Editors Note:
Hey everyone for the next couple of weeks AndreaVerdel.com will have several guest contributors who will detail their travel experiences. First up is Ms. Farida Abdul-Wahab! The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of AndreaVerdel.com unless it is otherwise noted in italics. Enjoy! 
Lake George & 23 Like Jordan
By: Farida Abdul-Wahab
For my 23rd birthday, I went to Lake George with my friends. After too many disappointing birthdays I wanted do something outside of clubbing and grabbing dinner. I needed to get away and didn’t care where. All I knew was I didn’t want to be in NYC, I had to be near water, and I’ve always wanted to go white water rafting. Considering the three, the top place to go was Lake George. Lake George had everything I was looking for plus it was 3 ½ hours away from the city. #Winning.
Me and my home girls stayed in a lakefront room at The Tea Island Resort. We had the most GORGEOUS view of the lake, but in all honesty, gorgeous is an understatement. I give the room 4 out of 5 on the Farid-o-meter however, the bathroom was a 3. There were bugs in the tub and the drain was slightly clogged. Besides that, the room was great and more than what we needed for a weekend. Plus the lake was literally a few feet from our doorstep and all the water equipment was included in our stay. #AlrightNow.
Saturday, we went white water rafting! Finally! Something I can scratch off my bucket list! We went rafting with The Wild Waters Outdoor Center. We did the Sacandaga Lake course which was a tame, two-hour, baby rafting route. If you’re not into the full out rafting experience, two hours is enough. I was a newbie so it was a good way to get my feet wet, but next time I want something more vigorous. Oh and if you ever want to go rafting, I suggest going early when the sun is low. Otherwise you’ll roast on the raft. #Literally.
Another cool thing we did was go to a drive-in movie theater. I had never been to one, so I was hyped. Like more hyped about “driving in” than the movie itself. Apparently I didn’t care what we saw because I fell asleep— not on purpose though. But hey, at least now I can say I’ve been to a drive-in theater. #SoBoom.
For food, we went to Outback Steakhouse. I know, shame on us for going to a chain instead of a signature Lake George Favorite. It was something we could all agree on and we all know it’s not easy to agree when you travel with others. So a unanimous decision for Outback? We’re going to Outback. It was my first time there and all I can say is delicious. Maybe I was starving because I had an inadequate breakfast. But still, all the dishes had so much flavor and zest! In a nutshell I was very pleased with everything from the appetizers to dessert and now Outback is one of my favorite chain restaurants! #HandsDown.
Now I can go on and on about Lake George (and Outback Steakhouse) but honestly, I’m just glad my birthday wasn’t disappointing this year. Lake George may be small in size, but it’s a cute fun place to visit with tons to do. There truly is something for everyone from families to gals & guys. Other things I wanted to do but didn’t get a chance to was zip-lining, parasailing and horseback riding. If you want to be one with nature but still somewhat near civilization, Lake George is perfect. Especially for someone like me who wasn’t ready to jump head first into camping and sleeping in tents. If I could do anything differently, I would recommend a longer stay. Lake George seems like the place to go for a week, not just a weekend. I had fun and did exactly what I wanted for my birthday but I wish I had time to do more and not feel rushed. All in all, this year my birthday weekend was a success. Now time to start planning for my 24th. It’s my golden year, so you know it’ll be something to write about 😉 #StayTuned.
