Having never been to this wonderful place on earth, ‘The Adirondacks’, being able to breathe and experience its tranquility and stunning beauty as guests of ‘The Point’ was truly a decadent experience! What a truly marvelous place to relax and get your karma back in balance!
We took the air shuttle from Boston to Lake Saranac, and were picked up at the airport by one of The Point’s delightful staff, ‘Amanda’. From the (very small) Lake Saranac Airport we drove through the tree laced Adirondacks Mountains (uh, hills) and finally came to the quietly unmarked private road that leads to the even more private ‘Point’ gate. You just immediately know you are about to enter a very special and serene place as you approach the grounds.
Once we had arrived at the groomed and pristine estate, we were welcomed with champagne and a tour by The Point’s Camp's Manager, Megan and Asst Mgr, Cameron; these professionals treat you like you are family. And yes, THAT is the quintessentially unique element that The Point promotes… the concept that all its Guests are special, and ‘Family’. Each staff member was a delight. From the seasoned ‘Point’ Staff to the returning guests and the ‘newbies’ (us), you will be greeted, treated like royalty, and yes, you will be stunned by the simple little ways that they seem to listen, hear, know, and then employ all your most special wishes…. seamlessly!
So let’s talk about meals at The Point. Yeah, it IS a wee bit odd for the un-initiated, but dinner time is one of those ‘Family’ time experiences… only here you are seated with strangers - who by the end of the meal seem like dear friends. Honestly! While some of the visitors decided to dine alone - or with the known guests they may have come here with, we took the suggestion of our Rockefeller Guides and joined another family in the main dining room for an absolutely marvelous evening experience. What was quite amusing, and very wise, is that the Camp’s Manager, Megan, joined us for dinner. It became clear that as The Point clearly wishes its guests to experience the classical aura of times past; the VERY professional staff who eat with the guests are there to facilitate and promote conversation and good times. And yeah, it actually WORKS! What a delightful experience dinner time here at The Point is. It is a throwback to the period where chivalry was a way of social decorum; where gentlemen dressed for dinner and ladies wore their dress finery. In so far as we have sadly become accustomed to dining at even the nicest eateries that now encourage clientele to dress ‘casually’ (anything you want to wear but with a shirt and shoes), the point is surely a special walk in the ‘Past’.
Ah yes, and then there is the food. No, you just cannot ethically use the mundane and pedestrian term... 'food'. The very affable and brilliant strawberry headed Englishman Chef, Mark Levy... and his and marvelous kitchen staff will mesmerize your taste buds with culinary acumen! Seriously, this IS the truth! The connoisseur and the novice will alike be lulled into epicurean indulgence. And no, this is not a place where Florine Marks of Weight Watchers will advise the ‘weight conscious’ to come! This is rather a very special place on our planet where you should come to utterly unwind, and disentangle yourself from any and all forces of conflict and the taught ‘need’ for permission. Here you simply eat well (and decadently), drink (yeah, there are fully stocked open bar stations all over the property!), be merry, and uhhhh, don’t do much else... unless you want to.
When you combine the amazing and indulgent gourmet fare, the stunning sights of Saranac Lake, the Oh-Too-Cool little handmade polished teak motor boats that you can freely explore the entire Lake in, and the ridiculously beautiful rooms and suites at The Point, you will not be able to NOT fall stupidly in love with this place!
The Point was originally built in the early 1930s as Camp Wonundra—the mountain lake home of William Avery Rockefeller. It has been preserved – and splendidly restored – with the most indulgent of improvements that even the most well healed and well travelled visitor will greatly appreciate. It is indeed a blessed gift for the spirit.
Lastly, apart from only a few days of the year, The Point is NOT a place for the ‘young family’ to vacation. The accommodations at The Point are restricted to those eighteen years and older… and as such, it is a retreat from just about everything and anything that might otherwise intrude on your journey to this stunning escape from everyday reality.
So can you award Six Stars?!
- Point Saranac Lake
- Point Hotel Saranac Lake
