LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 34 June of 2022 marked a re-launch of the Great Pines property, and – as with many Weekender hotels – it has been maintained with an artful eye on its long-standing heritage of rustic elegance. Its ap- peal is hardly the surface-level window-dressing that some hotels rely on. Instead, this is an immersive sensor y experience. The faint scent of sunbaked timber and mountain lake water lingers in the air, and that, combined with its classic lakeside lodge vibe, creates an adventurer's dreamscape of sorts. Ever y detail is in keeping with the brand's dedication to the joy of outdoor exploration – from the vintage adventure books nestled into nooks throughout the Great Room to the expansive porch - - peppered with red Adirondack chairs - - overlooking the lake. Ever y detail adds yet another layer to guests' memories-in-the-making. And there lies the answer to my smoldering s'mores question, " Why do I feel so at home here? " I pondered it by the bonfire, while boating across Fourth Lake, and during one of my many hot cocoa sipping sessions next to the mammoth fireplace. It was on the hiking trail, though, that the answer revealed itself. Memories are inherently non-linear, much like a woodland trail, and they allow us to reconnect with ourselves and others – either by quiet reflection or communal reminiscing. In addition, memories are often imbued with intangible cues – bits of nostalgic scents, sounds, and sensations. Clearly, Weir's wholehearted approach embraces all of this and yields a simultaneous sensor y experience of past and present. As a result, I felt a deep sense of comfort as I returned from my daily adventures. Likewise, wanderers and explorers of all sorts have sat in the Great Room over the years, mirroring – in parallel – my experience of quietly reflecting on what Mother Nature gifted me that day. In this way, the wood-clad retreat feels like an amalgam of adven- turous memories imprinted on pine. And there I sat – in the Adiron- dacks - - fully enveloped in the comforting, evergreen scented nos- talgia of my childhood in the woods of New England. What's more demonstrative of the Weekender approach are the quiet, excited whispers of those around me, regaling one another with tales from the day. Some – new to outdoorsy endeavors – recount their trail tales over the bonfire. Others exchanged jests and jokes as they re- turned from an early-evening boat excursion. Kier Weimer says that " Weekender Hotels endeavor to help bring the energy, the emotion, and the nostalgia of the weekend back to the center of [his] guests' lives." This is a hefty undertaking, no doubt. But just as the water ripples even after the kayak returns to shore, the continuum of connection gleaned from outdoor experiences lin- gers long after we return to our keyboards and tethered to-do lists. These connections to nature, our own reflections, those around us, and even the past – in all its many forms – create enduring inspira- tion, comfort, and community. And it is this kind of connection – whose gossamer thread holds strong from childhood – that made me feel at home in the new- to-me Adirondacks. But as delighted as I was to come to this un- derstanding, my most treasured takeaway was bearing witness to these adventure-born connections sprouting up around me as other guests embraced the Weekender philosophy and what Mother Na- ture has to offer.

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