I scheduled a trail ride on short notice for just me, and Tam and Sarah were very accommodating…read more They got me in next day, easy as that, and listened when I told them my riding experience. "Experienced rider" is a term that gets tossed around a lot when it comes to trail rides, and in general I think people say they're experienced in order to get an "exciting" ride, possibly with cantering or galloping, or to be given a lot of autonomy on the trail. The thing is, lots of cantering or galloping, letting riders do whatever they want rarely sets up a good ride, either for horses or riders, and as a former trail guide I'm all too aware of dealing with those expectations vs. what a trail guide can actually safely and reasonably do. So to the "experienced riders" who aren't actually experienced with being a rider on a paid trail ride, your experience may or may not be relevant to your ride and to your trail horse. The guides don't know you, the horse doesn't know you, and you might not know trail riding well; like all horse events it's its own particular beast. So, for me, I said I'd been a guide but I don't do much riding these days and besides that, I'm old and lazy and don't want a hippy hoppy happy bouncy horse, I want a nice horse with half a brain that does as they're told and has some common sense. The horse they gave me was Serena, a lovely Percheron/Canadian warmblood whom they've used for beginners on trail all the way up to experienced riders. She was a perfect pick for me and the reason I've gone to all the detail I have here is to once again point out that the key element to having fun on a trail ride is having the right horse, a good guide, a fun trail and things going along according to your expectations. Accordingly, I had a lovely horse who quickly realized I more or less knew what I was doing, and adjusted her game to match my skill. She was fun, willing, had her own personality but when it mattered, did precisely what I asked. It took me a while to get used to her gaits but after a while on trail I learned to get her collected into both a trot and canter that weren't too bone jarring. (A little more muscle tone on my part might have helped too, AHEM.) Meanwhile, Sarah's a wonderful guide. She had me ride Serena around the ring to assess my actual versus reported skill, and once she was satisfied I'd be all right, off we went. The trails around Breakaway are *stunning*. Given my experience and enjoyment Sarah had me exploring some pretty dense forest with her, which was some fun challenging riding and incredible scenery including vast meadows, silvery-hued marshes, the mountains in the distance and finally my absolute favorite moment, what Sarah calls "The Cathedral," a stand of maples planted in long rows whose branches form vaulting pointed arches of green over dark naves of loam. The ride was long and satisfying, with varying scenery, good conversation, some nice challenges like trailblazing and a bit of trotting and cantering. Sarah was at all times alert to me, what I was doing, Serena's behavior and the safety and well-being of all four of us, horses and riders. This is the epitome of an excellent guide. The rates are very reasonable for the rich experience you get. An hour was fifty dollars and I tipped heavily, which is customary for such a great experience, solo, tailored exactly to my skill and what I wanted out of the ride. Breakaway is not a "fancy" stable; it's a working stable. There are geese, sheep, ducks, dogs, ponies, mules and horses there, all of whom are well behaved and well cared for. All the horses I got to hang out with and pet (I really had to go introduce myself to their glorious Fresian!) were calm, inquisitive ranging on downright affectionate, which is always an indication of how well socialized and cared for they are. In short, if you'd like a fun, scenic trail ride with horses and guides who know their stuff, this is the stable to call. Just be honest about your experience and what you want out of the ride, and you're sure to have a great time.

the guide was so awful and rude. she seemed young and i wanted to almost tell her how she could…read morebecome a better leader but she was so cruel to not only us but the other rides and even the horses, it would've fallen on deaf ears. don't recommend, im writing this almost three weeks after it happened because it still bothers me how awful she was

This is the most amazing camp in the USA. Kids from all over the country and the world attend…read moreChateaugay and return year after year. The activities they offer are so far and above what is offered at standard summer camps. For example, glass blowing, animal care, hip hop dancing, ropes courses, sewing, and every sport you can think of. It's a camp that has something to offer everyone. The staff is incredible and it's the only camp my daughter has ever been eager to attend and asked to return to.

Camp Chateaugay is everything you dream a sleep away camp to be. Both my sons had the most amazing…read moretime. There are activities for everyone. Horseback riding, water skiing, baby animals to feed, photography, ropes course, theater, cooking, sports, glass blowing, dance, sewing and more. Anything you can think of they have it. My boys were nervous to go at first but instantly were put at ease and immediately told me they loved camp and wanted to come back the next year.

Greatest summer camp in the country! Has one of the best climbing programs, with many campers…read morehiking all Adirondack 46 (4,000 ft mountains). Camp is owned by the same family dating back to 1904. Rich in tradition and outdoor activities, this camp is ideal for campers looking to experience new adventures.

From the owner: Pok-O-MacCready Camps is a co-ed Adirondack summer camp in New York for boys and girls ages 6-16…read more It is located on a beautiful lake in New York's Adirondack Mountains. Family-owned since 1905, Camp Pok-O-Moonshine for Boys and Camp MacCready for Girls provide a traditional Adirondack summer camp experience that mixes exciting summer adventures and new opportunities with great friends in a picturesque natural setting.

The importance of Eagle Island in my life cannot be overstated. I spent many summers on this unique…read moreand beautiful private island (and national landmark) learning how to sail a boat, paddle a canoe, improve my swimming skills, learn songs and craft skills, live outdoors, appreciate unspoiled nature. But my greatest takeaway was in finding myself--building confidence, having strong women leaders, and coming away with an internal fortitude that has served me well into my adult life. My nieces will also be attending camp there and I could not be more thrilled for them and what they too will experience in this magical place.

From the owner: Youth Summer Day Camp for children entering grades 3-6…read moreGirls' Overnight Camp grades 5-9 Family Camp and more. . . An unplugged island experience. Located at a National Historic Landmark Adirondack Great Camp located on Upper Saranac Lake, New York

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN THERE... My daughter was lost for almost 2 hours in Montreal (age 8)…read morebecause these people are the most incompetent people in the world. The "responsible" for the camp never answered (nambe Mariano Liu) and the other guys were not able to contact the driver and didnt even knew the name of the bus company that was supposed to drive her back home. It is absolutely unacceptable. Luckily she was with the police and we found her safe and sound. If you need more details please email me at enrique_horcasitas@yahoo.com

From the owner: Summer camp, Day camp, March break camp, wakeboarding, sailing, kiteboarding, water skiing,…read moresnowboarding, skiing, kayaking, canoeing.

Apparently there's now "no walking allowed" on trails in the winter time, as we were told rudely by…read morea guy in a hoodie who seriously lacked any sort of service skills.

We did not know what to expect, and it all worked out. I think there may be two ways to get here. …read more . one is off the main-ish road, and another is through a scenic road by a horse farm. Anyway, the horse farm way was beautiful, but not open in the winter. . . so we backtracked and went around. There don't appear to be bathrooms here, so keep that in mind! We went with the intent to rent fat bikes, but the woman working here recommended that we do snowshoeing instead because the bikes were going to be hard to maneuver given that the snow wasn't super-packed. So, we had a really nice time snowshoeing (our first time) through very groomed trails. There were signs along the way, and the woman working showed us the map, so we had a picture of that. It was really really pretty - very scenic. Lots of trees, gorgeous sunlight filtering through the trees, very few people that we came across, and lots of interesting animal tracks to look at. Very fun.

Hosmer Point is a summer camp in craftsbury VT.The age group is 9-15. It is 52 acres. You can swim…read more There is a waterslide. There are very steep hills. I would recommend sunscreen and bug spray. I felt excited. I would recommend this place.-Parker 3rd grade Hosmer Point is a summer camp. It is located in Craftsbury, Vermont. They have good parking. They also have a cool waterfront. It is for ages 9-15. It is made up of 52 acres. They have a theater. They also have a garden, tennis court, basketball, gaga ball, soccer field and pizza. I did not like the lunch choices and there were not many lunch options either. I recommend bringing sunscreen, bug spray, a change of clothes and bathing suit. When I went, I felt happy, excited, energized and silly. -Henry, 3rd grade.

From the owner: Hosmer Point's mission is to build confidence and community. With only 80 campers, and a…read morecamper/counselor ratio of 3:1, our emphasis on community builds mutual respect. Children direct their own schedules, fostering self confidence as they choose from activities such as: sculling, sailing, farming, furniture building, and mountain biking. Other highlights are delicious farm-to-table food, a focus on environmental stewardship, and an electronics-free campus. Tuition is on a sliding scale, with families paying $250-$1300 per week. We also offer a day camp for ages 5-8, and a wilderness adventure camp for teens. As an outdoor education and events facility, we provide programs that get participants outside, active, and engaged year-round.