Our Saturday Farmers Markets are an ideal shopping spot to stock that camp, cooler, kitchen, or kitchenette. If you're doing some cooking during your stay, make those meals "vacation quality" by visiting this delightful weekly market at a gorgeous location on the Saranac River.

It's not just food. It's not even just the treats and beverages many vendors make available for on-the-spot consumption. It's also the artisan crafts like pottery, art, and jewelry. Have a lemonade, a browse, and sit on a bench to enjoy our mountain scenery.

It's all good.

Sandwich deluxe

I adore sandwiches. If you do, too, there's some fine fixings here. Baked goods range from individual pastries to rolls and loaves of bread.

Condiments can have a special Adirondack twist, from pickles and relishes to flavored mustards and sauces. Top them with farm fresh produce like organic leaf lettuce, shallots, and fresh tomatoes.

There's chicken, pork, and beef products from humane farms. The cheese selection is one of my favorite parts of browsing at the farmers market — soft or crumbly with age, cow or goat, and even yogurt. Talk about spoiled for choice.

Our farms bring their farm store goods to market, too. Like below, the Clover Mead Farm granola and trail mix.

That's not all the goodies available, by any means. Local fruit includes apples, strawberries, peaches, raspberries, and blueberries. If you want to expand to jams (and of course you should) there's even more homemade goodness to be had. There are beekeepers with honey, too.

I have found that locally grown produce stays fresher, longer. It's not just a matter of taste. It can become a matter of practicality, too.

Art & nature

There's always an element of surprise.

Vendors might not make every Saturday, or they are sharing space this week, or have new products to show off. If you see something you like... getting it now might be the only way to make sure you will get it. Once it's gone, it's gone... until next week.

Local delis and restaurants use locally made products, too, so eating out is yet another way to savor the freshness.

The Adirondacks have long been known for bringing out the creative spirit. Painters like Winslow Homer and William James Stillman, with writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and James Russell Lowell, helped popularize the area with their nature retreats and landscape subjects. Saranac Lake has several galleries to enjoy visiting, and plenty of creative people who are passionate about their work.

Some things sold at the market don't have a "sell by" date. I always check out the craft stands where I've made some wonderful purchases. One favorite find was a mug with a lid so I can make tea in the office. Another time, I found a lovely hand-turned wooden fountain pen. There's art and leather goods and jewelry.

Many of these items are one-of-a-kind. Others are part of a style series, but each one tends to have its own individuality. There's something really special about a piece that calls you, and it's the only one. At least, that is the excuse I use on my significant other. I'm sure you have your own favorites.

Sometimes the bandshell has live music. Boat tours are available in good weather.

And beyond

Our Farmers Market is held in Riverside Park, part of a lovely stretch of lakeside park that runs along Lake Flower Avenue, then continues into our Riverwalk. Our walkable downtown is surrounded by parks, part of a park complex that was designed by the same landscaping firm which created Central Park in New York City.

While the Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the fun need not stop. It is held are across the street from our downtown shops, restaurants, and attractions.

Have a coffee, rent a bicycle, decide where to have dinner. Or, get everything you need for a fantastic picnic and head for "home." Real relaxation and delicious dining comes in many Adirondack packages.

Don't forget those tasty side dishes. We have two Tops Markets, an Aldi, Lakeview Deli, and Nori's Village Market with wonderful deli choices for those all important "other" summer salad options.

Choose your favorite kind of lodging. Explore our farm fresh dining. Learn more about our local farms.