In full disclosure, we were hosted for two nights at The Sagamore Resort and provided breakfast in exchange for this review. We are grateful to The Sagamore Resort for their support of Jersey Family Fun and our efforts to share family travel ideas with our readers.
Lake George is one of those popular, sentimental destinations that families have visited for generations. It’s been on my list to bring my family there because while we live at the shore, a lake vacation just has a different vibe. The mountains of the Adirondacks, the charming cottages that surround the lake, the winding roads that hug those mountains, it’s a landscape they just aren’t used to. Little did I know that staying on Lake George would be our best option for a winter ski weekend! Located just 40 minutes from Gore Mountain (our review is coming soon), we spent two nights at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing and were able to experience winter at Lake George as well as some great family ski time. The Sagamore Resort was a great hotel near Gore Mountain for our family!
The Sagamore Resort main building
Get to know The Sagamore Resort
The Sagamore Resort sits on an island in Lake George and first opened in 1883. The main building is elegant with incredible lake views, like being on a movie set! Its 70 acres offers lodges, a recreation center, docks for water activities, outdoor pools, tennis and volleyball courts and a convention center.
Upon checking in I questioned if it was going to be a place for my kids … an evening champagne toast, well dressed professional conference guests … while I loved it I wasn’t sure my kids would appreciate the luxury, the architecture and the elegant decor. When the check in desk offered a card with the weekend’s activities at the Sagamore Resort my worries went away! The Sagamore Resort rec center offered movies, rock wall climbing, and a craft hour, and there would be a campfire with smores! Add to that the pool/hot tub and we would be completely occupied in the cold (so cold, the lake was frozen!).
View from our lodge deck
Our Lodge Room at the Sagamore Resort
After an easy and quick check in in the main building, we headed to our suite in the nearest lodge. There are 7 lodges (double rooms and suites) on the property, all accessible by walking or the hotel shuttle. Parking lots are located close to every lodge, and valet parking is offered at the main building. Lodges are located on ground level (no stairs) and a lower level which requires a walk down the stairs (no elevators) to access the room. We were given a king suite which offered great space for our family of four.
The Lodge Room at the Sagamore Resort included
- Private bedroom with 2 double beds, dresser, television and chair
- Common area with sectional sofa including pull out bed, television, fireplace
- Kitchen with dishware, cookware, stovetop, microwave, sink, dishwasher, Keurig and refrigerator
- Dining table and 4 chairs
- Ample closet space
- Bathtub and separate shower
- Outdoor patio with lake view
Watch our room tour of the Lodge Room at the Sagamore Resort in the video below
The Sagamore Resort Amenities
As mentioned, The Sagamore has some impressive resort amenities! Our family always takes advantage of an indoor pool so we were prepared to spend our relaxation time at the pool. There are multiple outdoor pools, open seasonally, and a large indoor heated pool with a hot tub open year round. The views of the lake from the pool gave us some great sunset views as we splashed and played! There are towels for guests and changing rooms with showers just across the hall. We took advantage of the pool both nights and even brought our take out dinner with us one night.
The heated indoor pool at the Sagamore Resort
The only thing that could take us away from the pool was The Rec. This Sagamore Resort recreation center is like nothing we have ever experienced on any of our family vacations! I really can’t say enough about how much FUN it offers. Each night we spent over 2 hours there and leaving the resort the kids almost convinced us to stop in one more time. Entrance into The Rec is included in your daily resort fee, and a kids club is offered seasonally.
Sagamore Resort Recreation Center Activities
- 9 hole mini golf course
- Pool tables
- Basketball courts
- Rock wall
- Wiffleball field
- Video games
- Board games
- Foosball
- Ping pong tables
- Cornhole
- Toddler/baby play area
The indoor wiffleball field at The Rec at The Sagamore
Upstairs there’s a movie set up with movies playing each night. There was no way any of us were sitting still with all that fun to be had. The Rec offers something for every level of activity. When the weather is warm, the outdoor area offers horseshoes, a playground and volleyball, tennis and basketball. Thanks to The Rec we had no worries staying on Lake George when the lake was frozen!
Mini golf inside The Rec at The Sagamore Resort
Dining at The Sagamore Resort
Dining at The Sagamore is what you’d expect – delicious, impressive and elegant! There are three dining experiences in the main hotel open during the winter months.
- Mr. Brown’s Pub, a casual dinner spot located on the pool level.
- Caldwell’s, lounge/bar that is open daily serving light fare.
- La Bella Vita, Italian cuisine with a traditional breakfast menu/buffet.
Hallway outside the lobby of The Sagamore Resort, leading to La Bella Vita restaurant
Be aware, there is a dress code for the evening hours at the restaurants and in the main lobby of The Sagamore.
Despite having kitchen space in our suite, we headed to La Bella Vita for a breakfast buffet both mornings. A day of skiing requires some serious fueling up! We chose the buffet but a regular menu breakfast is available as well. There was plenty of variety for everyone in our family, picky eaters included.
La Bella Vita Breakfast Buffet Items available include:
- Yogurt parfait station with fresh fruit, granola, chocolate chips and raisins (yogurt containers also available)
- Cereal dispensers with 6 varieties
- Oatmeal
- Pastries including danish, donuts, croissants
- Cottage cheese, sliced and whole fruit, hard boiled eggs
- Bagels, english muffins, bread and a toasting station
- Omelet station
- Waffle station
- Trays of bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, french toast, home fries and more
- Toppings like butter, cream cheese
All this with the spectacular Lake George view in an elegant setting with friendly service – our La Bella Vita breakfast was a yummy start to our day.
The breakfast buffet at La Bella Vita at The Sagamore
The Sagamore Resort is open weekends in the winter, but don’t expect to have a sub par experience. Our family enjoyed every minute of our stay, from the dining, to the hot tub to the indoor mini golf. If you’re heading to the Adirondacks for winter sports, or just need a getaway you will find plenty to do at the Sagamore – even with a frozen Lake George!
Beautiful views across the frozen Lake George from The Sagamore Resort
For more photos from our stay at the Sagamore, check out our Facebook Album.
The Sagamore is open year round, though winter availability varies.