As my children grow, I find myself spending less and less quality time with them.  I work, clean, organize and do all the other things required to keep our lives in forward motion while they spend most of their day in school, camp or other activities. 

When it’s time for a vacation I relish the opportunity to disconnect from our daily routines and technology tethers and revitalize our family connections.

I've visited the Silver Bay YMCA of the Adirondacks since childhood. Unlike typical single-building YMCAs, this one is made up of more than 50 buildings on a 700-acre campus. It's located on the northern part of Lake George in between Bolton Landing and Ticonderoga. 

I grew up on this campus.  It feels like home to me. I could probably draw a map of it in my sleep.

I’ve learned to sail on the boats in the boathouse, play tennis on the red clay courts and make silver jewelry in the craft shop.  I shot my first bullseye at the archery field here.  

I’ve read endless books from hand-caned rocking chairs on the gigantic wraparound porch of the Inn and Adirondack chairs everywhere.

I’ve also made friends for life. Every year, I take a major time out here.

There is no cellular service at this retreat yet.  It's coming, no doubt, and there are people who huddle by the gigantic flag pole on campus to pick up a signal, but I’m not one of them.

I like to come here and disconnect--to play card games with my family and enjoy yoga on the beach by the lake. I like to take the kids to archery and watch as they slowly get addicted to the sport. 

Lake George, if you’re not familiar, is a pristine 33-mile long lake located in the southern part of the Adirondacks. We were out on the boat yesterday and we could see the bottom of the lake at a depth of 22 feet.  It’s clean, cool and incredibly beautiful at all times of the day.

The facilities include a gym, of course, with a fitness center and climbing wall. There’s also a boat house where you can learn to sail, get your motor boating license, kayak, row, canoe and more. 

There’s a craft shop where children and their grown-ups can bead, weave, enamel, fuse glass, work with leather and create their own silver jewelry. 

A 700-seat auditorium provides a venue for weekly talent shows and the annual play put on by the many college-age “emps” or employees that spend their summers working and living here. 

I actually worked here for a couple of summers.  One year I scooped ice cream in the general store, and during another I worked at the front desk welcoming visitors and bidding them farewell.

There is a strong spiritual life here. Daily lectures and discussions are available to anyone who has joined the YMCA and paid their program fees (which are ridiculously reasonable considering what’s included).

Every morning my children enjoy a half-day camp program and in the early afternoon they have swimming lessons.  We spend the rest of the day together. 

In the evening we can square dance, play dodge ball, join a Monopoly tournament or participate in a campfire or sing-a-long.

It reminds you of Dirty Dancing, right? 

It takes us a little less than four hours to get to Silver Bay from Parsippany.  We get off at exit 24 on the N.Y. Thruway and from there take Route 9 North over what’s known as Tongue Mountain. 

Every time we arrive at the base of the mountain, I roll down my windows and breathe in deeply, savoring the smell of ancient and undisturbed pine forest.

If you have a long weekend or week available and want to do some family bonding or just need to escape for a bit and recharge your batteries, I strongly encourage you to consider a trip up to Silver Bay. Check out the website for more information or e-mail me, I’ll be happy to share my experiences and answer any questions you have.