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Plattsburgh, New York Travel Guide
Plattsburgh, New York, is the city in the center of the Adirondack Coast. Locals and visitors alike enjoy boating, sailing, and scuba diving in Lake Champlain. The Adirondack coast features many beautiful parks and beaches. Bass fishing with tournament is extremely popular on Lake Champlain. Ausable Chasm, a gorge that is 2 miles long, is a top tourist attraction.
Plattsburgh City Beach is only minutes from downtown Plattsburgh. It is one of the largest freshwater beaches in the country. The beach looks out over the lovely clear blue water of Lake Champlain and you’ll get stunning views of the Green Mountains. The beach features picnic areas, outdoor grills, restrooms and showers, kayak rentals, and a nature trail.
There’s so much to do in and around Plattsburgh. The local Elfs Farm Winery & Cider House has a tasting room for cider and wine tastings. Visit the War Of 1812 Museum and the Champlain Valley Transportation Museum. Play golf at the beautiful Bluff Point Golf Resort.
Fishing attracts many visitors to Plattsburgh. Book a charter fishing adventure with Eastern View Outfitters, Lake Champlain Angler Fishing Charters, or iFishLakeChamplain Charters.
Champ
It’s hard to talk about Lake Champlain without mentioning Champ, the lake monster. The first sightings go back to the Abenaki and Iroquois tribes who described it as a long, round serpent or a giant snake. Historians say that what they were talking about was probably agarfish, a class that includes sturgeon which still live in the lake. And it could have been a garfish, only a much, much larger than usual.
There were numerous sightings of Champ in the 1800s. In 1873, P.T. Barnum offered $50,000 for the hide of the great Champlain serpent.
The most famous sightings of Champlain comes from a photo taken in 1977 that appears to show a large, unusual-looking lake creature. There are those who have maintained this could have been a weird-shaped log.
By the 1990s, there were more than 600 people who claimed to have seen Champ. In 2003, the Discovery Channel did a special on “America’ Loch Ness Monster.” Champ has been written about in Discover magazine and in scholarly journals. Port Henry, N.Y., has declared their waters to be a safe haven. New York State Assembly and State Senate passed resolutions protecting Champ and the state of Vermont passed a House resolution protecting Champ. So I guess he’s safe for now.
Are you planning to spend time at Lake Champlain? If so, bring binoculars and a camera. Who knows what you might see!
Cumberland Bay State Park
Cumberland Bay State Park in Plattsburgh is on the west shore of Lake Champlain. Its large sand beach and picnic areas attract both day users and campers. Amenities include pavilions, grills, picnic tables, playgrounds, showers, restrooms, a swimming beach and playing fields.
Camping
There are 133 campsites for tents and RVs near Lake Champlain.
If you’re interested in renting an RV, Green Vacation Deals recommends RVshare.
Green Vacation Deals can share ways to save money if you’re interested in buying a tent, a tipi, or camping cookware.
Hotel Deals
If your preference is for a hotel, you should consider the following establishments. They currently have discounted rates up to 70% off the regular rates. Book them through Hotels.com to realize the savings.
- Residence Inn by Marriott Colchester 70% Discount
- Best Western Plus Windjammer Inn & Conference Center 44% Discount
- Bluff Point Golf Resort 44% Discount
- Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Plattsburgh 41% Discount
- Quality Inn & Suites Plattsburgh 37% Discount
- Starlight Inn 33% Discount
- Smart Suites 32% Discount
- Green Mountain Suite Hotel 25% Discount
- Best Western Plus Plattsburgh 21% Discount
- Back Inn Time Bed & Breakfast 20% Discount
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Plattsburgh 17% Discount
- Americas Best Value Inn Plattsburgh 11% Discount
- Comfort Inn & Suites Plattsburgh 10% Discount
- Holiday Inn Express Plattsburgh 6% Discount
