Adventure base alongside babbling 13th Brook

Our stream side house is a great launching pad for adventures in the Southern Adirondacks (skiing at Gore, cross country skiing at Garnet Hill Lodge, rafting in the Hudson River, hiking, mountain biking, exploring pristine Thirteenth Lake....). It is also a wonderful spot for relaxing and spending time with friends and family: making a fire in the fire pit along 13th Brook, playing board games, reading a book while listening to the stream... A great place to play hard and rejuvenate. Front Porch: There is a screened in front porch which is excellent for holding gear (bikes, skis, backpacks etc.). We also use it to store some sleds, snow toys, beach noodles, 2 beach chairs etc. Front Living Area: The front door opens into the 1st of two living spaces. To the left is a long bench and to the right is a couch (that is long enough to sleep on), two side chairs and the dinning table. Downstairs Bathroom: The downstairs bathroom (which has a bathtub) is across from the dining area. Downstairs Bedroom: The downstairs bedroom has a single room and you can fit another person on a foam fold out mattress (stored in the upstairs bedroom closet). Unlike air mattresses, this one doesn’t deflate at the worst possible time but it is a bit smaller than a regular twin sized mattress. Kitchen: The kitchen is between the two living spaces. It is small, but has all the necessities including some fun extras (a rice cooker, slow cooker and an espresso machine) and two stools for seating at the mini peninsula. As with many houses, we always all end up in the kitchen and given the location and layout of the kitchen it somehow holds more than you would imagine. Back Living Area (yellow room): At the back of the house is the second living area with a sofa (technically you can sleep on this, but it would be tough for a tall person) and two side chairs plus access to the back deck. This is my favorite room because it overlooks the stream and you can hear the stream while relaxing on the sofa. There are games and a tv in the unit along the wall. Note, we have Netflix (and you can access other websites) and videos, but no cable. We also have a smart speaker. The Back Deck: The back deck isn’t huge, but it gets a lot of sun and is a great spot for watching and listening to the stream. If you’re lucky you’ll see the grey heron. Upstairs First Bedroom (king bed): The back bedroom has a king bed plus room (if you put in the corner in place of the black chair) for a fold out cot (found in the closet). You can’t see the stream, but you can hear it. Upstairs Second Bedroom: The front bedroom has two twin beds. Upstairs Bathroom: The upstairs bathroom is smaller but gets the job done and has a shower. Workspace: While there is no dedicated desk, we’ve worked at the dining room table and the off-white side table in the yellow room (just pull up the director chair). If you have any questions at all, please reach out. I'm happy to answer any questions. I will even tell you the pros and cons, nothing is perfect you just have to figure out what best suites your needs. While we just listed our house in Aug 2020, our house is not new to Airbnb. In the past, a local realtor (a great guy who is so knowledgeable about the area) managed rentals, including with a listing on Airbnb. Sadly he is no longer managing rentals and I couldn't figure out how to move the reviews from his listing to our listing. We got positive reviews with a caveat - one guest didn't like that we have well water. I agree with them, I wish we didn't have to use well water, but that's life in the Adirondacks. I will provide access instructions prior to arrival. It is pretty low tech. I'm sorry we can't connect in person, but I will be available via the app. A few things about the neighborhood: North River - We’re in North River a small town about 10 minutes north of North Creek. My favorite part of the drive is the stretch on Route 28 between North Creek and North River winding along the Hudson River. North Creek - Most retail (including a Tops supermarket, a hardware store that doubles as a general store, and the Cellar, a well curated wine shop) is in the village of North Creek, about 10 mins south of the house, off Route 28. North Creek Mural - The Adirondack theme mosaic mural (opposite Cafe’s Sharah) is a must see. Restaurants - We tend to eat in (shopping at the supermarket in North Creek). You may want to grab some things at Oscar’s Smokehouse in Warrensburg, an excellent butcher/smokehouse. Bar Vino is a local favorite. Becks Taverns, specializing in German/American food, is another favorite - they also have live music in a yurt and outside. We also love Cafe Sarah for her baked goods and Izzy’s for their sandwiches. If you’re interested in a big sports bar try Basil and Wicks a little south of North Creek. You can also enjoy a beer and/or food and beautiful views at Garnet Hill Lodge, less than 10 minutes further up Thirteenth Lake Road. Winter Activities Gore Mountain is about 15 minutes away about 5 miles back down 28, then turn right and right again, and up you go. North Creek Ski Bowl is a small mountain on its own (maybe a bit bigger than Colgate’s hill), just before the Gore turnoff as you head south. Great for small kids and beginners, and when there’s good snow, it is connected to the main mountain. Pro Tip: if the connection is open, park at the Ski Bowl, buy your tickets there (no line, no massive parking lot, no shuttle, no long walk . . .) and start your day by heading up on the Hudson Chair and connect to Gore when you’re ready. Very civilized! Just make sure you either (a) get back before they close the return connector (you can still ski this when it’s closed, but they don’t patrol it), or (b) drop a second car at Gore base and shuttle back to the Ski Bowl at the end of the day. There is also night skiing and XC skiing at the Ski Bowl (all accessible if you have a Gore lift ticket). I believe it’s also possible to buy a cheaper lift ticket that allows access only to the Ski Bowl. You can also make the drive up to WhiteFace or try the smaller mountains south. Our family loves Gore so much we rarely stray. Garnet Hill Lodge offers cross country skiing, snowshoeing and winter biking. You can also hit the trails around Thirteenth Lake although they are not groomed. Feel free to use the snowshoes in the basement. If you’re up for a drive try Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid (a massive complex) or Lapland Lake (a hidden gem). Summer Activities - There is so much to do in the summer: hiking, rafting, swimming up at Thirteen Lake (continue up the road and take a left onto Beach Road, a dirt road) or Minerva Lake (about 20 minutes away, with bathrooms, a playground and a snack bar plus you can rent a kayak, canoe or stand up paddle board), rock hopping in the stream, fishing…... Check out Dunkley Falls in Warrensburg, a swimming hole with a cliff jump. If you’re looking for a bigger lake, try Indian Lake, Schroon Lake, Friends Lake or Lake George. There is mountain biking nearby (at Garnet Hill Lodge or Gore where you can access the trail from the Ski Bowl or, you can take the gondola at the main lodge) and several golf courses within 30 minutes or so. You are also near countless trailheads leading into the Adirondack wilderness for fantastic hiking and camping. We’ve never been, but someday we hope to go to the old fashion movie drive-in in Glens (the Glen Drive In Theater) and the ropes course at Bolton Landing (Adirondack Extreme). We tend to focus on time in nature, but there is a lot of activity near Lake George and Queensbury. There are tennis basketball and baseball courts at the Ski Bowl. If you want a scenic visit without the hike, the gondola at Gore Mountain is an option but check the schedule. Hiking (this doesn’t even scratch the surface), but here are some of our favorites: Peaked Mountain Pond, Thirteenth Lake, North River - Just 10 minutes up the hill, this hike has it all, a trail along 13th Lake (take a break at the big swimming rock opposite the 2nd campsite), a trail along a stream and view of an alpine pond. Hour Pond, Thirteenth Lake, North River - This trail also starts along 13th Lake, but isn’t as popular as Peaked Mountain so you really feel like you’re out there once it splits from the Peaked Mountain trail. There is an alpine pond and a lean too at the end. Garnet Hill/Old Farm Clearing, North River - There are public trails connecting Garnet Hill lodge and Old Farm Clearing. Balm of Gilead is very short and steep, but it ends with a lovely view of 13th Lake. Schaefer Trail, North Creek - A relatively new trail starting at little Gore and offering lovely views of picturesque Roaring Brook at the outset. Skip Hop Falls - A new trail that leads to a vista of Skip Hop Falls (once only accessible to a select few and approximately 250 feet high) (not as impressive during the drier season) and if you continue down the steep hill, the Hudson River Gorge. This trail is long, but with the exception of the trail down to the River, very mellow. Moxham Mountain, Minerva - You can climb a mountain without feeling like you’ve climbed a mountain and be rewarded with stellar views of North Creek and the valley. Crane Mountain, Johnsburg - A loop that hits everything including some rock scrambling and wood ladder. Blue Mountain Fire Tower - This is steep at times (and Blue Mountain is a bit of a drive) but you will be rewarded with amazing views of Blue Mountain and a classic Adirondack fire tower. You can also check out the nearby Adirondack Museum (a must see and in my opinion, much better than the newer one in Tupper Lake). No parties , no pets and no smoking please. Because of Covid concerns, our cleaning person will not be coming in immediately after you leave so you will need to take the trash (either back home with you or to the dump). Sorry for the inconvenience.