A traveler takes a last minute trip to a family-friendly New York State resort.
Recently, my grandiose vacation plans took a different turn from what I had set out to do and I “accidentally” landed in Cortland, NY for a couple of days. Located in upstate New York, I stayed at the Greek Peak Mountain Resort. Tucked away off the beaten path, this mountain resort is a hidden gem to be discovered by families desiring an enjoyable and active outdoor adventure experience.
If you look closely at the sidewalks surrounding the lodge, you will find many kinds of wildlife prints etched in the concrete to give you a sense of the natural outdoors atmosphere. See how many you can identify!
An outdoor pool is also available which allows access into the inside waterpark. Sitting on the decks of the outdoor pool, you can relax with a nice unobstructed view of the hills.
At one end of the lake, there is also a beach for swimming. As there were no humans to be found at the beach that day, I did observe Canadian Geese taking advantage of the swimming opportunity, or as I put it, “live floaties.” The quiet walk around the lake area assisted in calming my nerves after a recent chaotic experience.
A large rock and plaque is also located near the lake dedicated to Leighton Hope, a well noted person who contributed a lot to the state of New York. It reads “Lakes Bring Family, Friends, and Fun”. The saying rings true to what Greek Peak Mountain Resort is committed.
For further adventures, you may take advantage of the Greek Peak Adventure Center where young and old can challenge themselves on a Ropes Course, Laser Tag, or Zip Line Tour to name a few. During the winter, this facility is a haven for ski enthusiasts as well as snowtubing.
It is no wonder that this resort has received high ratings from TripAdvisor for the last several years and is a great family weekend getaway. Upon my arrival at Greek Peak, the lodge was filled with wedding guests as the facility has several banquet and conference rooms in addition to lodge rooms. The lodge also boasts a small gift shop and cafe, massage room, and large game room with its own snack bar.
Upon entering the lodge to the concierge and reception counter, there is a spacious warm and welcoming fireplace and sitting area. The interior décor has a rustic appeal for the outdoors enthusiast with taxidermied wildlife. In addition, there was a large chandelier shaped like an acorn with wrought iron stems and leaves that I admired. The facility also has a pub and grill which also serves breakfast in the mornings. The rooms were very well kept and spacious. All the staff were very courteous and helpful.
If I were to plan a family rendez-vous getaway that held a variety of activities sure to suit everyone’s tastes, I would certainly recommend Greek Peak Mountain resort. About the Author: Susan St. Amand is a Board Member of the Shenandoah Trail Riding and Horseman’s Association and employed with the Virginia Cooperative Extension as a 4-H Youth Program Assistant. She grew up in Northern Maine with horses on a farm and has been a transplant to Virginia for the past 25 years. She enjoys planning horse vacations with friends and has currently completed many rides in Maine, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, as well as Virginia, trailering her own horse.
