For decades, our family has been meeting in the Adirondacks to visit and vacation, enjoying all corners of the park in every season. This summer, with ages ranging from "just shy" of two years old to "somewhere north" of seventy-five years young, and with three dogs in tow, we headed to the lively, historic hamlet of Inlet for a week of family fun. Located at the eastern side of Fourth Lake along Route 28, Inlet proved to be an exceptional place for all members of our group to experience a week packed with Adirondack adventure.
At first glance, Inlet may appear quite small, but a walk through the village center will reveal the bounty that this gem of a location has to offer. Inlet supports a wide range of businesses, with a bustling main street brimming with options for visitors to enjoy. An easy walk down the well-maintained sidewalks of town is packed with shopping, dining, ice cream, baked goods, coffee and alcoholic drinks, groceries, sporting goods, home goods, and hardware. You will also find that Inlet has many amenities available in town that are fun and interesting for people of all ages and that are free of charge.
Our group took many walks to and through town, to shop, dine, dog walk, and enjoy all that Inlet has to offer. The town is planned well for traveling on foot, and even the youngest and oldest in our group had no difficulties reaching the many destinations we wished to visit throughout our time together in Inlet. When we chose to drive to town, we found plenty of options for parking.
Adjacent to the main walking route through town lies Arrowhead Park, an easy favorite for all generations of the family. The Adirondack atmosphere of this park is unbeatable, and our family found that this was a great place to go as a group where there was something for everyone. Some of the memorable vacation activities included snacks and conversation shared at picnic tables under the canopy of old pines, slow and fast walks along the lakeshore and boardwalk (the dogs especially enjoyed walking at the park), testing out the fun playground equipment, and everything about the municipal beach.
Our family enjoyed many hours at the lake, spending time canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, and lounging. The oldest and youngest of our group were especially fond of teaming up together to spot minnows swimming in the shallow waters of the lake, counting the numbers of ducklings swimming with their mothers, finding driftwood, shells and pretty rocks, and discovering all that is to be discovered at the shore of an Adirondack Lake.
Fourth Lake, the largest lake in the Fulton Chain, is also a part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. (It is rumored that a few members of the family may be hatching a plan for an adventurous canoe trip that includes Inlet as a stopover point.)
Wildlife viewing both in town and at the lake was also a bit hit with all ages of our group – without any special effort at all, we spotted many varieties of songbirds, an osprey, deer, several species of fish and waterfowl, a snowshoe hare, loons and a Luna moth!
To top off all that Inlet has to offer, the hamlet is situated in the perfect location on Fourth Lake for some of the best sunset viewing in the Adirondacks.
Another great week of creating Adirondack memories together is in the books. We had so much fun that a return trip to Inlet has already been planned!
Inlet Information & Tourism Office
The Inlet Information & Tourism Office is located in the upper level of Inlet Town Hall, and provides a wealth of information and local knowledge to visitors. The Information Office produces and/or organizes many events throughout the year - stop in and ask what's on the calendar while you're in town!
Arrowhead Park
The Town of Inlet maintains Arrowhead Park, a beautiful location providing amenities for people of all ages, and fantastic choice for dog walking! Within the park, you'll find a municipal public beach with swimming (when a lifeguard is on duty), a playground, a tennis court, a professional little league field, picnic tables, hibachi grills, public restrooms, and a boardwalk at the water's edge. The park is also the gathering place for many of the activities hosted by the Town of Inlet, with live music events during the summer.
Inlet Public Library
In the center of town lies Inlet Public Library, set back from the main sidewalk just enough to host a lovely outdoor seating area where free Wi-Fi is available. Plenty of seating and free Wi-Fi is available inside the library as well, where people of all ages will enjoy browsing the shelves for their favorite reading material. In exchange for a donation, readers may select a book from the used book room. Kids will want to be sure to ask about the summer reading program! The library also offers many services, including a notary public, print/fax/scan capabilities, and more! Visit the library's web page for hours and additional information.
Inlet Historical Society
Stop by the Inlet Historical Society, where records, displays and historical information about Inlet and its surrounding area is preserved. Summer programs, put on by the Inlet Historical Society, are free to the public.
Inlet Common School
The Inlet Area Community Task Force welcomes you to stop by the Inlet Common School, check out the community garden, and stock up on fresh, healthy, locally produced food at the Inlet Farm Stand, which operates on select summer days. The Inlet Area Community Task Force also hosts Family night once a week - check out their Facebook page for additional info, and to find out about the trout tank, worm farm, and grow towers!
Fourth Lake NYS DEC Boat Launch
A public boat launch, located within easy walking distance to the center of town, provides access to Fourth Lake via the eastern shore. To help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species, boaters will find a boat wash station nearby on Route 28.
In and Around Inlet
A wealth of possibilities for added fun and adventure exist close to town, including mountain climbing, hiking, boating and boat rentals, horseback riding, biking and much more!
