Halloween is right around the corner and we are putting on the final touches to our Flintstones costumes. Oh, yes. We are the family that dresses up. My son chose the theme and we just "yab-a-daba-do" our way through a dress-up bin full of costume bits. Since we don't really live in Bedrock, dressing like the Flintstones has its disadventages. The underarmor I will be wearing under my shoulderless Wilma dress adds little to the look while "Barney" has been complaining about a few up drafts. It was his idea. So we do what we need to do being in the Adirondacks in autumn; layer, layer layer. It can be a bit chily "trick or treating"  so we take opportunity as opportunity comes.

Halloween costumes
Dress up for the Adirondack Scenic Railroad Halloween Train

October 22 and 23rd (2011) the Adirondack Scenic Railroad is giving a deal to all families riding the train from the Lake Placid Train Depot. Both Lake Placid and Saranac Lakes train depots will be decorated as well as the train itself.

Reservations are recommended by going to the Adirondack Scenic Railroad's website. The whole trip lasts about two hours with a 45 minutes layover in Saranac Lake. If you are a fast walker you certainly have enough time to hike around the area. For this event there are activities planned at the Saranac Lake Train Depot that should fill that block. Cider and donuts will be available in Saranac Lake. Prizes will be awarded for costumes during the stopover, in a variety of categories and age brackets as well as for group costume. (Yab-a-daba-do!) 

kids on Scenic Railroad
Enjoy an autumn ride aboard the Adirondack Scenic Railroad

Lunch and snacks can be purchased on the train's club car and Halloween candy will be passed out by the train staff and crew. During the train ride families can just mill around enjoying the festive atmosphere. Take heed. Along the tracks and peering out from fields will be witches, goblins and ghosts. Boo! So have kids be on the look out for haunting happenings along the rails. 

Adults wishing to get a second helping out of their Halloween costumes can indulge in some grownup time with the Adult Halloween Wine Train, also leaving from the Lake Placid Train Depot. Goose Watch and Swedish Hill Wineries will offer tastings and cheese array while aboard with hor-d'oeuvres during the Saranac Lake layover. There will be prizes for costumes and a souvenir wine glass.  Happy Halloween!

Diane's first guidebook, Adirondack Family Time High Peaks/Tri-Lakes Regions: Your Four-Season Guide to over 300 activities (with GPS coordinates) covering the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Jay/Upper Jay, Keene/Keene Valley and Wilmington is in bookstores and available online. This edition covers 33 easy hikes, 19 swimming holes and beaches, 21 historic venues, free ice skating spots, snowshoe trails, cross-country ski trails and more.

Adirondack Scenic Railroad

Location: 242 Station Street, Lake Placid, New York
Phone: 518-523-4237