Little Spruce Guide

Linda
Little Spruce Guide

Food scene

Great food and friendly atmosphere. Some of the best burgers in town. Portions are large and the dining area can accommodate a large group. Keep you eye out for their Lobster special. The bar area has a pool table and a few video games. The tender is very friendly and knowledgeable. Within walking distance from the cottage and a minute drive.
8 locals recommend
Logan's Bar & Grill
2890 NY-8
8 locals recommend
Great food and friendly atmosphere. Some of the best burgers in town. Portions are large and the dining area can accommodate a large group. Keep you eye out for their Lobster special. The bar area has a pool table and a few video games. The tender is very friendly and knowledgeable. Within walking distance from the cottage and a minute drive.
Located at the lodge of Oak Mountain Ski Area, this eatery has some of the finest fare in the village. It is a very casual atmosphere and depending on the time of year you visit the scenery is all part of the experience. This is one of my favorite places to dine. The service is fast and the food portions are excellent. Reservations are recommended especially on Fridays for the “fish fry”. Generally open only Thursday -Sunday and occasionally closed for weddings. In the winter you can snowmobile directly to the front door! The acorn is a 4 minute car ride but a little longer by sled.
Acorn Pub & Eatery
141 Novosel Way
Located at the lodge of Oak Mountain Ski Area, this eatery has some of the finest fare in the village. It is a very casual atmosphere and depending on the time of year you visit the scenery is all part of the experience. This is one of my favorite places to dine. The service is fast and the food portions are excellent. Reservations are recommended especially on Fridays for the “fish fry”. Generally open only Thursday -Sunday and occasionally closed for weddings. In the winter you can snowmobile directly to the front door! The acorn is a 4 minute car ride but a little longer by sled.
Very comfortable setting located in an historic inn. Table settings can place you near the fireplace or looking out towards Lake Pleasant. They can easy accommodate couples for a nice romantic diner or a larger family group. Don’t miss their weekly specials! Speculator Inn is a bit of a stroll from the Cottage and about a 4 minute car ride.
11 locals recommend
Inn At Speculator
2828 NY-8
11 locals recommend
Very comfortable setting located in an historic inn. Table settings can place you near the fireplace or looking out towards Lake Pleasant. They can easy accommodate couples for a nice romantic diner or a larger family group. Don’t miss their weekly specials! Speculator Inn is a bit of a stroll from the Cottage and about a 4 minute car ride.
The Oxbow, while a 10 minute ride is one of the areas favorites for very good pasta dishes and comfort food. Some of the best pizza and wings and they also have daily specials. Their bar has a large beer on tap selection and many wines and ciders as well. The nice thing about the Oxbow is that you can snowmobile right up to the Inn from Oxbow Lake. One of my favorites anytime of the year (closed in April)
14 locals recommend
Oxbow Inn
1815 NY-8
14 locals recommend
The Oxbow, while a 10 minute ride is one of the areas favorites for very good pasta dishes and comfort food. Some of the best pizza and wings and they also have daily specials. Their bar has a large beer on tap selection and many wines and ciders as well. The nice thing about the Oxbow is that you can snowmobile right up to the Inn from Oxbow Lake. One of my favorites anytime of the year (closed in April)
A nice place to pick up a breakfast sandwich or some bakery items. The cafe has good coffee as well! There is both indoor and outdoor seating. The cafe is about a 5 minute walk into the village. A great opportunity to grab a sandwich and keep walking to Lake Pleasant and enjoy breakfast overlooking the lake!
6 locals recommend
Timberline Cafe & Bakery
2869 NY-30
6 locals recommend
A nice place to pick up a breakfast sandwich or some bakery items. The cafe has good coffee as well! There is both indoor and outdoor seating. The cafe is about a 5 minute walk into the village. A great opportunity to grab a sandwich and keep walking to Lake Pleasant and enjoy breakfast overlooking the lake!
The Mountain Market is the local convenience store and gas station. But don’t be fooled! Their breakfast food, pizza and sandwiches are fantastic. They have a small eating area inside or grab and go with either you feet, car or snowmobile. The Market tends to be one of the must go to places in Speculator for many reasons
6 locals recommend
Mountain Market
2904 NY-30
6 locals recommend
The Mountain Market is the local convenience store and gas station. But don’t be fooled! Their breakfast food, pizza and sandwiches are fantastic. They have a small eating area inside or grab and go with either you feet, car or snowmobile. The Market tends to be one of the must go to places in Speculator for many reasons
Another local favorite. A very busy establishment especially in the summer with ice cream. They also have good quick food fare as well with both indoor and outside seating. They are located about 5 minute walk from the cottage and steps from the lake.
King of the Frosties
New York 30
Another local favorite. A very busy establishment especially in the summer with ice cream. They also have good quick food fare as well with both indoor and outside seating. They are located about 5 minute walk from the cottage and steps from the lake.
Located within minutes of the cottage the “Creamery” is another one of the favorite stopping places in Speculator to grab an Ice cream desert. They have outside seating and a walk up window. The Creamery is a two minute walk from the cottage and one of two ice cream providers in the village.
6 locals recommend
Speculator Creamery
2909 NY-30
6 locals recommend
Located within minutes of the cottage the “Creamery” is another one of the favorite stopping places in Speculator to grab an Ice cream desert. They have outside seating and a walk up window. The Creamery is a two minute walk from the cottage and one of two ice cream providers in the village.

Local Conveniences

The absolute local GO TO. Charlie Johns is a well stocked grocery store with fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, stable and grocery items and a deli counter and a large beer selection. They also have a True Value hardware store attached. When you travel to the Little Spruce Cottage you can arrive and do all your grocery shopping here and I believe you will find everything you need.
21 locals recommend
Charlie Johns Store
111 Elm Lake Rd
21 locals recommend
The absolute local GO TO. Charlie Johns is a well stocked grocery store with fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, stable and grocery items and a deli counter and a large beer selection. They also have a True Value hardware store attached. When you travel to the Little Spruce Cottage you can arrive and do all your grocery shopping here and I believe you will find everything you need.
The Camp Store located down Rt 8, about 5 minute drive from the cottage has all the outdoor camping gear you need. They also have a small convenience section and for snowmobiles they also have fuel. A very popular place to “gear up” for an outdoor adventure
9 locals recommend
Camp Store
104 Page St
9 locals recommend
The Camp Store located down Rt 8, about 5 minute drive from the cottage has all the outdoor camping gear you need. They also have a small convenience section and for snowmobiles they also have fuel. A very popular place to “gear up” for an outdoor adventure

Auto/towing/AAA

The finest mechanics in the area! They also have a Napa store within their facility and provided AAA and towing services. A large facility with experienced mechanics to address any and all automotive issues. They are located about 10 minute drive from the cottage and are located down Route 8 heading towards Piseco
Napa Autocare-O'Connor Automotive Sales
2568 NY-8
The finest mechanics in the area! They also have a Napa store within their facility and provided AAA and towing services. A large facility with experienced mechanics to address any and all automotive issues. They are located about 10 minute drive from the cottage and are located down Route 8 heading towards Piseco
Charlie Johns does have a limited automotive section with common products as well as a True Value hardware store
21 locals recommend
Charlie Johns Store
111 Elm Lake Rd
21 locals recommend
Charlie Johns does have a limited automotive section with common products as well as a True Value hardware store

Activities

Great family ski area which is very reasonable priced. You can ski or board and they have on site rentals as well. The lodge is relatively new and they have a quad chairlift, T-bar and the magic carpet. There is no night skiing at Oak and check out their operational days and hours. This is a very popular family oriented ski area and their ski school staff as well as the lodge staff the staff is great! (We know many of them personally)
46 locals recommend
Oak Mountain
141 Novosel Way
46 locals recommend
Great family ski area which is very reasonable priced. You can ski or board and they have on site rentals as well. The lodge is relatively new and they have a quad chairlift, T-bar and the magic carpet. There is no night skiing at Oak and check out their operational days and hours. This is a very popular family oriented ski area and their ski school staff as well as the lodge staff the staff is great! (We know many of them personally)
A fantastic Christian faith based resort. Must purchase a weekly pass to enter the facility. Go on line to see more about Camp of the Woods.
6 locals recommend
CAMP-of-the-WOODS
106 Downey Rd
6 locals recommend
A fantastic Christian faith based resort. Must purchase a weekly pass to enter the facility. Go on line to see more about Camp of the Woods.
A great facility to really understand the Adirondack region. A fantastic learning experience for the whole family. It is both and in door and outdoor facility. The entire history of the Adirondacks is laid before you and once you’ve visited this facility you will have a much deeper appreciation of the entire Adirondack region!
162 locals recommend
Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake
9097 NY-30
162 locals recommend
A great facility to really understand the Adirondack region. A fantastic learning experience for the whole family. It is both and in door and outdoor facility. The entire history of the Adirondacks is laid before you and once you’ve visited this facility you will have a much deeper appreciation of the entire Adirondack region!
One of the finest and quietest kayak/ canoe trips in the area. Put in at the Village town park and paddle the Sacandaga River downstream to the Kunjamuk Bay, hang a sharp left and then paddle upstream (lazy river flow most of the time) enjoy 5 miles of “oxbow” turns to Elm Lake. An alternate put in is just shy of elm lake for a downstream lazy river ride to the put out on the Kunjamuk bay and Rte 30. Either way this is a full day of water fun! Go a Google Earth overview to see the River better and talk to the locals or send us a note and we will direct you to the pit-ins and outs. This is a good half day plus adventure
Kunjamuk River
One of the finest and quietest kayak/ canoe trips in the area. Put in at the Village town park and paddle the Sacandaga River downstream to the Kunjamuk Bay, hang a sharp left and then paddle upstream (lazy river flow most of the time) enjoy 5 miles of “oxbow” turns to Elm Lake. An alternate put in is just shy of elm lake for a downstream lazy river ride to the put out on the Kunjamuk bay and Rte 30. Either way this is a full day of water fun! Go a Google Earth overview to see the River better and talk to the locals or send us a note and we will direct you to the pit-ins and outs. This is a good half day plus adventure
A very quiet lake with easy access to canoes and kayaks from the Kunjamuk River just south of the lake. Be prepared to cross a beaver dam or two before you get to the lake. Morning trips are spectacular! Send us a note and we can direct you to the put-in
Elm Lake
A very quiet lake with easy access to canoes and kayaks from the Kunjamuk River just south of the lake. Be prepared to cross a beaver dam or two before you get to the lake. Morning trips are spectacular! Send us a note and we can direct you to the put-in
https://www.cnyhiking.com/VanderwhackerMountain.htm. This is a fantastic hike that has a few challenging climbs that bring you to a very nice fire tower with phenomenal views of the Goodnow flow. This a quieter hike since the trail head is somewhat isolated.
Vanderwhacker Mountain
https://www.cnyhiking.com/VanderwhackerMountain.htm. This is a fantastic hike that has a few challenging climbs that bring you to a very nice fire tower with phenomenal views of the Goodnow flow. This a quieter hike since the trail head is somewhat isolated.

Sightseeing

Echo Cliffs also known as Panther Mountain is a local favorite hike to fantastic views looking to the south and overlooking Piseco Lake.
Echo Cliffs Trailhead
1365-899 Old Piseco Rd
Echo Cliffs also known as Panther Mountain is a local favorite hike to fantastic views looking to the south and overlooking Piseco Lake.
This should be considered a High Peak! While a somewhat strenuous hike the view from the fire tower is worth the effort. The trail head is only a 15 minute ride from the cottage. The hike begins as a 1 mile stroll through the woods but then it’s a 2 mile climb to the summit with some sections quite challenging. Once you get to the “false summit” explore that area a bit and then continue a short distance further to the fire tower and climb into the cab and take it all in.
7 locals recommend
Snowy Mountain
7 locals recommend
This should be considered a High Peak! While a somewhat strenuous hike the view from the fire tower is worth the effort. The trail head is only a 15 minute ride from the cottage. The hike begins as a 1 mile stroll through the woods but then it’s a 2 mile climb to the summit with some sections quite challenging. Once you get to the “false summit” explore that area a bit and then continue a short distance further to the fire tower and climb into the cab and take it all in.
This is a very popular hike to one of the tallest fire towers in the area. Located in Newcomb it is a little bit of a ride but the hike is not to strenuous to the tower. This is a very popular hike so you more then likely will not be alone.
Goodnow Mountain
This is a very popular hike to one of the tallest fire towers in the area. Located in Newcomb it is a little bit of a ride but the hike is not to strenuous to the tower. This is a very popular hike so you more then likely will not be alone.
https://www.cnyhiking.com/OKSlipFalls.htm. This is an absolute must see! It’s a 6 mile (Adirondack mile) round trip hike that’s is relatively flat. After stopping at the look out take the spur trail over the top of the falls and head to the Hudson River. Yes that’s right the Hudson River! Pack a lunch and enjoy it on the shore of the River. Be careful with little travelers at the look outs since the falls did create a gorge and there are some steep/ deep drops at the edges!
26 locals recommend
OK Slip Falls Trailhead
New York 28
26 locals recommend
https://www.cnyhiking.com/OKSlipFalls.htm. This is an absolute must see! It’s a 6 mile (Adirondack mile) round trip hike that’s is relatively flat. After stopping at the look out take the spur trail over the top of the falls and head to the Hudson River. Yes that’s right the Hudson River! Pack a lunch and enjoy it on the shore of the River. Be careful with little travelers at the look outs since the falls did create a gorge and there are some steep/ deep drops at the edges!