Newspaper, radio and television have all been facing tough times.  But here in the north country, local people rely heavily on all of the various sources to get their local news.  We wonder if one source missed something, or if another source has more of the information we want.  And, by all appearances they seem to be doing okay financially.

In the St. Lawrence Valley one of the most popular papers is North Country This Week.  It’s a weekly that offers everything from the heavy to the humorous.  Similar to that is the Tupper Lake Free Press.  Another weekly that gives the detail on local “stuff”.

Other daily newspapers that are important in our area include the Plattsburgh Press Republican, the Watertown Daily Times, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, and some will even subscribe to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.

Magazines have some popularity in the north country, but they are very limited.  Besides the news oriented magazines, the north country has Adirondack Life - a lifestyle type of magazine, and not much else.

Television seems more important during the winter months as things get dark at around 4pm, and a lot of folks are ready for bed by 9.  Some of our TV stations include WPTZ in Plattsburgh, WWNY in Watertown, News 10 Now, and local PBS stations WCFE and WPBS.

Radio is tough in the north country, simply because of the demographics.  With the hills, it’s easy to lose a signal and always at a very important moment.  Radio stations include WNBZ - part of Mountain Communications, WPDM, 101.5 the FOX, NCPR - a public radio station, and a variety of others.  We have seen a number of north country folks going to satellite radio - Sirius and XM - which allows more content and a signal that will go the distance.

When it comes to news and entertainment, the north country needs their newspapers, radio, and TV just to keep the chatter lively around town.

USA Today the Adirondacks as one of the 10 Best Places on Earth. We’re right up there with Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt! It is a slice of heaven, especially in early spring before the black flies arrive. Spring also marks the sign of increased real estate activity in the waterfront market as buyers’ thoughts turn to summer and having their own best place on earth. It’s nice to share our enthusiasm of the Adirondacks.  What makes it a best place?

Fishing is one reason!  Bass season opens in June, and it is fun to paddle the lakes with a fly rod and popper.  The Adirondack lakes are interesting - many have coves and bays, islands and interesting and varied shorelines.  Plus, the views are spectacular.

Hiking is another reason!    The High Peaks offer spectacular views, but many other areas in the region offer great hikes to lakes, ponds, and remote wilderness, like the Five Ponds Wilderness in Cranberry Lake.

The communities and people are also wonderful places to visit and live.   Many tourists flock to the Lake George and Lake Placid regions, but the smaller communities of Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Cranberry Lake and Star Lake are also nice places to stop for a break in one’s travels, and these towns have lots of wilderness to explore too.   One of the best places for breakfast is the Stone Manor diner in Cranberry Lake.  They have the best “stuffed French toast“  filled with cheese and ham, and then maple syrup over the top.

There is something for everyone in the Adirondacks.  If you like remote, you can get way off the beaten path, but if you like the busier communities, then head for Tupper Lake, Lake Placid & Saranac Lake.

The ice is out on several lakes- nice to see some sunshine and the grass turning green. The Laurentian Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club has some great hikes planned for the early spring. Saturday’s schedule calls for a hike at the Paul Smith’s Visitors Interpretive Center, and Sunday a hike along the North Branch of the Grasse River. This is a great club and they welcome participation in their activities. This is a good group to get involved in if you are new to the region. Many of the members work at area colleges in St. Lawrence County, including Clarkson University, SUNY Potsdam, St. Lawrence and SUNY Canton.