Juniper Hill Cabin, Adirondacks NY
Pine therapy is a real thing, or at least, I am proclaiming it as such. There is something so emotionally and physically connective about spending time among the pines. Evergreen trees are also loaded with compounds that have a variety of positive effects on the human body. Juniper Hill Cabin is perfectly positioned to take in all the arboreal delights the Adirondacks have to offer. Our experience in this Wilmington hideaway was simultaneously grounding and uplifting.
As Winter is my favorite season, I always welcome a visit from “old man winter”, even on May 1st! Typically I would be writing about kicking off the unofficial start of Spring but this particular weekend, nature had other plans. The S’mores and fishing poles were stripped off the itinerary, and replaced with winter hats and snow angels. Winter provided us with one final act, blanketing us with snow... the kind that glitters like a million diamonds. A sight that will always call my attention. Geographically speaking, it was interesting how one side of the mountain range had only a dusting of snow, while the other side was walloped with 4-6 inches of dense heavy wet snow! I mean, literally the difference of a half mile.
Ok, so historically speaking, how did we get here? The Adirondack Park is a part of New York's Forest Preserve. The park was established in 1892 for “the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure”, and for watershed protection. The park's boundary roughly corresponds with the Adirondack Mountains. Before the 19th century, the wilderness was viewed as desolate and forbidding. As Romanticism developed in the United States, the view of wilderness became more positive, as seen in the writings of James Fenimore Cooper, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. The 1849 publication of Joel Tyler Headley's Adirondack; or, Life in the Woods triggered the development of hotels and stage coach lines. William Henry Harrison Murray's 1869 wilderness guidebook depicted the area as a place of relaxation and pleasure rather than a natural obstacle. I can’t help but wonder what life was like for indigenous tribes considering the altitude, the terrain and the dramatic weather changes. Oddly, this is something I OFTEN think about almost everywhere I go in New England.
Being out in the woods for any period of time, I get to witness my children simply exhale. In a world full of worry and fright, it’s important to disconnect from the news, the “have to’s”, and the busy schedules. Realizing May is Mental Health Month, I can’t think of a more appropriate way to practice health and wellness. Positioned just 20 minutes northeast from the quaint Olympic Village of Lake Placid, is Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington. Our stay in the quintessential ADK cabin, Juniper Hill, is located just around the base of the ski lovers behemouth which allowed us to experience both the high peaks wilderness while still having access to the modern conveniences of souvenir shopping and delicious food in town. Make it a point to visit the Adirondack Store in Lake Placid (en route to Saranac Lake) for a nostalgic glimpse into mountain life of yesteryear. My kids were infatuated with the taxidermy on display. I am not typically a fan, but I have to admit… it was very cool standing face to face with a real polar bear 3x’s my size! Think I can take him?
Huge acknowledgment to our incredible host, Laura at Juniper Hill for providing an authentic mountain getaway with all the accoutrements of modern living. Every detail was obviously considered with great consideration and purpose. Some of my favorite details to note were the Pendleton blankets, the cabin coffee table books, and the ADK inspired candles! My kids especially loved the board games, binoculars and the full size bunks. We can’t wait to return, especially after the summer sun has had it’s turn to crispen the leaves!
