What is it About the Adirondacks?

I was at a dinner party last night hosted by one of my friends who is a part-time Adirondack resident. Like many 'second homers' this time of year, he is getting ready to head back to his primary residence. The majority of the people at dinner last night were second-homers or visitors; those of us who live in the Adirondacks year-round were outnumbered. Among the guests were a French man living in Spain, an American woman living in Spain and an Irish man living in the U.S. The message behind this interesting statistic was reinforced throughout last evening's conversations: they were here because the Adirondacks are unlike any other outdoor resort area. Everyone raved about how much they love the Adirondacks, how they miss the region when they are away, and how great it is to come back and visit.
I won't bore you (again) listing the benefits of the Adirondack Lifestyle, but I was grateful to live here when reminded of them last night.

Whiteface from the backyard photograph courtesy of Joann Sandone Reed