Vacationing on rivers and lakes in New York State: Where to stay and things to do on the water

Leaving Long Island for summer vacation doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the joys of swimming, fishing and stand-up paddleboarding. Upstate lodgings that sit beside a river or a lake offer recreational possibilities without the frenetic atmosphere of the beach.

Saranac Waterfront Lodge

250 Lake Flower Ave., Saranac Lake

Summer vacation revolves around water sports at this Adirondack resort, where rooms and suites have navy accents that highlight the views of Lake Flower, part of the Saranac Chain of Lakes. Explore the water by pontoon boat, kayak or paddleboard, available for rent at the hotel’s dock. Or rent a fishing boat and gear, arrange for a guide and spend the day catching lake trout, rainbow trout, bass, pike and perch. Then there are the mountains. The lodge team can advise on nearby hikes for every level of hiker, and also direct you to the McKenzie Road Boulders, for a rock climbing experience just minutes from the hotel.

The on-site and waterside Boathouse Pub serves eclectic comfort food from burgers and club sandwiches to lasagna and braised short ribs. The Navigator’s Lounge is a lobby bar where coffee is served in the morning and cocktails are available into the night — with panoramic views of Lake Flower.

Room rates Starting at $132 per night.

More info 518-619-4000, saranacwaterfrontlodge.com

The James Newbury Hotel

60 S. River St., Coxsackie

This new hotel right on the Hudson has found instant success with a diverse crowd, says general manager Tom Ryan. “We have downstaters that book weddings, we have a more northern market, with people from Montreal who come down the thruway. European tourists are finding us, and families coming up from the city.” Ryan attributes some of The James Newbury’s success to its location in low-key Coxsackie. “You can enjoy the Catskill amenities,” he says, pointing to the area’s superb mountain setting, and its recent surge in popularity, “but you’re not in Rhinebeck or Rhinecliff, some of the areas that are more crowded and expensive.”

Formerly the location of an iron foundry, The James Newbury pays homage to its manufacturing roots with recycled materials and modern industrial design. Metal beams and an exposed brick fireplace enhance the soaring lobby. Spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows are flooded with light. Luxury suites have soaking tubs with river views. Three on-site restaurants, each imagined with the hotel’s setting in mind, provide dining choices. The dramatically lit lobby cafe has a long, buzzing bar and an outdoor patio for drinks and light bites. Patrick Henry’s, in an antique brick building adjacent to the hotel, is a cozy tavern with pub food, pizzas and a deck overlooking the Hudson. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant, Day Line Oyster Bar and Kitchen, is a seafood-centric spot with a full raw bar and panoramic river views.

The river itself provides plenty of recreation. Rent a kayak from a self-serve kiosk at the Coxsackie Riverside Park (upstatekayakrentals.com) and start to explore. The park also hosts a lively farmers’ market from May to September.

The hotel has arranged for the Hudson Ferry to pick up guests in Coxsackie, stop downriver in Athens, and then spirit them across the river to the happening town of Hudson, buzzing with restaurants, antique shops and clothing boutiques.

Room rates Starting at $160 per night.

More info 518-719-9800, jamesnewburyhotel.com

The Otesaga Resort Hotel

60 Lake St., Cooperstown

On the shores of Otsego Lake, and near the birthplace of writer James Fenimore Cooper, sits this luxury resort, built in 1909 by brothers Edward and Stephen Clark, who also developed The Dakota in Manhattan.

The spirit of 1909 lives on here, says Tjibbe Lambers, the hotel’s director of marketing: “The first thing you experience when you arrive is this massive door opened by one of our greeters. We hear from so many guests that feel like they are taking a step back in time.” Lake Otsego and its forested shores take people even further back — to Cooper’s 19th century. “People walk towards the veranda and it’s amazing to see their expressions,” says Lambers. “It is jaw-dropping.”

Reproductions from the Fenimore Art Museum hang on the walls of traditionally decorated lake-view rooms featuring plush carpeting, brocade curtains, and wingback chairs. Multiple dining venues, including a lakeside steakhouse, a casual pub and a gourmet coffee shop serve meals and snacks throughout the day. A circular bar with a fire pit at its center is a popular gathering spot in the evening.

Kayaks, canoes and rowboats are available to rent at the hotel’s private dock. Tennis and pickleball courts, running and walking trails, a fitness center and yoga by the lake will keep you active. Or take a swim in the resort’s heated outdoor pool. Play a round of golf at The Leatherstocking Golf Course on-site. Relax after an active morning or late night at the Hawkeye Spa, which has a full menu of massages and facials.

Room rates Starting at $220 per night.

More info 800-348-6222, otesaga.com

The Beaverkill Valley Inn

7 Barnhart Rd., Lew Beach

“Dry fly fishing was invented on the Beaverkill River,” says Kaitlyn Finch, general manager of the Beaverkill Valley Inn, once a boardinghouse for fly fishermen and now a full-service country hotel. “We are actually right down the road from the Wulff School, one of the oldest fly fishing schools in the country and home of Joan Wulff, who was the national casting champion for almost two decades and the first woman to ever hold that title.” Finch takes pride in the inn’s connection to the sport. “Every cast is a nod to tradition and every catch a testament to legacy. On our mile of river, guests enjoy premier fishing and pure relaxation.”

The inn has one mile of private Beaverkill River open to registered guests for fly fishing only. For novices, there are equipment rentals and an expert on hand for casting lessons. But there is much more to offer, including a heated swimming pool with a glass roof, a full indoor basketball court, tennis courts, a game room with Ping-Pong, billiards and Foosball, and miles of groomed private trails for hikers. “Once you arrive,” says Finch, “you have everything that you need available to you.” With an on-site vegetable garden, the inn’s restaurant is truly farm-to-table. Beer comes from local brewers and the coffee from local roasters. Your kids will be amped when they see the old-fashioned self-serve ice cream parlor, which is complimentary, open 24/7 for guests and adjacent to the pool.

Room rates Starting at $305 per night and include a glass of wine, hot breakfast daily and afternoon high tea on Saturdays. Two-night minimum on all reservations.

More info 845-439-4844, beaverkillvalleyinn.com