Lake George, New York

Sagamore guests have water access from a dock on Lake George. The original resort, built in 1883 and connected to the lake shore by a short causeway, burned twice and was rebuilt twice. The design that exists today began with a 1930 redesign and expansion inspired by George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon, Va.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

Adirondack chairs at the Sagamore provide comfortable seats for vacationers to relax by Lake George. The rustic cabin-and-furniture fashion now known as Adirondack style, named for the mountains, was born in the 19th century era of “Great Camps,” the summering places built in the area by New York’s wealthy families.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

Breakfast at the Sagamore resort on Lake George starts with a view. The hotel has three restaurant choices for guests who don’t want to leave the island.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

The sunny, warm season is short at the Sagamore, where green, sloping lawns and flowers add splashes of color. Although the hotel is open year-round on Lake George, summertime is the busiest season. During the shoulder season, in September and October, room rates at the hotel drop from $229 to $179 and bottom out at $129 in winter.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

Picnicking is a popular activity on the lawn of the hotel. An L.A. Times reporter who took his wife and daughter there came to revere the New York resort, and by the end of their visit, they were treating its vast lawn like their own backyard  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

The Trout House Village Resort is one of the few tourist businesses that stays open year-round. It is situated at the north end of Lake George in the town of Hague.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

The Boathouse Bed & Breakfast in Bolton Landing on the western edge of Lake George is an upscale lodging. The 1917 waterside house has seven bedrooms.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

Costumed staff members teach Ft. Ticonderoga visitors about life in the 18th century. Exhibition rooms display iron breastplates, arrowheads, etched powder horns and a host of pistols and rifles.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

On a clear day, visitors to the top of Mt. Prospect near Lake George can see three states: New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Don’t want to hike? You can drive to the top.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

At Ft. Ticonderoga, the old military site at the northern end of Lake George, tourists can see historic re-enactments. From the ramparts of the star-shaped fort, you can see why the site was so important: It looks down upon the waters of Lake Champlain in one direction, Lake George in another.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

A young visitor straddles one of the fort’s artifacts and gains a lake view.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

Ben & Jerry’s lovers chill out with cones and share a giant Adirondack chair in Bolton Landing, N.Y.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

Sagamore hotel visitors warm up to a campfire and roast marshmallows, among the activities offered at the New York resort.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

A summer butterfly garden is among the outdoor displays at the Up Yonda Farm, north of Bolton Landing. The former summer-home property is operated as a year-round nature center, with a museum room of stuffed animals and plant samples, a picnic area and woodsy trails.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

At the beach in the small town of Hague, N.Y., a lifeguard sits duty in the summer season. The area is known for its small cabins and semi-rustic resorts.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)

Indian summer in upstate New York brings urbanites to the area. Visitors to Sagamore resort, on a small island in Lake George, revel in the warm weather, as well as the deals, while they last.  (Chris Reynolds / LAT)