Huttopia Adirondacks
Campground · Lake Luzerne
1571 Lake Ave, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846
"We stayed at the recently opened Huttopia Adirondacks, near Lake George, New York, another of those iconic Northeastern summertime towns; it evinced none of the bougieness you might associate with glamping, but did have a delightfully whimsical French touch. It was probably the most successful trip we took last summer: The kids got S’mores, hang time in the woods, and a pool, while their parents got real beds, a gas grill, and a restaurant serving Nutella crepes and Croque Monsieurs when they didn’t want to have to deal with cooking. And all of us loved every minute of our off-site fun, from the thrills and chills of whitewater rafting with the family-run Sacandaga Outdoor Center to the 18 swashbuckling holes we played at Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf in the heart of Lake George. After checking out, we drove north to Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, another family-run operation that claims to be the largest marble cave entrance in the Eastern United States and has a delightfully kitschy gift shop that carries enormous glittering geodes and Adirondacks coffee mugs that appear to be deadstock from the 1970s."
"Why book? Especially if you’re traveling with kids, there is no better way to experience the abundant beauty of New York’s Adirondack Mountains than this thoughtful, unpretentious glamping experience from French company Huttopia. Nearby Lake George, one of America’s original summer resort destinations, can feel crowded and touristy in the summer, but on this 375-acre site just a few miles away you’ll feel like you’ve gotten away from it all, while still having access to all the region has to offer. If you want the comfort and ease of glamping without the over-the-top fanciness of certain glamping brands, Huttopia is for you. Set the scene Huttopia Adirondacks is nestled at the foot of Mount Kenyon, about three and a half hours north of New York City, within the boundary of the vast Adirondack Park. You pull off a two-lane rural road and onto a steep dirt road that winds through the woods, passing French and American flags, until reaching a clearing where the main lodge and pool sit. Inside, the staffers are mostly French, young, and charming, while the guests are predominantly families hailing from New York, Pennsylvania, New England, Ontario, and Quebec. The atmosphere is convivial. Beyond the treeline lie the 109 tents, which are spaced wide apart and offer plenty of privacy. They are deliberately placed far enough from the parking area to insulate guests from headlights and the sound of cars on gravel; wheeled wagons are available to transport your stuff up to your tent. The backstory Launched in 2000, Huttopia now operates dozens of sites throughout France, as well as a few in the Netherlands. But the seeds of the company were planted during founders Céline and Philippe Bossanne’s years living in Toronto in the ’90s, during which time they often visited the Canadian and American National Parks. So it was only natural that they would expand to North America, beginning with Quebec in 2015 and followed by a handful of sites across the U.S—including this one, which opened in the summer of 2021. The rooms There are four tent types on the premises, ranging from the minimal Trappeur Duo Nature, which sleeps two, to the more fully equipped Trappeur +, which claims to be able to sleep up to five, though it was hard for me to imagine the one my family stayed in holding more than the four of us. Our tent had two sleeping areas, one with a double bed and one with a bunk bed, sandwiching an extremely compact bathroom. The rest of the space contained a couple of comfy chairs facing a wood stove and a well-stocked kitchenette. The quarters were tight but sufficient, especially since the point of the experience was to be outside. To that end, I was grateful for the expansive wooden deck and the gas grill, where I cooked all of our meals, crouching over the fire-pit only to roast S’mores after dinner. Food and drink Inside the lodge there is a simple French bistro that serves brick-oven pizzas, crepes, Croque Monsieurs and Madames, salad Niçoise, fresh juices, espresso drinks, and a broad selection of beers. You’ll likely exhaust the short menu in a single long weekend, but everything is tasty—it’s perhaps the most overt example of the delightful French touch that pervades the entire Huttopia experience. The neighborhood Huttopia Adirondacks pulls off the remarkable feat of feeling like it’s in the middle of nowhere while simultaneously being in the middle of everything. It’s only about a 10-minute drive to the village of Lake George, which has grocery stores, plentiful restaurants, several miniature golf courses, and more tchotchke shops than you can shake a stick at. In the nearby region you can also find a Six Flags, numerous historical sites, tons of kayak and canoe rental places, and some absolutely lovely Adirondacks hiking trails. Two recommendations: Sacandaga Outdoor Center, a well-run family operation that operates stupendously fun whitewater rafting trips for the whole family, and Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, a bit to the north, which claims to be the largest marble cave entrance in the Eastern United States, and is a wonderful little pocket of Americana. The service While most of the Huttopia experience is D.I.Y., the service at reception, the camp store, and the bistro is fast, friendly, and French. The people who work here are a delight. For families The entire experience is tailor-made for families, but one amenity I’ll single out, which Huttopia added in 2022, is the pool. I hadn’t really thought of a pool as something I needed from a glamping experience, but parents will understand how fantastic it is to have the pool where the kids can take a quick dip after a Nutella crepe in the morning or when they’re hot and sweaty in the late afternoon returning from a forced hike in the forest. There is also a simple play structure near the pool. In addition, there are many kid-friendly activities on Huttopia’s packed programming schedule; my children did some rock painting and watched a magic show. The camp store sells s’mores kits, and the lodge is equipped with board games and a foosball table. Eco effort One of the company’s core values is conservation and protection of natural resources, which is why in many of the places it operates (including France, the Netherlands, Canada, and several countries to which it hopes to expand) it has forged close cooperative relationships with National Parks. It has also created the Huttopia Foundation, dedicated to the development of ecotourism infrastructure and educating travelers on the tenets of responsible tourism. Accessibility Huttopia Adirondacks offers ADA-compliant accommodations and bathroom facilities designed for guests with limited mobility. But uneven ground is part of the package in a glamping experience, so visitors with concerns should contact the camp before booking. Anything left to mention? One of Huttopia’s core principles and distinguishing features is its commitment to supporting the local community and facilitating experiences that help guests get to know the region and its people. That means frequently bringing folks from the surrounding area, including magicians, yoga instructors, and artists, into the camp to lead activities. It also means offering help in putting together a Lake George itinerary during your stay—they even keep a giant binder on the premises packed with their recommendations for restaurants, farmers markets, outfitters, craft boutiques, and more." - Jesse Ashlock
"Upstate New York is a playground of outdoor adventure that’s just 3.5 hours from New York City. Huttopia Adirondacks gives active travelers and fresh-air seekers a place to come together for nature walks, wildlife peeping, and yoga. The property also offers tents specifically designed for couples and others for families." - Travel + Leisure Editors
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