16 Best Things to Do in Plattsburgh, NY

The Adirondack coast, with Plattsburgh, New York, at its center, offers great scuba diving, boating, sailing, and windsurfing on Lake Champlain. The coast boasts many beaches and parks. Bass fishing, complete with tournaments, is huge on Lake Champlain, and Ausable Chasm – a gorge that's two miles long - is a top attraction.

1.Point Au Roches State Park

Point Au Roche State Park sits on Lake Champlain's northwestern shore. It is a combination of forested and open areas, with a large area that featuringpicnic facilities and a protected, sandy beach, plus a concession stand. Guests play softball, volleyball, and other games, and fishing and boating are widely enjoyed.

In Deep Bay, Point Au Roche has 60 designated mooring sites, and its Nature Center has a range of programs available throughout the year. The park offers hiking, biking and nature trails which take visitors through areas such as forest, marsh and the shoreline. Cross-country skiing and ice fishingare also available.

19 Camp Red Cloud Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, Phone: 518-563-0369

2.Plattsburgh City Beach

Plattsburgh City Beach, among the largestfreshwater beaches in the U.S.,is only minutes from downtown Plattsburgh, and offers a view of the Green Mountains. This unique venue includesa great stretch of beach, outdoor grills andpicnic tables, plus a Taco Shack and Cabana Beach Bar.

Visitors will also find an information booth, kayak rentals, restrooms with showers and a nature trail. Weather permitting, the beach is open daily from 9 AM – 9 PM. Admission is free for City Residents with a beach pass obtained at the Park entrance. Admission is free for Town Residents, as well, if they get a beach pass from the Town Clerk's Office. ?

4 Beach Road, Plattsburgh, New York 12901

3.Champlain Valley Transportation Museum

The Champlain Valley Transportation Museum, situated on the museum campus along Lake Champlain, is dedicated to interpreting, exploring, and celebrating the area’s expansive transportation history, and it features the Lozier Automobile Company.

The museum was founded by a group of car and history enthusiasts in 2000 from the region, but what started as an automobile museum has grown to include more types of transportation. Kids’ Station is an educational and interactive museum that fosters learning about the history and the future of transportation. This division of the museum features events all year long – dedicated to engaging children and their families.

12 Museum Way, Plattsburgh, NY 12903, Phone: 518-566-7575 Photo: Champlain Valley Transportation Museum

4.Country Dreams Farm

Country Dreams Farm offers activities throughout the year. For a memorable fall farm experience, guests are invited to acorn maze, wagon rides, and pumpkin patch. During winter, families can treat themselves to a sleigh ride, pulled by Belgian draft horses. Warm blankets are provided, so visitors can comfortably enjoy the brisk air andthrilling scenes of the Adirondack mountains.

The spectacular ride begins by easily winding through the woods and ends with a dash through the snow. There's time for photos with the horses and hot cocoa in the cabin. A petting zoo is available during spring and summer seasons.

260 Pellerin Rd., Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 888-818-2701 Photo: Country Dreams Farm

5.Strand Center Theatre, Plattsburgh, New York

The Strand Center for the Arts has always been a key place fordeveloping arts education through presentations. The organization seeks to collaborate with other local groups and to help strengthen North Country economics.

A long-time partner with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the Strand Center for the Arts offers a number of youth scholarships so youth can engage in ArtQuest programming and other programs designed for younger students. In addition, it has formed a partnership with the United Way to provide additional access to disadvantages children.

25 Brinkerhoff Street, Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 518-324-2787 Photo: Strand Center Theatre

6.Clinton County Historical Association and Museum

The Clinton County Historical Museum is located in Plattsburgh's Museum Campus. This historic landmark is one of the original buildings constructed as part of the Plattsburgh Post, built on land that had beenin use by the United States Army since the War of 1812. One of its featured collections is of Native American relics. Its collection of more than 1,000 artifacts testifies to the fact that a Native American population dwelt in pre-Colonial Clinton County. Captain Edwin Murphy's WWI scrapbook is also on view, plus there is a collection of Redford Glass that includes pitchers and lamps. Collection

98 Ohio Avenue, Plattsburgh, New York 12903, Phone: 518-561-0340 Photo: Clinton County Historical Association and Museum

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7.Rockwell Kent Gallery

The Art Museum at Plattsburgh State and the State University of New York contains a complete collection of Rockwell Kent. Here is provided an excellent overview of the art, plus other aspects of Kent’s life, and gives students and scholars an unusual resource for understanding 20th century American art and of Kent's growth as advocate for social justice – and artist.

The Gallery hosts a permanent exhibition of Kent's prints, paintings, drawings, books, dinnerware, design art and more from his travels and Asgaard Farm life. The gallery also features changing exhibitions of the artist’s work.

7101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, Phone: 518-564-2474

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8.Kent-Delord House Museum, Plattsburgh, New York

Fannie Hall's death on October 4, 1913 marked the end of the Delord family. In her will, she left her “historic relics” to a museum and the house to the Physicians Hospital. For a decade, Fannie's servant became the caretaker of the house, preserving not only the building itself, but the relics inside.

Today's house museum lets visitors seeportraits, dinnerware, furniture, letters, books, and personal items owned by three generations of theDelord family. A visit to the Kent-Delord House Museum provides insight into authentic objects of bygone days, plus Delord family stories.Visitors have the opportunity to connect with the past in a 200-year-old building in its original form.

17 Cumberland Ave., Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 518-561-1035 Photo: Kent-Delord House Museum

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9.The War of 1812 Museum

The Battle of Plattsburgh Association has devoted itself to sustaining the War of 1812 Museum. Toward this, the Association preserves, collects, and maintains artifacts and has launcheda nationwide educational drive to describe the importance of the Battle of Plattsburgh in the War of 1812 and in U.S. history. The KeyBank Gallery is part of the museum as is the Press-Republican Theatre.

The Association seeks to preserve local history; to create an outstanding museum about the Battle of Plattsburgh and the War of 1812; and to educate children throughout the country.

31 Washington Road, Plattsburgh, New York 12903, Phone: 518-566-1814 Photo: BattleofPlattsburghAssociation/Facebook

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10.Elfs Farm Winery and Cider Mill

Elfs Farm Winery and Cider House is also home to Adirondack Cider Company and ADK Hard Cider. The Frey family offers locally grown grape, fruit and apple wines.

In 2005, the farm started offering sweet cider and in 2006, the farm began growing cold climate grapes. In 2007, the first wines and hard ciders were introduced.Its tasting room is open everyday, except Mondays, for cider and wine served by the glass and wine tastings. Visitors are invited to relax on the outside patio or enjoy a fire on colder days.

Elfs also sells maple syrup and sugar, jams, and other treats – in addition to home brew supplies.

7411 State Route 9, Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 518-563-2750 Photo: Elfs Farm Winery and Cider Mill

11.Lake Champlain Angler Fishing Charter

Lake Champlain Angler Fishing Charters offers outstanding and reasonably priced charters on twin 21-foot Outlander multi-species vessels. These boats are equipped with quiet 115-horsepower four-stroke outboards, and advanced trolling motors, electronics, and riggers.

Guides are equipped to jig, troll, or cast and the company provides premium rods and reels. Prices max out at $375 for an eight-hour trip, and there are no per-person additionaladd-ons, or fuel surcharges. Less expensive four-hour and six-hour trips are available. Boats can accommodate four people, but the company suggests three or fewer. Group rates are available for multiple vessels.

90 Cumberland Avenue, Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 518-578-9273

12.Eastern View Outfitters

Eastern View Outfitters is a year-round guide service, operated andowned by Bryce Collins, a USCG Captain,with access to some of the most productive and game-rich hunting grounds in the northeast: habitat for large populations of deer, wild turkeys, waterfowl species, and fish.

Lake Champlain is home to Atlantic Salmon, Monster Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Steelhead as well as Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Pickerel. The company is an insured and licensed New York State guide service with nearly 20 years of hunting and fishing experience in Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania, as well as in other states. Private farmland, stretching for thousands of acres, is within reach of Eastern View Outfitters.

P.O. Box 2326, Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 518-569-5770 Photo: Eastern View Outfitters

13.iFishLakeChamplain

iFishLakeChamplain is a fully licensed fishing charter service operated and guided by Captain Mike Tarasavage. The company goes after all species of the Lake Champlain fishery, specializing in Lake Trout, and offers four-hour, six hour, and eight-hour charters, depending on the season.

During these guided trips, guests will fish for Pike, Bass,Salmon and Lake Trout. In 2013, Captain Tarasavage earned his Coast Guard Captain's License and founded iFishLakeChamplain.com, based on his desire to share his passion for fishing. All ages and levels of experience are welcome on the Captain's outings.

Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 518-569-6850

14.Cumberland Bay State Park, Plattsburgh, New York

Cumberland Bay State Park, on the west shore of Lake Champlain, is a site that's popular for day use and for those with campers because of its picnic grounds and large natural sand beach. Cross-country runners frequent the park in the fall. It is open until Columbus Day.

Amenities include campsites, food, dumping stations, pavilions, grills, picnic tables, playgrounds, showers, a swimming beach, playing fields, plus tent and trailer sites. The John Brown Farm State Historic Site, Macomb Reservation State Park, Crown Point State Historic Site, and Point Au Roche State Park are all nearby.About 10 miles away visitors will find all kinds of attractions, including antiquing, golfing, hiking, and rock climbing.

152 Cumberland Head Road, Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 518-563-5240

15.The Champlain Wine Company

Visitors can indulge in the peacefulness of Lake Champlain and the Saranac River as they enjoyarea wines in historic downtown Plattsburgh at the Champlain Wine Company. Wines by the glass and tastings with light fare are available in its tasting room.

The company's wines are produced in Mooers, New York, and are brought to The Champlain Wine Company location downtown, which serves as its retail outlet and tasting room. Guests are invited to bring home a souvenir glass, listen to local musicians and see the best of local art, plus choose from unique wine accessories and local products in its gift shop.

30 City Hall Place, Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 518-564-0064 Photo: The Champlain Wine Company

16.Champlain Centre Mall, Plattsburgh, NY

The Champlain Centre Mall has announced that its Kids Zone is now open. It's a family friendly children's entertainment venue right in the mall. Kids Zone has many inflatables and bounce houses for children of all ages, and it will offer birthday parties in the future.

Kids Zone is open Monday- Saturday, from 10am – 9pm and Sunday 11am – 6pm. In addition to stores for every taste, there is entertainment – besides Kid Zone – at the Regal Stadium 8 – and dining in the food court at China Café, Sbarro, Taco Bell, Bangkok Grill, Starbucks (inside Target), and Subway. Auntie Anne's is situated right across from Dick's Sporting Goods and across from Aeropostale, visitors will see Got Yogurt.

60 Smithfield Blvd. Suite 69, Plattsburgh, New York 12901, Phone: 518-561-8660 Photo: Champlain Centre Mall