Kathy Santos

Review of The Woods Inn

This is the 3rd time I've taken a photography clas...

This is the 3rd time I've taken a photography class at Woods Inn with the Adirondack Photography Institute. I've never stayed here - I stay with family in the area - but have eaten many meals here, taken lots of photos and interacted with the staff.

This is a wonderful place! A big old classic Adirondack hotel with modern amenities, it still has wooden rockers and locally crafted "twig" furniture on the huge wraparound porch, and Adirondack chairs on the sloping lawn down to the lake. You can canoe or kayak right from the hotel, or snowmobile in the winter.

They also have some fixed tents you can stay in, but I don't know anything about those.

The classes are held in a separate small building right next to the hotel with its own bathroom, and it's a great setup. Quiet but handy if you want to grab something from your room. And they have a big function tent.

The location is excellent too, right in the town of Inlet. It's a nice little town for walking around in - good bakery, ice cream shop, stores, a nice park on the waterfront. And it's close to both Old Forge, with all its shops and activities, and Raquette Lake, with the Durant sightseeing and dining cruise boat.

Theres a big parlor on the first floor with couches and chairs, and the dining room, with big windows overlooking the lake. The food is great - everything from venison and trout to salads and lobster mac and cheese; I've never been disappointed.

The service is also wonderful. All of the staff seem genuinely happy to help, even though I'm not a guest. If I wasn't on a budget (and my aunt wouldn't be put out), I'd stay here when I take ADKPI classes.

If you're looking for a classic Adirondack vacation, this is the place to come. I've been coming to the Adirondacks all my life, and it's sad that there aren't many of these places left, where you can just relax and enjoy the quiet and see the stars reflecting in the water at night.