Amtrak's Adirondack Service called "One of the Top 10 Most Scenic Train Trips in North America" by Conde Nast Traveler

Train travel an affordable and inventive alternative to driving this fall

ADIRONDACK PARK, N.Y. - Condé Nast Traveler recently named Amtrak's Adirondack tour among the 10 Most Scenic Train Trips in North America. Head to your local train station, find your seat and relax as you are whisked into the wild.

The Adirondack Park is one of the best destinations for leaf-peeping in the Northeast. The mountains are awash with color, the sky is a deep azure blue and the region's 3,000 lakes and ponds reflect it all. By early October, the mountain peaks can be dusted with snow - a reminder that winter is knocking at the door. No matter - it makes for a breathtaking scene.

When your train stops in Albany, continue to ride the rails or pick up your rental car at the train station and continue on your way along the Adirondack Northway, known as America's Most Scenic Highway. Or stay on the train and continue on. Stop off in a quaint village for lunch, shop for antiques or enjoy any number of special events and festivities going on all autumn long.

Quaint villages, harvest festivals and Oktoberfests, coupled with the stunning scenery, make a train ride through the Adirondack Park a unique and affordable autumnal experience.

A short list of things to do and see along the way: Go wild and hike a High Peak. With 46 mountains over 4,000 feet - getting high in the Adirondacks rewards intrepid hikers with stunning views of the fall foliage.

Visit the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, called "The Best of Its Kind" by the New York Times before it closes for the season October 19. View the creative works of some of the most talented craftsmen of Adirondack furniture at the 21st annual Rustic Fair September 6-7. Be sure to add the Fiber Arts Festival, 4th annual Harvest Festival and Antiques Weekend to your fall calendar as well.

Watch as hundreds of colorful hot air balloons take flight against the stunning backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains as the annual Adirondack Balloon Festival kicks off in September 18th. On the 20th, watch fireworks set off over Lake George during Moonglow.

Just about every community in the Park has an annual Harvest Festival and Long Lake is no different. Stock up on locally made specialties like balsam fir products, furniture and maple syrup before heading to Lake Placid for the annual Flaming Leaves Festival October 11 and 12. This two-day event features a ski-jumping competition, live blues music, brews and barbecue. Held annually in October, the festival includes a petting zoo with pony rides, arts and crafts and a 60-foot inflatable obstacle course. Take a chair lift and elevator to the top of the 120 meter ski jump at the Olympic Jumping Complex to view the autumnal splendor of the surrounding village.

Check out the many Harvest Festivals and Oktoberfests going on throughout the Park all autumn long. For more information on these and other events, log onto VisitAdirondacks.com to begin planning your trip. With more than six million acres, 3,000 lakes and ponds and 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 2,000 miles of hiking trails, northern New York's Adirondack Region offers some of the best opportunities in America for outdoor recreation in a superb natural setting. The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council provides information about vacationing in the region.

To plan your trip online go to VisitAdirondacks.com where you'll discover a wide array of year-round activities, getaway packages, special events and an interactive trip planning map. Or, call 800-487-6867 for free travel information. ###