Lying on a natural terrace above a deep bay, the tidy Victorian village of Westport has been a favorite stopping-off place since steamship days, when families traveling north on Lake Champlain [1] debarked here to catch stagecoaches for points farther west. Later, Westport became a destination in its own right, as evidenced by the elegant homes along Route 22.
Today, Westport remains one of the few villages in the Adirondacks [2] that’s accessible by rail; Amtrak travels through here on its way between New York [3] and Montreal.
Westport is known for its historic inns and the Depot Theater (Rte. 9, 518/962-4449), which presents professional summer stock in a restored 19th-century railway station. Along the lakeshore is a busy marina, where boats can be rented, and a public beach. Bordering Main Street are a variety of shops, including the Westport Trading Company (6521 Main St., 518/962-4801), which sells the work of more than 100 area artists and artisans.
The clapboard Westport Hotel (6691 Main St./Rte. 9N, 518/962-4501, www.thewestporthotel.com [4], $95–125) dates back to 1876, the same year the railroad came to town. Inside are 10 guest rooms nicely outfitted in early Americana; outside is an inviting wraparound porch.
From the same decade as the Westport Hotel, the stately 1875 Inn in Westport (1234 Stevenson Rd., 518/335-1966, www.innwestport.com [5], $71–145), situated across the street from the town library, features 10 spacious guest rooms with period furnishings, each named after famous writers. Downstairs is a sitting room with a fireplace, upstairs is a library, and outside is a deck.
The fine Dutch Colonial All Tucked Inn (6455 Main St., 518/962-4400, www.alltuckedinn.com [6], $80–160 d), set back on a lawn behind a white picket fence, offers nine guest rooms and a glass-enclosed porch that overlooks the lake. Three of the rooms have fireplaces.
For casual dining at the marina, try the Galley (foot of Washington St., 518/962-4899, $12). On the menu is eclectic international fare. In the summer, live bands play on weekend nights. The Westport Hotel (6691 Main St., 518/962-4501, $11–22) runs a cozy restaurant spread over several small rooms.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-state/the-adirondacks/champlain-valley
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-state/the-adirondacks
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/discover-new-york-city
[4] http://www.thewestporthotel.com
[5] http://www.innwestport.com
[6] http://www.alltuckedinn.com