FREE PARKING YEAR-ROUND! If you’ve ever gotten a ticket for being ten minutes late or a bit over the line, you will love Bolton Landing’s free parking. On-the-street parking is free (two hour limit), and we have two public parking lots right in the heart of the shopping district that are free all-day parking. (There is no overnight parking or overnight docking.)
FREE PARKS AND BEACHES! The Rogers Memorial Park Beach and the Veteran’s Memorial Park Beach are both free for use. There is a $5 fee for parking at either beach. Rogers Memorial Park Beach on Lakeshore Drive is in the heart of Bolton Landing, Veteran’s Memorial Park Beach is about a half mile north of Rogers. Both beaches are open to the public from 7-10 every day, and life guards are on duty from 10-5 during the summer. Tennis courts are available at Rogers, both beaches have basketball courts, picnic tables and grills, playgrounds, pavilions and docks.
FREE BOAT DOCKING! Both public beaches have free boat docking, first come first served, with a three-hour limit. Rogers Park has three finger docks, each with room for 3-4 boats, and there is one more finger dock just north of Rogers Park. Veterans Memorial Park on the north end of Bolton Landing has one finger dock that can handle 3-4 boats. There is no overnight docking.
You can also dock for free if you are dining at the Algonquin, Villa Napoli, the Sagamore, the Boathouse Restaurant, Waters’ Edge Lakeside Deli. Docking is first come first served. FREE BOAT LAUNCH! There is a free Town boat launch next to Lake George Camping and Equipment on Lake Shore Drive. Both Norwal Marina (518-644-3741) and Beckley’s Boats at Diamond Point (518-858-9899) can handle launching private boats for a fee. FREE WIFI! No need for an Internet Café or cruising the streets to find an open connection – there is free 24 hour WiFi at the Bolton Free Library and the Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center office. There are benches at the library; a picnic table, chairs and even an electric plug on the Visitor Center porch. FREE LIBRARY AND COMPUTER USE! There are four computers set up for public use at the Bolton Free Library, which, living up to its name, is also free! Computers are first come, first served. There is also free parking along side the library.
FREE RESTROOMS! If you ever needed one and couldn’t find one, the Town of Bolton maintains public restrooms at Rogers Memorial Park, Veterans’ Memorial Park, and the Town of Bolton offices. And free water fountains!
FREE MUSEUMS! The Bolton Historical Museum and the Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum are both free to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted.
FREE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER! UpYonda Farm is free to the public. Certain programs have a nominal fee, and there is a $5 parking fee. There is even a butterfly garden.
FREE NATURE CONSERVANCY! The Lake George Land Conservancy is open to the public with a lot of information on the lands that the Conservancy manages, many with hiking trails.
FREE HIKING TRAILS AND TRAIL HEAD PARKING! The favorite hiking trails are through the Cat and Thomas Mountain preserve. You can go to the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC.org) for more information on free hikes through their preserves.
FREE WALKING! The favorite walk by the water is at the Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum. The property has 1,000 foot of lake frontage that has been well cared for since the turn of the last century. If the gates to the museum are open, people are very welcome to come in and enjoy a walk through the woods and alongside the lake.
FREE SHOPPING AND STROLLING! It is also free to stroll along Lakeshore Drive, and shop in the wonderful stores. (Dining and Buying will probably cost something.)
FREE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR REENACTMENT! They come by boat, live in period costumes, sleep in tents, cook over a fire, use black powder, do a lot of show and tell, and offer a very educational and entertaining time – mid June. Check www.boltonchamber.com for pictures of the 2012 reenactment.
FREE TENNIS AND SWIMMING LESSONS! The Town of Bolton Recreation Department runs a full schedule of summer activities, most of which are free, including tennis and swimming lessons for children of all ages and skill levels. 518-928-3176. Look for the distinctive yellow schedule at the Visitor Center (different color every year). During July and August there are also baseball, basketball, soccer, theater and dance camps held for a nominal fee for children from kindergarten to grade 9.
FREE ARTS AND CRAFTS! The Town of Bolton also runs Arts and Crafts lessons several times each day for both children and adults at the Veterans’ Park.
FREE CRAFT FAIRS! There are six Craft Fairs held at Rogers Park each year on the weekends closest to: Memorial Day, July 4, first weekend of August, Labor Day and Columbus Day. The Bolton Bikes and Bands craft fair happens each year in June.
FREE MOVIES AND CONCERTS! The Town of Bolton holds free concerts in Rogers Park each Tuesday, and free movies each Wednesday during July and August. Check the Bolton Recreation Summer Schedule for weekly programming and special events.
FREE FIREWORKS! The Town of Bolton holds free fireworks displays on July 4 and Labor Day (Sunday, September 2 this year, check www.boltonchamber.com for details.)
FREE NEWSPAPERS! The Chronicle and The Adirondack Journal are free. You can pick up copies at the Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce office, and at some of the stores.
FREE MAPS, TRAVEL GUIDES AND BROCHURES! Drop in at the Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center at Rogers Memorial Park. We have a wealth of information for any travelers, including maps of all kinds, travel guides, and a daily vacancy list for lodging. The Center is open from 9-5 seven days a week during the season. 518-644-3831. We offer individual attention for anyone interested in information for Bolton Landing and surrounding areas.
FREE CHURCHES! Bolton Landing has five churches of different denominations. Services are open and free, donations gratefully accepted.
FREE FARMERS’ MARKET! Every Friday morning (9 am-1 pm) from June 22 through October 5 in the Blessed Sacrament Church parking lot on Goodman Avenue, just off Lakeshore Drive.
NEXT TO FREE! The Greater Glens Falls Transit company runs the Village Trolley during the summer for $1 between Lake George Village and Bolton Landing. An additional 50 cents will buy a transfer to ride the southern route into Glens Falls.
What do you love that is FREE in Bolton Landing??
Penelope Jewell]]>