Whiteface Mountain rises from the heart of the Adirondacks in the small town of Wilmington, Essex County -- the fifth-highest peak in New York State, the site of the alpine skiing events at the 1980 Winter Olympics, and the only High Peak in the Adirondacks you can drive almost to the very summit. Whether you come in winter for the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies, or in summer to wind your way up the Veterans Memorial Highway to a stone castle perched 4,600 feet above sea level, Whiteface delivers something rare: big-mountain drama made genuinely accessible, with a rich history of Olympic glory, scientific discovery, and Adirondack wilderness all wrapped into one unforgettable destination.

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Step inside one of the most storied sports venues on earth -- Yankee Stadium in the South Bronx. From Babe Ruth's thunderous home runs to Lou Gehrig's farewell speech, from Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio to Derek Jeter and Aaron Judge, this is where baseball's greatest dynasty has played out over more than a century. In this episode, we take you on a guided tour through the stadium itself -- the soaring Great Hall, the Yankees Museum, the sacred ground of Monument Park, the seating bowl, and all the hidden details that make this place unlike any other ballpark in the world.

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Bear Mountain State Park sits in the Hudson Highlands, roughly 50 miles north of Midtown Manhattan, where a mountain shaped like a sleeping bear rises above the western bank of the Hudson River. In this episode we explore more than a century of history -- from a prison that was never built to the birth of the Appalachian Trail -- and walk you through everything the park has to offer, from summit panoramas and lakeside paddleboats to a century-old inn and a carousel whose hand-carved animals come straight from the forest around you. Whether you're planning a day trip from the city or an overnight escape into the Hudson Highlands, Bear Mountain delivers something rare: genuine wilderness within reach of one of the world's great urban centers.

Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.