New York’s concrete jungle can get hot and sweltering as summer settles in. And with the overwhelming amount of events and things to do, I thought a quick getaway to an Adirondack retreat would do a soul good. So I hopped on the Amtrak and headed up for 2.5 HRS on the train to North Creek, a small town within the Adirondack National Park just a few miles north of Lake George for some “RnR”. And yes, it helps having friends with a rustic log cabin in the woods.

So close to New York and the hustle and bustle of 19 million people, the Adirondacks are a world away. It’s a wilderness area larger than many European countries. Endless pristine lakes and mountains so near yet so far. Just two days in the Adirondacks and I managed to squeeze in hiking, kayaking, yoga, a run in the woods and lakeside chilling with friends. Complete relaxation.

I know some (most?) New Yorkers will wonder why you would go outside the city when there is just so much to do in town: museums, art galleries, music concerts, broadways shows, street fairs just to name a few of the endless diversions of summer in the city.

Well, here’s my take: I believe spending time outdoors in nature truly helps cultivate healthy living habits and happiness. It definitely nourishes mental health and lets you hit the reset button. I challenge more New Yorkers to break away from monotonous routines and overwhelming schedules and just take it easy and breathe in the sweet smells of nature. And if that still doesn’t convince you, well hopefully my pictures below might 😃

Enjoy,