This Best-kept Secret Mountain Town in New York Has Scenic Adirondack Views and One of the Oldest Golf Courses in the U.S.

"Everyone knows Lake Placid, New York. Thanks to its history of hosting two Winter Olympic Games and its positioning within the Adirondack High Peaks, it's packed with tourists year-round. But approximately 35 minutes east is Lake Placid's smaller, overlooked sibling: Elizabethtown. Sandwiched between the Champlain Valley and the High Peaks, and less than 10 miles from the shores of Lake Champlain, "E'town" is home to less than 1,000 people."

"Settled in 1792, it's a town steeped in history. It was once a bustling hub on U.S. Route 9, which served as the main thoroughfare between Plattsburgh and Albany; this was back in the stagecoach days, pre-I-87. Many of the buildings are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Although I grew up on the edge of the Adirondacks, E'town had long managed to slip under my radar."

"My partner and I had been saddled up to the bar in town for barely five minutes when a familiar face walked in, waving like an old friend. "Fancy meeting you here!" I exclaimed. We had met Jeff Allott, owner of both the local bike shop and ski mountain, just a few hours earlier while exploring the area. Before I could finish my glass of sauvignon blanc,"

Elizabethtown sits about 35 minutes east of Lake Placid, between the Champlain Valley and the High Peaks, less than ten miles from Lake Champlain. The town has under 1,000 residents and was settled in 1792, with many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The town offers mountain bike trails, access to Adirondack outdoor recreation, new businesses, a growing restaurant scene, and frequent community events. Accommodation options include The Deer's Head Inn, bed-and-breakfasts, and Airbnb rentals. The town retains a close-knit, welcoming atmosphere where visitors can easily encounter locals and feel a sense of belonging.

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