Raquette Lake Hotel & Tap Room

I have to tell you, this place was like a beacon in the cold, dark and rainy afternoon....I went up to the Adirondacks a couple of weeks ago to check out a different part of the ADKs...figured I would stay on one of the many lakes and go from there.  Well, a plane ride was out so I figured why not tour on of the great camps up there, Sagamore on Raquette Lake.  OK, had a wonderful two hour tour of the camp, now what?  On the other side of the road was a tour boat on the lake featuring a food and booze cruise - ok, sounds good...but where to stay in the meantime?  Yep, Raquette Lake Hotel & Tap Room...now, if you're familiar with the typical Adirondack 'decor' then you'll love this place - plenty of kitch to go around...but decor be damned, it's the food that threw me for a loop....crab and havarti cheese melt on artisan bread?  Here?  In the middle of nowhere? At a place that quite frankly reminded me of the Back Door pub in Saranac Lake - minus the essence of beer and dogs....dark and unassuming.  But nope, this place cranks out some of the best food (pub or not) I've had anywhere.  I was pleasantly stunned....and they serve breakfast too!!  But I digress...ok, after my cruise, I ran over to the pub to start my evening cocktail hour and take in the locals - quite the story telling bunch.  But now, where to sleep?  I asked the bartender (who was quite good I might add) if there are any rooms left upstairs.  Yes, she said there was but they had no: phone, t.v. or internet - I said I don't care if the bed is in the closet.  She assured me it wasn't....and the price you ask?  $35.  Yep - a big room that apparently comes with a resident ghost...there were two beds in the large room so I figure if the ghost was tired, no problem there.   Quite a unique place - and I don't think it's going to change anytime soon....

Great stop for Utica Club!!!   Tremendous people!