It only takes a blink of an eye to drive through the tiny hamlet of Wynantskill, New York, but if you take that New York minute to explore, you might be surprised. While visitors should have no expectations of big-city excitement, it's not easy to overlook the town's preponderance of Italian eateries as well as its proximity to Snyder's Lake, a mecca for swimmers, boaters, water skiers and kayakers. Licensed anglers also know it as a prime fishing spot for bluegill, crappie and bass. Although Wynantskill has much to offer ethnic food lovers and water enthusiasts, campers have to travel farther afield. Just a sprinkling of campgrounds are located within 25 miles of town.
Year-round Alps Family Campground has a three-bedroom cabin and almost 90 campsites dotting its heavily wooded acreage. About a 10-mile drive from Wynantskill in Averill Park, the pet-friendly campground provides full and partial hookups, restrooms, hot showers, a laundry room and dump station. In addition to hiking trails that loop around two fishing ponds, fields and forest habitats, the park has a swimming pool, basketball area and playing fields. Planned weekend events include hayrides, picnics and potlucks, and when the weather gets gray, an arcade keeps campers busy. Lebanon Valley Speedway is 20 miles south, and if you're camping in the winter, Jiminy Peak's skiing and alpine slide are just over the Massachusetts border.
Family-friendly Aqua Vista Campground, a scenic 20-mile drive from Wynantskill in rural Petersburg, marries Mother Nature's attractions with modern conveniences. The park has more than 150 partial-hookup sites along the Little Hoosic River, a babbling stream known for its wild brown and rainbow trout fishing. A dog park, camp store, laundry room, dump station and restrooms with hot showers are on site, as well as a swimming pool, basketball courts and a game room. When you're not enjoying planned weekend activities such as hayrides, dances and costume parties, explore the surrounding countryside and small towns. Cambridge, with its antique shops and artisans' market, is just up Route 22, and if you head to Bennington, Vermont, you'll see a quaint covered bridge and the Bennington Battle Monument.
As soon as you spy the restored Delaware & Hudson little red caboose, you know you've hit the office of the Broken Wheel Campground in Petersburg. Campers can choose from 70 campsites, some with electric hookups, and a 32-foot rental trailer with water and electric hookups. A library, restrooms and showers are centrally located on the well-maintained grounds, and campers keep active with a swimming pool, horseshoes, ball courts, planned activities and a recreation room with arcade games, air hockey and ping-pong. Outdoor enthusiasts can drive west to Tomhannock Reservoir for licensed walleye, panfish and smallmouth bass fishing, or head east to Bennington's Woodford State Park for hiking and wildlife watching.
Adventure Bound Camping Resorts' Deer Run Campground at Schaghticoke is about 20 miles north of Wynantskill. Although it seems far from the cares of the world in a secluded, hillside setting, the campground is close to major highways, restaurants, shopping malls and entertainment. You can rent a cabin or pull up in an RV for sites that are centrally located to an on-site movie house, adult lounge, swimming pool and kids' zone with water slides and obstacle courses. The pet-friendly facility also has a dog park, playground, horseshoes and ball field, along with weekend activities sporting circus, luau, rock star and ninja themes. Glens Falls is nearby, offering museums, trolley rides and hot-air ballooning, while Saratoga Springs is geared to gaming and horse racing.
