A Sunday Drive In The Country

Waterfront Dining in the historic town of Essex, NY

My husband Fred and I decided, after he spent a long day in the garden, to close my shop the Pink Pig and take a country drive to the town of Essex, New York (www.essexnewyork.com) for dinner at a new restaurant which has recently opened for the season.

Nestled in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, along the shore of Lake Champlain, the historic Town of Essex is one of the most unspoiled ensembles of Federal and Greek Revival village architecture in rural America. The hamlet of Essex, founded in the 18th century, was listed in its entirety on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Essex is a postcard town and a photographers dream as it is impossible to take a bad picture.

Main Street is a quaint drive with shops, lodging and wonderful historic homes with beautiful gardens.

Also the home of former Governor George Pataki, with whom we had the pleasure of meeting as I stopped to take a few photos of their wonderful home. We caught them walking their dogs down to the lake for a swim.

Off to dinner, we arrived at the Essex Marina for a wonderful meal at the Rudder Club which is operated this year by Steve McKenna, Jonathan Pribble and Randy Sherman.

The Essex Marina (www.essexmarinany.com) is located on Lake Champlain and has a boating history dating before the Revolutionary War. In the summer months, life here centers on the water - and how could it not? Surpassed in size only by the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain stretches 120 miles north to south with almost 600 miles of pristine shoreline.

We were greeted by April our waitress and wisked off to our now favorite table in this charming place with a fabulous menu! The chef, Andy MacDougal will not disappoint you and I must mention the wonderful fresh desserts prepared by Erin Hall of Fancy Noche. What can I say.... a fabulous evening filled with wonderful food, service and atmosphere that will have you leaving knowing that you will be back for more real soon. The Rudder Club serves lunch and dinner with boat slips available to dock at the Marina.

Venture out and take your favorite country drive and if your travel plans have you visiting the Adirondacks this summer I hope you will make this historic town of Essex, New York a destination.

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