Plattsburg to Niagara Falls
Santa's Workshop, the Adirondacks & Lake Placid
Ray and his daughter Amanda were making the most of their time together on the road — including a stop at Santa's Workshop in the North Pole.
Day 58 had something for everyone — including Santa Claus.
Ray and Amanda started the day in Plattsburg, New York, near the Canadian border on Lake Champlain. Their first stop: Santa's Workshop in North Pole, New York — a Christmas-themed amusement park that has been operating since 1949 in the Adirondack Mountains. In June. With a Corvette in the parking lot.
From North Pole, the route took them through the heart of the Adirondack Mountains — one of the most beautiful drives in the Northeast, through forests and past lakes that stretch to the horizon.
Lake Placid, the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, was a stop along the way. The 1980 Games are famous for the 'Miracle on Ice' — the US hockey team's improbable victory over the Soviet Union.
Then west along the St. Lawrence River valley and south to Albany — the New York state capital — before continuing west to Niagara Falls.
Photos from the Day
The Day's Route
Santa's Workshop — North Pole, NY
A Christmas-themed amusement park in the Adirondack Mountains, operating since 1949. Santa's Workshop is one of the oldest theme parks in the United States — and one of the more unusual stops on the ALL50 road trip.
Adirondack Mountains
A beautiful drive through the Adirondack Mountains — six million acres of forests, lakes, and peaks in upstate New York. The Adirondack Park is the largest park in the contiguous United States.
Lake Placid & the Olympic Village
Lake Placid — site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. The Olympic venues, including the ski jumps and the speed skating oval, are still in use. The 1980 'Miracle on Ice' hockey rink is now a museum.
Albany, NY — State Capitol
Albany, the New York state capital — one of the oldest cities in the United States, settled by Dutch traders in the early 1600s.
Niagara Falls, NY
Arrival at Niagara Falls for the night — tomorrow would bring the falls themselves, a walk into Canada, and Amanda's departure.