heroism of the soldiers who lost their lives in the battles fought to stop British advance from the north.
The museum houses the artifacts used during the battle.
Arts relating to the illustration of the battle are also here.
Among the exhibits displayed is “Forgotten Artifacts of the Battle of Plattsburgh,” which features the ammunitions collected from Lake Champlain.
A diorama is also displayed to represent how the battlefield looked during the conflict.
If you‘re interested in experiencing battles first-hand, then here’s the place for you!
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With a towering height of 135 feet, the Macdonough Monument stands proudly over Plattsburgh, New York.
It was made in honor of Thomas Macdonough’s triumph during the Battle of Plattsburg.
The monument was designed by architect John Russell Pope, the very same genius behind the Jefferson Memorial and the National Archives and Records Administration Building, both located in Washington D.C.
Macdonough Monument is situated across the Plattsburgh City Hall, and it stands in the heart of the park overlooking the Saranac River.
On top of the monument is a bronze eagle with a wingspan of twenty feet, and at the base of the monument are inscriptions of the name of ships commanded by Macdonough.
The monument drives a deep sense of patriotism for the sacrifices made to ensure the freedom of all the citizens of the United States of America.
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Located along the northwestern shore of Lake Champlain, Point Au Roches State Park is a mixture of open and forested areas.
This park offers relaxing activities for your family to engage in.
Here, you can casually bike or hike nature trails and experience the forest and shorelines.
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Dip your toes in its fine sand while having a picnic with your loved ones.
After that, you could all play volleyball or explore the nearby waters.
If you are looking for the perfect place to spend quality time with your family and enjoy nature simultaneously, Point Au Roches State Park is the place to go.
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Here’s something you don’t often do on your vacation!
The Eastern View Outfitters is a fully licensed and insured outdoor guide service specializing in guided duck and goose hunts.
The best season to hunt geese or ducks is around September to January.
Aside from that, Eastern View Outfitters offers snow geese and wild turkey hunts during fall and spring.
You can check out their website to book an appointment and get ready to test your hunting skills.
Getting hungry from all the hiking, biking, and walking?
If so, then visit Butcher Block Restaurant.
This rustic establishment has operated for more than three decades and has served both locals and tourists.
Get a chance to experience a taste of Plattsburgh in platter from its bubbly shrimp to crab cakes to honey glazed pork belly.
Butcher Block Restaurant specializes in American cuisine and is open from Monday to Saturday from 1:30 AM to 8:30 PM.
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The Strand Center Theatre is one of Plattsburgh’s important cultural and historical landmarks.
Located on Brinkerhoff Street, the theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It was built in 1924 as a Vaudeville Theatre and after many years, it was acquired by the Strand Center for the Arts in 2004.
The Strand Center for the Arts had since then taken means to restore the Theatre’s former glory.
Catch stellar performances, concerts, classes, gallery events, and other featured events at the Art Center.
They also offer classes like private music lessons, and Art Helps Scholarship programs and provide creative venues like Clay Studio, Digital Technologies Studio, and Multimedia Lab for members.
You can check The Strand Center Theatre website for upcoming shows and events, book tickets, and know more about the programs they offer.
Watch dirt cars zoom their way in full speed at Airborne Speedway on Broderick Road.
The track features a half-mile dirt oval which is also one of the oldest tracks in the Northeast area.
It was named after the Strategic Air Command located a few miles away from the city.
Maurice Broderick founded the speedway in the 1950s with hopes to draw racers from Vermont, New York, and Canada.
The venue also had a NASCAR sanction during the early days of its operation.
It has hosted several NASCAR and dirt car races over the years and still never fails to bring a different kind of excitement to its patrons each time.
Catch races during the season like the DIRTcar 358 Modified division and other upcoming racing schedules.
Cheer for your racing bet at Airborne Speedway.
For some fun family amusement that everyone will enjoy, head out to Champy’s FunCity.
Located on New York 3 inside the Comfort Inn, this entertainment center offers attractions and two restaurants on site.
Play over 40 top arcade games and more than a hundred redemption prizes to choose from plus loads of endless fun.
Little ones can jump and play for hours at the Ballocity Softplay with slides, obstacle courses, and a ball pit.
Test your Mini Putt skills and have a great time at the 9-hole black light mini golf course or find your way out of the Laser Maze obstacles while you race against time.
Get your kids to make their own cuddly companion and take them home with Bears2Go; let them choose the plush toy they like, stuff them, and choose a perfect outfit.
Likewise, they’ll have lots of cool water fun at Splash Park with slides, water play structures, and an area for swimming beginners.
Champy’s FunCity also features activities like Laser Tag, Mini Bowling, and fun Bumper Cars.
You’ll enjoy a day of shopping, dining, and enjoying mall attractions at Champlain Center Mall.
It’s located at Smithfield Boulevard and carries top brands like Sperry Top-Sider, Nine West, Liz Claiborne, Vera Bradley, and American Eagle.
Get the latest fashion trends with over 50 retail store outlets to give you new trendy apparel.
Catch the latest movie showing at the mall cinema and get your fill with a variety of food options at the international food court.
Let your little ones enjoy themselves at Kids Zone or bag some prizes at Fun Zone.
You can also catch fun events and happenings at Champlain Center Mall.
Whether it’s coffee or tea, Chapter One Coffee & Tea got you covered.
You’ll find this coffee stop at the City Hall Place offering handcrafted coffee beverages, espresso drinks, and tea.
This coffee shop opened in 2017 and prides itself on fresh local ingredients.
They also support local businesses with roasted coffee provided by Lakeside Coffee, maple products by Sacred Roots Maple, and pastries by Rulfs Orchards.
Savor the smell and sip a cup of Espresso, Americano or Flat White, or try their tea specialties like Chai Tea Latte London Fog or loose tea leaf.
If you prefer your coffee beverages cold, you can have them iced instead.
Planning to stock some coffee at home? They have different coffee beans and blends you can purchase and make in your own home.
Enjoy your coffee or tea to the last drop at Chapter One Coffee & Tea.
Indeed Plattsburgh is a city that offers a very laid-back experience away from all the noise of the metropolis.
All throughout the season, there are activities that you can enjoy with your family.
You can soak under the sun and swim in its crisp, clear freshwater beach during summer or hop on a horse-drawn wagon.
At Plattsburgh, there are always things to do to have yourself a good time!
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