Friends Lake Inn, in Chestertown, is a hidden jewel. My husband and I stumbled onto this luxurious inn on a weekend jaunt in the Adirondacks. We checked it out, decided to spend the night, and loved it!

We hadn’t planned on a romantic weekend. My husband and I had loaded up our canoe and headed for Loon Lake in the Adirondacks.

When we got there, we found the place that we thought we could launch our canoe from was closed. Now what to do? We decided to explore the area, and found Friends Lake. While driving around the lake, we came upon Friends Lake Inn.

My husband was intrigued. He went in and checked it out, even though it looked like an upscale place and we were in shorts and sneakers. Soon, he came back out with a big smile on his face. They gave him a great rate, and dinner was included, so he had booked a room!

I didn’t know what to think as I followed him back in. The interior was beautiful, probably four-star. (I later checked, and it is indeed rated four-stars by AAA.) I explained to the desk clerk that we hadn’t packed for this type of stay, that we had planned a weekend of hiking and canoeing. She was very nice and told me not to worry.

So I didn’t. At least until it was time for dinner! But first, we went upstairs to our room - #5. It was wonderful - a Jacuzzi, four-poster bed, and a balcony overlooking the garden. The room was thoughtfully outfitted with robes, magazines and books, and coffee maker. We cleaned up, relaxed, and then went down to dinner.

The restaurant was upscale but relaxed. I felt a little uncomfortable about our attire but I saw other diners in casual dress, so I felt better. We had a very attentive waitress and waiter looking after us, making us feel a bit spoiled. The appetizer, bread and an olive oil dip, was excellent. I had the Baby Chicken and my husband had Glazed Pork Chops. The pace was leisurely and we loved the fireplace. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine list.

After dinner, we retired to our rooms. I spent some time on the balcony, until the cool spring air drove me in. We slept well on the comfortable bed.

Our stay included breakfast so we went downstairs and enjoyed another meal in the restaurant. It was served buffet-style and included fruit, juices, eggs and meat choices, cereal and toast. We chose a table near the windows with a view of the lake in the Lakeview Dining Room.

After breakfast, we lingered, reluctant to leave. We walked around the property and checked out the outdoor sauna and the garden pond.

Friends Lake Inn has 17 rooms, some with Jacuzzi's, some with fireplaces. The entire staff was friendly and incredibly helpful. The inn offers getaway packages like a Romantic Country Weekend and an Adirondack Adventure Weekend. They also host wine-tasting events.

It was closed while we were there, but in the summer, guests can swim, canoe or fish on the private beach.

For more information about Friends Lake Inn, visit their website at
Friends Lake Inn or call 518-494-4751.