Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Passport Mommy. I'm your host, Michelle Jerson. This
show is for anyone raising little humans. We feature experts
with tips and advice to enrich the lives of our children.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Mom and dad.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Entrepreneurs tell us their inspiring stories, learn about products that
could make both you and your child's life easier and
more fun, and of course, fellow parents discuss and laugh
about what's happening in their child's world. Motherhood is a journey.
Thanks for joining me on mine.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Welcome to Passport Mommy.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I'm Michelle Jerson, and we are here in beautiful Lake George,
and I couldn't think of a better place to stay
than where I am right now. I am staying at
Adirondack Safari. And if you have not heard of this place,
you need to put it on your radar because this
is the perfect place to stay if you are heading
to Lake George with your family or maybe your girlfriend
(00:51):
get away pretty much any occasion.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
This is your ultimate in lamping.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
And I think lamping is just terrific because it's perfect
when you do have young kids because you don't have
to worry about being at a fancy hotel and restaurants
that you have to be quiet in and you can
really just enjoy nature together. There's nothing better than a
good bonfire at night. And there's just so much more
to it, which we'll get into. So I'm really happy
(01:19):
to have with me today Andrew Pisetti. He is the
owner here, and I am so thrilled that we connected Andrew,
because this has been just such a great experience.
Speaker 5 (01:28):
Awesome. I'm so glad and I appreciate you coming here,
Michelle and taking the time to want to stay with us.
I mean, there's a lot of places you could stay
in Lake George, but toot my own horn here, it
is truly a unique experience.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
I agree.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
I appreciate you so sure, and I feel like when
you come to Lake George, you come here for the
nature and for the activities, and so to stay in
a glamping resort like this is perfect. And I'm just
so curious how you got this started, which we'll get
into in a minute. But you know, I touched on
why I think this is just such a great experience.
I think it brings people closer together. You have the nature,
(02:06):
you can hang out here all day if you wanted
to and do nothing else in Lake Georgia and still
have a great time. And I love that you schedule
activities and you have people who come in in the
evenings and do different things. So walk me through a
typical day.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
So, I mean, you're here on a weekend, which is
obviously one of our busier times. As you see as
places packed in a good way, nothing crazy.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
I don't feel like it's overrun by any means.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
No, very family friendly. We've got small families, older families
in bachelorette parties, all types of groups, multiple families coming together.
We have the group sections that can sleep up to
thirty people in one ten one area do not one tent, right,
but across the six tents you can sleep thirty people.
Where else can you find a place that does that?
(02:55):
But a stay with us? You come in, you check
out or check in and about three o'clock. Because when
everyone's rolling in on the first day, that's why we
start our activities later in the day or their second day.
Everyone's out experiencing Lake George in the region, and that's
that's what we want you to do. I mean, they're
like you had mentioned, there's plenty of things to do
here on property, but there's so much more beyond here too,
(03:17):
So we want you to go out, enjoy yourselves, come
back dinner time, relax, let the kids run free. Don't
to worry about them. We can see everything. We're out here.
It's very safe, open environment. We'll have the paint class
just about every night at four o'clock. That kind of
kicks it off. Moms are coming over and send dads too,
but mostly moms and the kids are coming over here.
(03:39):
Dad's over there grilling, go back, have some dinner, and
then we start off with bingo at seven o'clock and
then karayoke and then nine o'clock. We flip flop the
activities between our movie nights, silent disco and our Native
American performance, which you got to experience yesterday. So I mean,
there's nowhere else that anybody has anything like this. There's
(04:01):
places you can have many more appointments and amenities, nicer accommodations.
Our places is great, but it's it's really is glamping
at its at its core, it's glamorous camping. You still
get to enjoy everything that you want to do camping,
which is spending time with your loved ones. That's what
we do. Having everyone just be themselves, kids running free, parents,
(04:25):
not worrying about anything, and just relaxing, PLoP in the
zero gravity chair if you want to and relax. I mean,
there's been plenty of times where I've I've had to
cover people up and that, you know, just they don't
want to move and they're having a good time. But
the activities, the main pavilion area where we bring everyone together.
It's like a community where you got different ethnic backgrounds,
(04:47):
so different cultures and different people from all over the
country and even the world that come here and find
this place and just want what's you know, what we
really want just being around your loved ones and spending
time with the people that you really care about exactly.
So that's really the core of what Atironics Afar is.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Yeah, And when you talk about glamorous camping, it really
is because I think when even when people hear glamping,
they think they're going to be a lot of bugs.
Am I going to have to worry about this or that?
And you keep this place really clean and well let's
talk about inside the tents. You basically put two or
three or however many beds you need within a tent.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
They're very comfortable beds.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
So yes, everyone tells me, I'm yes, I myself. I
sleep at a tent here all summer for five straight seasons.
So it's the best sleep I get because you're outside,
you're close to being grounded, sounds of natures, even the
rain hitting that canvas. There's just nothing more tranquil than
just having that hearing you or hitting that tent and
having that that's just that that quietness and just hearing nature,
(05:49):
the birds chirping and the crickets. It's just an amazing feeling.
So I mean, someone you should experience it, right, We're
trying to get that word out so everyone does.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, it's like great for multi generational travel because like
you said too, you can fit a huge group of
people in one space. So grandma and grandpa can come
and they can feel comfortable here. Correct, the grandkids, everybody?
Speaker 5 (06:10):
Correct? Yeah, So the tents have they're all queen beds
from anywhere from one queen bed up to four queen
beds in the tent, so eight people in one tent.
I mean, it's it's huge. I got to think about
a hotel room exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Get a hotel room like that now.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
So it's definitely an economical way to travel.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
As well, correct, And I was I was telling someone
earlier today, Actually, you know, I try to keep my
rates comparable to a hotel. But when you factor in
all the stuff that happens that you read a hotel,
and then you you don't stay in a hotel, right,
you go spend money everywhere else to do basically the
activities that we include exactly. So when you factor all
(06:51):
that in, you're really getting one heck of a deal
to come here. So it really is an economic adventure
experience that needs the world to know.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
About it absolutely.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
And I will say, you know, obviously, if you come
prepared for us. It was a very last minute add on,
so we could have come better prepared for grilling, but
we didn't.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
That being said, you can go to any.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
First of all, your store here has pretty much everything
that we need. And I love that you have a
store here, so if there's anything, you forget and you're
not jacking up the prices, So we feel like we
could shop here and just get everything, and then you can.
We have been we grilled last night, we're grilling again tonight.
And so you save money there too, because you don't
have to go out for all of your meals, right exactly.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
And I don't want to.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Go out for meals when I'm here because I don't
want to miss bingo, yes, karaoke, get some free firewaders,
right exactly definitely. So how did you get the idea
to start at around Deck Safari?
Speaker 5 (07:53):
So I won't take the credit for actually starting at
Aronic Sofi. I at one point was actually following at
it Andic Safari back in it was like twenty fifteen,
twenty sixteen, and I came across in the Facebook page
and thought this place was amazing and I wanted to
come and experience it. I never did, but the end
of the season in twenty eighteen, just like I do now,
(08:14):
the owner had put up a post that he was
going to get rid of some of the tents. They're
just aging out. They won't look as pretty. There's nothing
wrong with the tents, it's just esthetically not appealing to
the people coming in next season. So he was offering
some of them for sale. I reached out to him.
I bought a couple of those tents, and not even
knowing what I was going to do with them, I
started having some ideas, and the idea to do a
(08:37):
mobile service with the tents. I created a company called
Glamp eighty K where I deliver these tents to backyards
for birthday parties and for wedding venues for lodging right
on site of these places that have beautiful venues, but
there's no lodging nearby. So you keep those people off
those off the road and keep them from being intoxicated
(08:57):
and causing any harm to anybody. And plus you having
your party there at the venue. It carries on and
it has a good time. So I started that baty
K business, and the previous owner who started this had
reached out to me and said, this is you know,
I see what you got going on. This is too
much for us. Would you be interested in taking it over.
(09:17):
We went back and forth for a year and I
was going to come on as a manager. That never happened,
and then COVID happens, okay, and campground doesn't open up.
So he offered me the opportunity to buy the business
a great deal. I scooped it up and ran the
delivery service during COVID and operated this in twenty twenty
(09:40):
one as my first year with no hospitality experience.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Wow, now amazing. Talk about taking chances.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
No hospitality experience, no entertainment business, no campground business ownership
or even been in the campground business at all. Basically
just let's roll away. And since twenty twenty one, I've
been operating this as my fifth season. This is the
County's fairgrounds.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Okay, I was wondering.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
So this place just sits dormant and we come in,
We lease this from the county and I build this
out with my crew in ten days. Wow, with like
seven of us. Oh my god, what you see here
is done with our hands in our backs and the pavilion,
the store, all the tents and running everything out there
and turning this field into a glamping resort which has
(10:28):
been chosen as a top ten glamping destination in the
country by the dirt.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
And you have your hands and everything like I see it.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
You're running the bingo, the karaoke, You're making sure everybody's
taken care of, who needs anything. I mean, you really
are vested in making sure everybody is.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
Happ And that's really what it boils down to. Like
I said, there's plenty of places that people can go to,
but you're not going to get this experience that you know,
people know my name, they know my staff's name. I
mean they're leaving them in reviews two weeks weeks after
they left.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
So coming up next, I want to talk with you
more about this place, also the surrounding areas and things
we can do. We are speaking with Andrew Prosetti. He
is the owner of Adirondack Safari. I'm Michelle Jurson. We're
coming up in a few you're listening to Passport Mommy.
I'm Michelle Jurson and I'm here with Andrew Prosetti. He
is the owner of Adirondack Safari. And you have to
(11:24):
schedule a visit. What is your season like, Andrew? What
months are you here?
Speaker 5 (11:29):
Typically we're mid June through Labor Day. Okay, short season,
about eighty days or so. This year we were open
Memorial of Day weekend and the weekends leading up to
mid June. We may do that again next year to
see how it goes. The weather wasn't really in our
favor this year, a.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Little while to get off the ground.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
But it's been beautiful. I don't want to say that hasn't.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Live our word right exactly.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
It's been great that we haven't seen any of that
fall from the sky, I know. But yeah, mid June
to Labor Days typically our season.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Okay, great, And we were talking before how fun it
is to come back at the end of the day
because you have things like paint and sip, crystal bracelet making,
you do bingo and karaoke. But then you also have
other amenities that are included here with the property, like
river tubing.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Tell me about it, correct, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
So I mean beautiful spot with this beautiful thing with
this spot is that we have an entrance and an
exit on this which is not too many places have that.
So yeah, it's a good like half hour forty minute float,
sometimes a little longer if the wind's blowing against the current,
you get like an hour float out there, and that's
included with your stay. Go as many times as you want. Wow,
we have as you mentioned the other activities. We've got
(12:35):
to the movie nights. Two movies we can play where
I incorporate the Silent Disco headsets and the kids can
watch the movie quietly with the headsets and you can
see your kid's head blowing over there with the headsets,
so you know where they're supposed to be being where
they're supposed to be, right the Native American show. These
guys come from Cape Cod every week they come to
(12:55):
put on this experience.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
I know they said they were from there. I didn't
realize they drive here every week.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
They come here and put on the show for our guests.
And it's I believe, one of the only evening shows
that they do, and most tribes do. They usually do
their dances during the day, so this is something that's
a really rare treat. To have that and let them
teach about their culture and their experience in their lives.
It's really cool and it ties right into the Adirondecks.
(13:22):
I mean, so you saw I heard the show. It's
an amazing experience.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Yes, I heard people going up to them after the show.
Oh you really it was amazing. You really helped me
connect with this or with that and help me realize this,
and it was really important.
Speaker 5 (13:36):
You tie that into the beautiful sunsets and the stars
that are out here. There's no obstructions of the sky,
clear open skies here. It really is a truly unique experience.
I can't say that enough. I don't know if you
can pick up in the background. Right now, we've got
a bluegrass band that's going around playing music at your sites.
I mean you get a mobile.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Band communia, I know, what a treat.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
And last night you had live music up here on
the stage while we were getting dinner ready.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
And we have all your normal traditional games to the
volleyball and cornhole and things like that, but we also
like there's something different that we cater to a lot
of different cultures. And there's a lot of like Southern Asian,
like Indian families that come here, and one thing that
they like to do is like cricket. We've got cricket equipment. Again, Like,
find me a spot that offers that, yeah, you know,
(14:29):
to show that we're more than just your traditional campgrounds exactly.
We're really about bringing people together and letting people of
different cultures experienced those cultures as well. So it's it's
an amazing spot. And then if you go off the property,
as you mentioned earlier, it's Lake George, the Queen of
(14:49):
America's Lakes.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Exactly.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
There's the lake, it's ten minutes away. There's the parasailing,
there's tubby tubes at Arounic Extreme, there's a Lake George
Steamboat company. There's plenty of hiking to do shops, like
everything is right here within ten minutes of us exactly.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
And I think when we were at Tubby Tube yesterday,
I saw they sold shirts.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I know it's here where you have.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
On the backwards says concrete jungle right, escape the Congrey Jungle.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Right exactly, And I was like, it's perfect, exact.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
All want to escape the concrete jungle. We all still
live there somehow, but we want to escape. Yes, so yeah, this,
I mean, this really is the perfect place. And before
we end this segment, I want to make sure I
get it in. How can we book a stay here?
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Easiest way is right through your website adirondacksafari dot com.
We do have all the normal handles too, at the Instagram,
the Facebook, you can just put Aduronic Safari. It's in there.
I'm even on TikTok. Now, come on there with the
young kids.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
That's good. I know I need a.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Little but all the normal handles and platforms were on there,
but Aturonic Safari is the best way. I'm the one
who answers all the calls and emails and messages in
tex So you'll talk to me at some point that's great.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
So I mean I always felt I know, we arrived
really late one night and I didn't oak from you
arrive slate at the clamping resort.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
What's it going to be like? You're like, no problem,
i'll be out, I'll be around. And it was great.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
It was so easy, easy, relaxing.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
So what are some tips on how to prepare for
your glamping trip?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
What should we bring?
Speaker 5 (16:15):
Really not much. I mean it's just like cooking utensils,
cooking supplies. If you choose to cook and grill. I
mean again, there's plenty of places of shop and eat
and even delivery. We have places that deliver right to
the property. Uber eats, we'll deliver it right here. But
if you choose to do any grilling on site, which
is I mean, that's camping, right, So bring your cooking utensils,
(16:35):
your supplies, personal toilet trees like your chip poo, your towels,
the toothbrush. Please bring your toothbrush. Just kidding, so yeah,
just and it towels. That's really that's really it. If
you forget any of that stuff, we have most of
it here too. So firewood is on property, deliver with
the golf carts. So you don't have to carry that
(16:56):
with you. We sell in the small bags of chart.
You buy a huge bag of charcoal, a grill once
or twice right right here. Easy, gotta take care.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Of you, make it easy.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
And the showers are clean, the bathrooms are clean. Everything
is just it's a wonderful experience and you can feel
comfortable bringing all ages here and know that you'll just
have a wonderful time and just be able to sit
back and relax. And where we're recording right now, I
had no idea. You have two luxury massage chairs right here,
so you really can't get more luxurious than coming here.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
We could have did the interview from there right.
Speaker 6 (17:35):
Well.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Andrew Pisidi, thank you so much again for offering us
this amazing experience here at Adurandeck Safari. We will definitely
be back. We'll have to make this a tradition. I'm
Michelle Jerson. More coming up and.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
A few.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
You're listening to Passport Mommy, I'm Michelle Jerson, and we
just heard about how wonderful at Arondeck Safari is and
it's just the place to stay when you are in
Lake George if you really just want that family friendly
outdoor experience and to go along with that, of course,
you have to do outdoorsy things at outdoorsy fun activities.
I was so happy to connect with Jamie Roselle. She
is the manager of Tubby Tubes and at Aroandeck Extreme
(18:12):
Adventures and these are two must do activities when in
the area, perfect for all ages. And on the show
with me today is Jamie and we're going to just
talk about all that you can expect, how to book
and how to make sure you get your spot.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Hi Jamie, Hey everyone, how's it going today?
Speaker 4 (18:27):
So talk to me about how you got started with
Tubby Tubes and at Aroandeck Extreme Adventures.
Speaker 7 (18:32):
So I actually got started in this industry. I took
a phizzed class when I was in college. I initially
wanted to be a Phizzed teacher, and while I was
getting some of my gen ads out of the way,
I was like, Oh, I should take this beginning whitewater
rafting course. And so I took this rafting course. It
was like a one credit college class, and I fell
in love and I was like, this is amazing. And
(18:54):
the teacher of that course was like, Hey, if you
really like this, we have a new degree program starting
up in the fall. It's Adventure Sports Leadership and Management.
And I was like, oh, wow, that sounds amazing. Wow
enrolled in that. So I switched you know, education tracks
there and I was taking adventure education classes so like
Adrondick Park policies and issues, risk management classes, some really
(19:18):
fun classes thrown in there too on like high ropes
course operations and such, and so that was how it
initially got started. I've lived in the Adirondicks my whole life,
but I was not into the super outdoors the activities
until I took that course. And then when I was
in that course, an article came out in our local
newspaper saying that there was a brand new treetop adventure
(19:40):
course being built. And that's actually like those were an
unheard of thing back then. You know, you would find
like at YMCA's and such, your traditional like high ropes
team building courses, but this was first of its kind
in the US. There had been some like throughout Canada
and Europe, but it was treetop invent ur in Ziplining.
(20:01):
So I saw that article and it was a very
snowy day and I was trapped at my house, so
I emailed the reporter and was like, hey, can you
get me in touch with you know, could you give
me the contact information for the owners? And she was like,
I can't give out their info, but if you give
me your phone number, I'll pass it along. And it
was Valentine's Day of two thousand and seven, so our
region up here had actually gotten three and a half
(20:22):
feet of snow. It was like the biggest snowstorm I
can bring guy, right, So I'm like snowed in and
Valentine's Day And I got a phone call that night
and the owner, his name is also Jamie. He hired
me over the phone, hadn't even met me before his
adventure course was even built. So I started working for
him that spring, you know, first day, you know, we
(20:46):
got all sorts of training and that kind of thing.
But yeah, so it was really cool and it's been
very great over the years to see how it's grown.
Because in two thousand and seven when out aroundic Extreme opened,
it consisted of four adventure courses for adults and one
children's course, and since then we now have a total
of six adventure courses for adults, one zipline, and older kids.
(21:10):
I should say it's adults and older kids. So there's
six adventure courses for adults and older kids, one zipline
only course for like your bucket listing grandmas, maybe people
that are not into the idea of just the treetop adventure,
and then four children's courses, and then also there's two
giant ziplines for adults and a giant zipline for kids.
(21:31):
So just watching it expand from two thousand and seven
to the present is a really cool thing. Our season
up there runs from mid April through November, so we
always try it up as soon as the snow melts
up in the ad aroundecks, which it can take time.
You know, we're in the forest, we're pretty shaded, so
mid April is usually when we can open up. One year,
(21:52):
we did get like a late April snowstorm, so we
were doing aerial treetop snow removal. We were shoveling off
the platforms that kind of thing, so it was pretty funny.
I have like a good picture of myself or one
of my coworkers like going down the zip line with
a shovel in our.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Hands, So that's amazing.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
And I love the story about how you just called
the owner and he hired you over the phone, because
I always believe that persistence and just showing initiative like
that is what gets you hired so many more times
than just like setting a resume somewhere, right.
Speaker 7 (22:28):
Yeah, And it was just very cool, you know. So
he hired me over the phone. I met with him
the following week and we actually drove up to the
site and then I just started I mean, it was February,
so they weren't doing too much, Like there was not
really like the parking lot wasn't paved, and the building
was halfway built and they were just starting to clear
(22:48):
some trees and that kind of thing. So it was
really cool to just be involved in that getting off
the ground type thing.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
And I love that you had a whitewater rafting worse
in school. And it just goes to show that depending
on where you go to college will determine what type
of curriculums you could take advantage of.
Speaker 7 (23:08):
Right, And it just opens up this whole nother door.
I was like, I'm going to be a phys ed teacher.
It's going to be great. And then I was like, whoa,
this is really cool. And there's quite a few programs.
I mean up north of US in the state. University
of New York's Sunny Plattsburgh Expeditionary Studies program up there. Yeah,
I know, like University of New Hampshire has some outdoor
(23:29):
ed programming and such. So it's great for our area
because there is so many outdoor opportunities in the region.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
I think it's just amazing that depending on where you
go to school is really what opportunities will be available
for you. Because right before George, we were in Lake
Placid and I was blown away by the Olympics Center
and all of the amazing training facilities there that the
student athletes have access to. And it's no wonder that
the region turns out such incredible athletes who go to
(23:56):
the Olympics.
Speaker 7 (23:57):
Yeah, yep, it's absolutely to there. People go to there
from all over the world to train.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
So yeah, one hundred.
Speaker 7 (24:06):
Yeah. So then in twenty twenty one, my boss purchased
Tubby Tubes Riverco. From the initial owners, so the Hammils
started the Lazy River tubing up in this area. There
was no other companies or anything like that, so they
were the pioneers of it and they operated the business
from two thousand and two through twenty twenty, and they
(24:29):
were just ready to move on to something else, so
they sold it to my boss. We had had a
partnership with them for a couple of years, just like
a treetop and two, you know, just two businesses that
complement each other, referring people you know, in both directions.
And so when they were ready to sell, they were like,
you know what, we should check with the Johnson families
see if they're interested in purchasing. And my boss was like, hey,
(24:52):
what do you think? And I come from a bat
more like water is my thing. I loved the top
adventure and ziplines, but like water is my passion. I
actually worked as a whitewater guide for a separate company
for many many years. So from like two thousand and
eight until a couple of years ago, I was on
my day off, I would go guide. So when we
(25:15):
purchased when he purchased Tubby Tubes in twenty twenty one,
I got sent down here to operate this on site.
So I'm physically down at this location and our season
runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day down here, so
we only have about three weeks remaining before it starts
to cool off and it's just too chilly to toob anymore.
(25:35):
But the water temp is perfect right now, as I'm
sure you saw the other day.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Yes, the water temperature was perfect.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
It was so relaxing, and I love how you have
it scheduled so perfectly, so so many guests can take
advantage of it throughout the day, but it never feels
crowded when you're out there.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
Yeah, yep.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
You know.
Speaker 7 (25:52):
When we got it from the old owners, they used
to do four trips, but they would do more people
per trip, but then during they actually did less people
but added more trips, and we're like, what should we do?
And I was like, you know what, I would rather
have more time offerings so that people you know, that
are I mean, the idea of vacation is that you're relaxing,
(26:12):
but it's it can be hard to do in this
area because there's so much to do, so scheduling things
to do, and I'm like, you know, if we did
six trips, that give some people the flexibility of getting
here at nine thirty in the morning and they could
go do something else or go treetop adventuring, you know,
at ten am, and then go tubing at three o'clock.
So that's kind of our idea behind it is we'd
(26:34):
rather have more offerings for people to choose from that,
you know, makes it work for their vacation.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Yes, that's a great idea.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
We ended up breaking it up into two days just
because we were staying at ed around Tech Safari and
we really enjoyed going back there in the early evenings
to do their activities.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
But I think to do the tree tops in the
morning and.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
Then after you've gotten your work at it and maybe
sweat it a little bit, you could go relax down
the little river and that is just a perfect day.
Speaker 7 (27:02):
Yeah. I agree. You know, you're working a little bit
doing that treetop adventure, but then that tubing, you're just
laying there in the beautiful Hutson and I don't know,
that's so scenic and the water temperature is perfect.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
So and I love the confidence that the adventure course
brings to kids because my kids are eight and six,
and while my daughter had been on one before, this
was my son's first time. And at first he was
a little afraid to go up there and he wanted
to come down, but we pushed him through it and
to see what happened next was absolutely amazing. He was
(27:34):
so excited to go through all of the challenges and
all of the courses, and then he wanted to go
back and do many of them again, and we really
had to pull them to leave.
Speaker 7 (27:43):
And the idea of that independence too, I think that's
just they can go on their own, but our staff
is there. And of course we do allow parents that
are under one hundred and seventy five pounds they want
to purchase a kid's admission ticket and climb, but they
don't have to. They can totally supervise from the ground
free of charge. And what I like about our kids
courses is you have to go in order, but you
don't have to keep going. So if they did courses
(28:05):
one and two and three, and then they looked up
and saw because course four is pretty high off the ground,
go do that. They don't have to go do that.
They can go do course one ten million more times.
Or if they loved course two, they can go back
to that. That kind of thing, so that's cool. And
then for the older kids that are almost ready to
go on the bigger courses but maybe not quite old
enough or tall enough, that course four definitely is a.
Speaker 6 (28:28):
Good challenge for them.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Yes, it definitely was a great challenge for them, and
I'm so glad it gave them, especially my son, the
confidence to show that he can keep going even if.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
He thinks he's scared. He just has to put his
mind to it.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
I wish I could tell myself the same thing, because
I have an irrational fear of heights. And I did
purchase a ticket to climb with them and they were like,
come on, Mom, and I don't know. I got up
there and I got.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Scared, which I didn't want to do.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
But you know what, I said, all right, maybe I'm
a better cheerleader because I don't want them to see
me so scared of them.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
They get scared, so I cheered from the ground.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
I encourage them to go, and I was so proud
watching them achieve all that they did and seeing the
confidence and like you said, the independence. It was such
a wonderful feeling for them.
Speaker 7 (29:17):
Well, I'm so glad that they had so much fun
and that I hope you had fun up there.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Too, Oh I sure did.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
So tell me where is Tubby Tubes and at Aroundeck
Extreme Adventures located.
Speaker 7 (29:28):
So Tubby Tubes is going to be. So Lake George
is like the very central part of our region. Right
when most people are coming up to the area, they're
staying in that Lake George, but there's beautiful towns like
all around surrounding. So Lake Luzerne is where Tubby Tubes
Riverco is and that's about ten minute drive from downtown
Lake George. And then at aroundick Extreme is up in
(29:49):
Bolton Landing, so that's like a twelve to fifteen minute
drive north of Lake George Village. So they're both pretty
central to the Lake George region.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
So it's perfect in the morning you can have into
tail to get breakfast and then head to your activity.
So how far in advance should we book these activities
and should we get them online or over the phone
in advance?
Speaker 7 (30:10):
Yeah, so we definitely recommend booking in advance for everything.
The tubing does have a bit more of a limited capacity.
There's only six trips per day, so those I really
recommend booking at least a few days out. If you're
looking to come on a Saturday, I'd say at least
a week out. But if you know, like Sunday through Friday,
a couple days in advance. Something important to note is
(30:34):
we're always monitoring the weather, and in our area we
will sometimes get rain or storms forecasted a lot and
then it changes day off. So with the tubing, we
don't go tubing if it's going to be tyrenchly downpouring, thunderstorms,
that kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Cloudy.
Speaker 7 (30:50):
Absolutely, the Hudson up here is so clean and so warm,
so even if it's a little bit lower than air temperature,
it's totally fine. And tickets can be purchased right online
at tubby tubes dot com. And then the treetop Adventure
That website is Adironticextreme dot com. And the cool thing
about that is we do climb rain or shine. So
if you're booked for a vacation in the Lake George region,
(31:13):
you know and you see it's going to rain on
Tuesday and Wednesday, unless it's like torrential downpour, thunderstorm, hurricane
type thing, I would still book a treetop adventure. And
the reason is you're not going to the beach that day,
and the title you provide a great amount of like
a natural umbrella. There is a bit more With that said,
(31:33):
the tree tops can get sold out too, we do
a lot of summer camp. Sometimes midweek that could have
us sold out, so I never recommend just driving up there. Okay,
but there's typically almost every day there are same day
reservations available, especially if you're flexible. But if you're like
very scheduled and you're like, we need to go between
(31:54):
eight and ten am, then book those tickets a couple
of days in advance online just to avoid disappointment.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
Great excellent advice.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
And I should also add that Tubby Tubes is perfect
for all ages. I love how you have the different
sized tubes and rafts that any child can go into,
and they could also be tethered to you, so you
don't have to stress out going down the very lazy
river that your child does not near you, because you
could just drap them to your tube, which makes it
so much fun because then the family can float down together.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (32:22):
Yeah, the lazy river tubing you just tune up is perfect.
And then the treetop Adventure ages six and now.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Thank you so much again, Jamie Roselle.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I look forward to seeing you the next time we're
in town. I'm Michelle Jurson the Passport Mommy.
Speaker 6 (32:36):
You're listening to passport. Mommy, I'm Michelle Jursen, and it
is that time of year again. School is almost back
in session, and that means school buses will be traveling
your roads in your neighborhoods. And you know millions of
students will ride to school this year on diesel buses.
But a new survey says that parents are ready for
something cleaner. So I'm happy to have with me today,
(32:59):
Tucker Perkins. He is the President and CEO of the
Propane Education and Research Council with information on this survey
and how we can improve the ride to school for
our kids.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Hi, Tucker, good morning, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 6 (33:13):
My pleasure. So what does this new survey tell us
about how parents feel about school transportation?
Speaker 2 (33:20):
So it's very interesting that in a nationwide survey of
parents and school educators, over eighty percent of them said
they thought their child or the children going to their
schools should ride to school in a cleaner bus, a
lower emission bus than today's diesel bus.
Speaker 6 (33:39):
Absolutely, And so how our pro pain bus is better
for children?
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Well, they're much better for children because they're quieter, they're
more comfortable in those cold mornings, they're cleaner, and think
about it. We've all been behind that school bus when
it pulled away from the bus stop. We see that
cloud of black smoke. When you choose a propane powered bus,
that cloud of black smoke is gone.
Speaker 6 (34:04):
Incredible, Yeah, I mean, so let's just talk about and
obviously it impacts the environments and it impacts their children's health.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yes, so what we know certainly it does impact both
the environment and a children's health. So let's talk about
each of those lower greenhouse gases. That's where we really
tend to think about minimizing our impact on the environment.
And a propane school bus has lower greenhouse gases than
a traditional diesel bus. For the child, though, when I
(34:33):
say that cloud of black smoke is gone, we now
know inside that cloud of black smoke, we're harmful pollutants
that created asthma, bronchitis. So the children are given a
chance to ride to school in a healthier environment. They
in turn go to school more days. And the last
benefit that we often overlook, but it's really important, is
that those buses are quieter. They enter a calmer bus,
(34:56):
they can have normal conversations with their friends. The drive
is in control of the children on that bus and
then when they get to school, not only was it
quieter on every street, they drove healthier for them, They
arrived at school calmer, and teachers tell us they're ready
to learn much more early in the morning than children
that rode to school in a loud, clanging bus.
Speaker 6 (35:19):
So interesting, and now let's talk about the cost of
low emissions buses. Did parents weigh in on that?
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Yeah, that was an interesting part of the survey and
probably one that's not different from most other environmentally challenging solutions,
and that is they wanted them. In fact, they felt
strongly that all children, not just their children, but all
children should ride to school in a low emission bus.
But they didn't want to pay much more for that advantage.
(35:47):
They were concerned about taking money away from already cash
starved school systems. When you choose a propane school bus,
the initial cost is about that of a diesel, but
the operating cost is half that of a detel. So
for many school systems that can mean three to five
thousand dollars saved per bus per year, and that really
(36:08):
adds up for a school system that makes the switch
from diesel to propane. If we think about electric buses
and many school systems think that electric bus is there
the only way to go. A propane school bus is
significantly cheaper upfront. In fact, you can buy about four
propane school buses for the cost of one electric bus
(36:29):
and they have about the same impact on the environment.
Speaker 6 (36:33):
So right now, how common are the propane school buses.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Well, today there are about twenty two thousand school buses
operating on propane, transporting well over a million children every day.
But that's just a low percentage of all the school
buses operating. We do see some fleets that have made
the switch and now they run one hundred percent propane fleet,
so we know it's a good idea. We're trying to
get other school systems, other fleet managers to make that
(36:59):
choice to pro paining power school buses.
Speaker 6 (37:01):
Terrific. Well, thank you for all of the work that
you're doing. I think it's amazing. Like you said, for
both our kids, the environment costs all around. It seems
to me like it's a no brainer. Where can we
go for more information to get involved to get this
started in our school district?
Speaker 2 (37:17):
Yes, rarely do you see, as you said, a combination
of better for the child, better for the environment, better
for our communities and yet cheaper to operate. We created
a website for parents to learn those facts. It's Betterourbuses
dot com. Better our Buses dot com a place where
parents can go to learn these facts who have talked about,
(37:37):
see the results of the study, and then engage in
their community, Engage with their school board to see that
their children can ride to school in a quieter, cleaner
bus powered our prop pain terrific.
Speaker 6 (37:49):
Well, thank you so much again at Tucker Perkins, President
and Chief Executive Officer for the Propane Education and Research Council,
Thank you for joining me today.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Thank you pleasure.
Speaker 6 (38:00):
I'm Michelle Jerson, and thank you so much for joining
me this week. I'm Passport mommy. Talk to you next time.
Welcome to Passport Mommy. I'm your host, Michelle Jerson. This
show is for anyone raising little humans. We feature experts
with tips and advice to enrich the lives of our children.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Mom and dad.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Entrepreneurs tell us their inspiring stories, learn about products that
could make both you and your child's life easier and
more fun, and of course, fellow parents discuss and laugh
about what's happening in their child's world. Motherhood is a journey.
Thanks for joining me on mine.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Welcome to Passport Mommy.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I'm Michelle Jerson, and we are here in beautiful Lake George,
and I couldn't think of a better place to stay
than where I am right now. I am staying at
Adirondack Safari. And if you have not heard of this place,
you need to put it on your radar because this
is the perfect place to stay if you are heading
to Lake George with your family or maybe your girlfriend
(00:51):
get away pretty much any occasion.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
This is your ultimate in lamping.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
And I think lamping is just terrific because it's perfect
when you do have young kids because you don't have
to worry about being at a fancy hotel and restaurants
that you have to be quiet in and you can
really just enjoy nature together. There's nothing better than a
good bonfire at night. And there's just so much more
to it, which we'll get into. So I'm really happy
(01:19):
to have with me today Andrew Pisetti. He is the
owner here, and I am so thrilled that we connected Andrew,
because this has been just such a great experience.
Speaker 5 (01:28):
Awesome. I'm so glad and I appreciate you coming here,
Michelle and taking the time to want to stay with us.
I mean, there's a lot of places you could stay
in Lake George, but toot my own horn here, it
is truly a unique experience.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
I agree.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
I appreciate you so sure, and I feel like when
you come to Lake George, you come here for the
nature and for the activities, and so to stay in
a glamping resort like this is perfect. And I'm just
so curious how you got this started, which we'll get
into in a minute. But you know, I touched on
why I think this is just such a great experience.
I think it brings people closer together. You have the nature,
(02:06):
you can hang out here all day if you wanted
to and do nothing else in Lake Georgia and still
have a great time. And I love that you schedule
activities and you have people who come in in the
evenings and do different things. So walk me through a
typical day.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
So, I mean, you're here on a weekend, which is
obviously one of our busier times. As you see as
places packed in a good way, nothing crazy.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
I don't feel like it's overrun by any means.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
No, very family friendly. We've got small families, older families
in bachelorette parties, all types of groups, multiple families coming together.
We have the group sections that can sleep up to
thirty people in one ten one area do not one tent, right,
but across the six tents you can sleep thirty people.
Where else can you find a place that does that?
(02:55):
But a stay with us? You come in, you check
out or check in and about three o'clock. Because when
everyone's rolling in on the first day, that's why we
start our activities later in the day or their second day.
Everyone's out experiencing Lake George in the region, and that's
that's what we want you to do. I mean, they're
like you had mentioned, there's plenty of things to do
here on property, but there's so much more beyond here too,
(03:17):
So we want you to go out, enjoy yourselves, come
back dinner time, relax, let the kids run free. Don't
to worry about them. We can see everything. We're out here.
It's very safe, open environment. We'll have the paint class
just about every night at four o'clock. That kind of
kicks it off. Moms are coming over and send dads too,
but mostly moms and the kids are coming over here.
(03:39):
Dad's over there grilling, go back, have some dinner, and
then we start off with bingo at seven o'clock and
then karayoke and then nine o'clock. We flip flop the
activities between our movie nights, silent disco and our Native
American performance, which you got to experience yesterday. So I mean,
there's nowhere else that anybody has anything like this. There's
(04:01):
places you can have many more appointments and amenities, nicer accommodations.
Our places is great, but it's it's really is glamping
at its at its core, it's glamorous camping. You still
get to enjoy everything that you want to do camping,
which is spending time with your loved ones. That's what
we do. Having everyone just be themselves, kids running free, parents,
(04:25):
not worrying about anything, and just relaxing, PLoP in the
zero gravity chair if you want to and relax. I mean,
there's been plenty of times where I've I've had to
cover people up and that, you know, just they don't
want to move and they're having a good time. But
the activities, the main pavilion area where we bring everyone together.
It's like a community where you got different ethnic backgrounds,
(04:47):
so different cultures and different people from all over the
country and even the world that come here and find
this place and just want what's you know, what we
really want just being around your loved ones and spending
time with the people that you really care about exactly.
So that's really the core of what Atironics Afar is.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Yeah, And when you talk about glamorous camping, it really
is because I think when even when people hear glamping,
they think they're going to be a lot of bugs.
Am I going to have to worry about this or that?
And you keep this place really clean and well let's
talk about inside the tents. You basically put two or
three or however many beds you need within a tent.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
They're very comfortable beds.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
So yes, everyone tells me, I'm yes, I myself. I
sleep at a tent here all summer for five straight seasons.
So it's the best sleep I get because you're outside,
you're close to being grounded, sounds of natures, even the
rain hitting that canvas. There's just nothing more tranquil than
just having that hearing you or hitting that tent and
having that that's just that that quietness and just hearing nature,
(05:49):
the birds chirping and the crickets. It's just an amazing feeling.
So I mean, someone you should experience it, right, We're
trying to get that word out so everyone does.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, it's like great for multi generational travel because like
you said too, you can fit a huge group of
people in one space. So grandma and grandpa can come
and they can feel comfortable here. Correct, the grandkids, everybody?
Speaker 5 (06:10):
Correct? Yeah, So the tents have they're all queen beds
from anywhere from one queen bed up to four queen
beds in the tent, so eight people in one tent.
I mean, it's it's huge. I got to think about
a hotel room exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Get a hotel room like that now.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
So it's definitely an economical way to travel.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
As well, correct, And I was I was telling someone
earlier today, Actually, you know, I try to keep my
rates comparable to a hotel. But when you factor in
all the stuff that happens that you read a hotel,
and then you you don't stay in a hotel, right,
you go spend money everywhere else to do basically the
activities that we include exactly. So when you factor all
(06:51):
that in, you're really getting one heck of a deal
to come here. So it really is an economic adventure
experience that needs the world to know.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
About it absolutely.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
And I will say, you know, obviously, if you come
prepared for us. It was a very last minute add on,
so we could have come better prepared for grilling, but
we didn't.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
That being said, you can go to any.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
First of all, your store here has pretty much everything
that we need. And I love that you have a
store here, so if there's anything, you forget and you're
not jacking up the prices, So we feel like we
could shop here and just get everything, and then you can.
We have been we grilled last night, we're grilling again tonight.
And so you save money there too, because you don't
have to go out for all of your meals, right exactly.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
And I don't want to.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Go out for meals when I'm here because I don't
want to miss bingo, yes, karaoke, get some free firewaders,
right exactly definitely. So how did you get the idea
to start at around Deck Safari?
Speaker 5 (07:53):
So I won't take the credit for actually starting at
Aronic Sofi. I at one point was actually following at
it Andic Safari back in it was like twenty fifteen,
twenty sixteen, and I came across in the Facebook page
and thought this place was amazing and I wanted to
come and experience it. I never did, but the end
of the season in twenty eighteen, just like I do now,
(08:14):
the owner had put up a post that he was
going to get rid of some of the tents. They're
just aging out. They won't look as pretty. There's nothing
wrong with the tents, it's just esthetically not appealing to
the people coming in next season. So he was offering
some of them for sale. I reached out to him.
I bought a couple of those tents, and not even
knowing what I was going to do with them, I
started having some ideas, and the idea to do a
(08:37):
mobile service with the tents. I created a company called
Glamp eighty K where I deliver these tents to backyards
for birthday parties and for wedding venues for lodging right
on site of these places that have beautiful venues, but
there's no lodging nearby. So you keep those people off
those off the road and keep them from being intoxicated
(08:57):
and causing any harm to anybody. And plus you having
your party there at the venue. It carries on and
it has a good time. So I started that baty
K business, and the previous owner who started this had
reached out to me and said, this is you know,
I see what you got going on. This is too
much for us. Would you be interested in taking it over.
(09:17):
We went back and forth for a year and I
was going to come on as a manager. That never happened,
and then COVID happens, okay, and campground doesn't open up.
So he offered me the opportunity to buy the business
a great deal. I scooped it up and ran the
delivery service during COVID and operated this in twenty twenty
(09:40):
one as my first year with no hospitality experience.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Wow, now amazing. Talk about taking chances.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
No hospitality experience, no entertainment business, no campground business ownership
or even been in the campground business at all. Basically
just let's roll away. And since twenty twenty one, I've
been operating this as my fifth season. This is the
County's fairgrounds.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Okay, I was wondering.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
So this place just sits dormant and we come in,
We lease this from the county and I build this
out with my crew in ten days. Wow, with like
seven of us. Oh my god, what you see here
is done with our hands in our backs and the pavilion,
the store, all the tents and running everything out there
and turning this field into a glamping resort which has
(10:28):
been chosen as a top ten glamping destination in the
country by the dirt.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
And you have your hands and everything like I see it.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
You're running the bingo, the karaoke, You're making sure everybody's
taken care of, who needs anything. I mean, you really
are vested in making sure everybody is.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
Happ And that's really what it boils down to. Like
I said, there's plenty of places that people can go to,
but you're not going to get this experience that you know,
people know my name, they know my staff's name. I
mean they're leaving them in reviews two weeks weeks after
they left.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
So coming up next, I want to talk with you
more about this place, also the surrounding areas and things
we can do. We are speaking with Andrew Prosetti. He
is the owner of Adirondack Safari. I'm Michelle Jurson. We're
coming up in a few you're listening to Passport Mommy.
I'm Michelle Jurson and I'm here with Andrew Prosetti. He
is the owner of Adirondack Safari. And you have to
(11:24):
schedule a visit. What is your season like, Andrew? What
months are you here?
Speaker 5 (11:29):
Typically we're mid June through Labor Day. Okay, short season,
about eighty days or so. This year we were open
Memorial of Day weekend and the weekends leading up to
mid June. We may do that again next year to
see how it goes. The weather wasn't really in our
favor this year, a.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Little while to get off the ground.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
But it's been beautiful. I don't want to say that hasn't.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Live our word right exactly.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
It's been great that we haven't seen any of that
fall from the sky, I know. But yeah, mid June
to Labor Days typically our season.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Okay, great, And we were talking before how fun it
is to come back at the end of the day
because you have things like paint and sip, crystal bracelet making,
you do bingo and karaoke. But then you also have
other amenities that are included here with the property, like
river tubing.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Tell me about it, correct, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
So I mean beautiful spot with this beautiful thing with
this spot is that we have an entrance and an
exit on this which is not too many places have that.
So yeah, it's a good like half hour forty minute float,
sometimes a little longer if the wind's blowing against the current,
you get like an hour float out there, and that's
included with your stay. Go as many times as you want. Wow,
we have as you mentioned the other activities. We've got
(12:35):
to the movie nights. Two movies we can play where
I incorporate the Silent Disco headsets and the kids can
watch the movie quietly with the headsets and you can
see your kid's head blowing over there with the headsets,
so you know where they're supposed to be being where
they're supposed to be, right the Native American show. These
guys come from Cape Cod every week they come to
(12:55):
put on this experience.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
I know they said they were from there. I didn't
realize they drive here every week.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
They come here and put on the show for our guests.
And it's I believe, one of the only evening shows
that they do, and most tribes do. They usually do
their dances during the day, so this is something that's
a really rare treat. To have that and let them
teach about their culture and their experience in their lives.
It's really cool and it ties right into the Adirondecks.
(13:22):
I mean, so you saw I heard the show. It's
an amazing experience.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Yes, I heard people going up to them after the show.
Oh you really it was amazing. You really helped me
connect with this or with that and help me realize this,
and it was really important.
Speaker 5 (13:36):
You tie that into the beautiful sunsets and the stars
that are out here. There's no obstructions of the sky,
clear open skies here. It really is a truly unique experience.
I can't say that enough. I don't know if you
can pick up in the background. Right now, we've got
a bluegrass band that's going around playing music at your sites.
I mean you get a mobile.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Band communia, I know, what a treat.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
And last night you had live music up here on
the stage while we were getting dinner ready.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
And we have all your normal traditional games to the
volleyball and cornhole and things like that, but we also
like there's something different that we cater to a lot
of different cultures. And there's a lot of like Southern Asian,
like Indian families that come here, and one thing that
they like to do is like cricket. We've got cricket equipment. Again, Like,
find me a spot that offers that, yeah, you know,
(14:29):
to show that we're more than just your traditional campgrounds exactly.
We're really about bringing people together and letting people of
different cultures experienced those cultures as well. So it's it's
an amazing spot. And then if you go off the property,
as you mentioned earlier, it's Lake George, the Queen of
(14:49):
America's Lakes.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Exactly.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
There's the lake, it's ten minutes away. There's the parasailing,
there's tubby tubes at Arounic Extreme, there's a Lake George
Steamboat company. There's plenty of hiking to do shops, like
everything is right here within ten minutes of us exactly.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
And I think when we were at Tubby Tube yesterday,
I saw they sold shirts.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
I know it's here where you have.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
On the backwards says concrete jungle right, escape the Congrey Jungle.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Right exactly, And I was like, it's perfect, exact.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
All want to escape the concrete jungle. We all still
live there somehow, but we want to escape. Yes, so yeah, this,
I mean, this really is the perfect place. And before
we end this segment, I want to make sure I
get it in. How can we book a stay here?
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Easiest way is right through your website adirondacksafari dot com.
We do have all the normal handles too, at the Instagram,
the Facebook, you can just put Aduronic Safari. It's in there.
I'm even on TikTok. Now, come on there with the
young kids.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
That's good. I know I need a.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Little but all the normal handles and platforms were on there,
but Aturonic Safari is the best way. I'm the one
who answers all the calls and emails and messages in
tex So you'll talk to me at some point that's great.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
So I mean I always felt I know, we arrived
really late one night and I didn't oak from you
arrive slate at the clamping resort.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
What's it going to be like? You're like, no problem,
i'll be out, I'll be around. And it was great.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
It was so easy, easy, relaxing.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
So what are some tips on how to prepare for
your glamping trip?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
What should we bring?
Speaker 5 (16:15):
Really not much. I mean it's just like cooking utensils,
cooking supplies. If you choose to cook and grill. I
mean again, there's plenty of places of shop and eat
and even delivery. We have places that deliver right to
the property. Uber eats, we'll deliver it right here. But
if you choose to do any grilling on site, which
is I mean, that's camping, right, So bring your cooking utensils,
(16:35):
your supplies, personal toilet trees like your chip poo, your towels,
the toothbrush. Please bring your toothbrush. Just kidding, so yeah,
just and it towels. That's really that's really it. If
you forget any of that stuff, we have most of
it here too. So firewood is on property, deliver with
the golf carts. So you don't have to carry that
(16:56):
with you. We sell in the small bags of chart.
You buy a huge bag of charcoal, a grill once
or twice right right here. Easy, gotta take care.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Of you, make it easy.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
And the showers are clean, the bathrooms are clean. Everything
is just it's a wonderful experience and you can feel
comfortable bringing all ages here and know that you'll just
have a wonderful time and just be able to sit
back and relax. And where we're recording right now, I
had no idea. You have two luxury massage chairs right here,
so you really can't get more luxurious than coming here.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
We could have did the interview from there right.
Speaker 6 (17:35):
Well.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Andrew Pisidi, thank you so much again for offering us
this amazing experience here at Adurandeck Safari. We will definitely
be back. We'll have to make this a tradition. I'm
Michelle Jerson. More coming up and.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
A few.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
You're listening to Passport Mommy, I'm Michelle Jerson, and we
just heard about how wonderful at Arondeck Safari is and
it's just the place to stay when you are in
Lake George if you really just want that family friendly
outdoor experience and to go along with that, of course,
you have to do outdoorsy things at outdoorsy fun activities.
I was so happy to connect with Jamie Roselle. She
is the manager of Tubby Tubes and at Aroandeck Extreme
(18:12):
Adventures and these are two must do activities when in
the area, perfect for all ages. And on the show
with me today is Jamie and we're going to just
talk about all that you can expect, how to book
and how to make sure you get your spot.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Hi Jamie, Hey everyone, how's it going today?
Speaker 4 (18:27):
So talk to me about how you got started with
Tubby Tubes and at Aroandeck Extreme Adventures.
Speaker 7 (18:32):
So I actually got started in this industry. I took
a phizzed class when I was in college. I initially
wanted to be a Phizzed teacher, and while I was
getting some of my gen ads out of the way,
I was like, Oh, I should take this beginning whitewater
rafting course. And so I took this rafting course. It
was like a one credit college class, and I fell
in love and I was like, this is amazing. And
(18:54):
the teacher of that course was like, Hey, if you
really like this, we have a new degree program starting
up in the fall. It's Adventure Sports Leadership and Management.
And I was like, oh, wow, that sounds amazing. Wow
enrolled in that. So I switched you know, education tracks
there and I was taking adventure education classes so like
Adrondick Park policies and issues, risk management classes, some really
(19:18):
fun classes thrown in there too on like high ropes
course operations and such, and so that was how it
initially got started. I've lived in the Adirondicks my whole life,
but I was not into the super outdoors the activities
until I took that course. And then when I was
in that course, an article came out in our local
newspaper saying that there was a brand new treetop adventure
(19:40):
course being built. And that's actually like those were an
unheard of thing back then. You know, you would find
like at YMCA's and such, your traditional like high ropes
team building courses, but this was first of its kind
in the US. There had been some like throughout Canada
and Europe, but it was treetop invent ur in Ziplining.
(20:01):
So I saw that article and it was a very
snowy day and I was trapped at my house, so
I emailed the reporter and was like, hey, can you
get me in touch with you know, could you give
me the contact information for the owners? And she was like,
I can't give out their info, but if you give
me your phone number, I'll pass it along. And it
was Valentine's Day of two thousand and seven, so our
region up here had actually gotten three and a half
(20:22):
feet of snow. It was like the biggest snowstorm I
can bring guy, right, So I'm like snowed in and
Valentine's Day And I got a phone call that night
and the owner, his name is also Jamie. He hired
me over the phone, hadn't even met me before his
adventure course was even built. So I started working for
him that spring, you know, first day, you know, we
(20:46):
got all sorts of training and that kind of thing.
But yeah, so it was really cool and it's been
very great over the years to see how it's grown.
Because in two thousand and seven when out aroundic Extreme opened,
it consisted of four adventure courses for adults and one
children's course, and since then we now have a total
of six adventure courses for adults, one zipline, and older kids.
(21:10):
I should say it's adults and older kids. So there's
six adventure courses for adults and older kids, one zipline
only course for like your bucket listing grandmas, maybe people
that are not into the idea of just the treetop adventure,
and then four children's courses, and then also there's two
giant ziplines for adults and a giant zipline for kids.
(21:31):
So just watching it expand from two thousand and seven
to the present is a really cool thing. Our season
up there runs from mid April through November, so we
always try it up as soon as the snow melts
up in the ad aroundecks, which it can take time.
You know, we're in the forest, we're pretty shaded, so
mid April is usually when we can open up. One year,
(21:52):
we did get like a late April snowstorm, so we
were doing aerial treetop snow removal. We were shoveling off
the platforms that kind of thing, so it was pretty funny.
I have like a good picture of myself or one
of my coworkers like going down the zip line with
a shovel in our.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Hands, So that's amazing.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
And I love the story about how you just called
the owner and he hired you over the phone, because
I always believe that persistence and just showing initiative like
that is what gets you hired so many more times
than just like setting a resume somewhere, right.
Speaker 7 (22:28):
Yeah, And it was just very cool, you know. So
he hired me over the phone. I met with him
the following week and we actually drove up to the
site and then I just started I mean, it was February,
so they weren't doing too much, Like there was not
really like the parking lot wasn't paved, and the building
was halfway built and they were just starting to clear
(22:48):
some trees and that kind of thing. So it was
really cool to just be involved in that getting off
the ground type thing.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
And I love that you had a whitewater rafting worse
in school. And it just goes to show that depending
on where you go to college will determine what type
of curriculums you could take advantage of.
Speaker 7 (23:08):
Right, And it just opens up this whole nother door.
I was like, I'm going to be a phys ed teacher.
It's going to be great. And then I was like, whoa,
this is really cool. And there's quite a few programs.
I mean up north of US in the state. University
of New York's Sunny Plattsburgh Expeditionary Studies program up there. Yeah,
I know, like University of New Hampshire has some outdoor
(23:29):
ed programming and such. So it's great for our area
because there is so many outdoor opportunities in the region.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
I think it's just amazing that depending on where you
go to school is really what opportunities will be available
for you. Because right before George, we were in Lake
Placid and I was blown away by the Olympics Center
and all of the amazing training facilities there that the
student athletes have access to. And it's no wonder that
the region turns out such incredible athletes who go to
(23:56):
the Olympics.
Speaker 7 (23:57):
Yeah, yep, it's absolutely to there. People go to there
from all over the world to train.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
So yeah, one hundred.
Speaker 7 (24:06):
Yeah. So then in twenty twenty one, my boss purchased
Tubby Tubes Riverco. From the initial owners, so the Hammils
started the Lazy River tubing up in this area. There
was no other companies or anything like that, so they
were the pioneers of it and they operated the business
from two thousand and two through twenty twenty, and they
(24:29):
were just ready to move on to something else, so
they sold it to my boss. We had had a
partnership with them for a couple of years, just like
a treetop and two, you know, just two businesses that
complement each other, referring people you know, in both directions.
And so when they were ready to sell, they were like,
you know what, we should check with the Johnson families
see if they're interested in purchasing. And my boss was like, hey,
(24:52):
what do you think? And I come from a bat
more like water is my thing. I loved the top
adventure and ziplines, but like water is my passion. I
actually worked as a whitewater guide for a separate company
for many many years. So from like two thousand and
eight until a couple of years ago, I was on
my day off, I would go guide. So when we
(25:15):
purchased when he purchased Tubby Tubes in twenty twenty one,
I got sent down here to operate this on site.
So I'm physically down at this location and our season
runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day down here, so
we only have about three weeks remaining before it starts
to cool off and it's just too chilly to toob anymore.
(25:35):
But the water temp is perfect right now, as I'm
sure you saw the other day.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Yes, the water temperature was perfect.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
It was so relaxing, and I love how you have
it scheduled so perfectly, so so many guests can take
advantage of it throughout the day, but it never feels
crowded when you're out there.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
Yeah, yep.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
You know.
Speaker 7 (25:52):
When we got it from the old owners, they used
to do four trips, but they would do more people
per trip, but then during they actually did less people
but added more trips, and we're like, what should we do?
And I was like, you know what, I would rather
have more time offerings so that people you know, that
are I mean, the idea of vacation is that you're relaxing,
(26:12):
but it's it can be hard to do in this
area because there's so much to do, so scheduling things
to do, and I'm like, you know, if we did
six trips, that give some people the flexibility of getting
here at nine thirty in the morning and they could
go do something else or go treetop adventuring, you know,
at ten am, and then go tubing at three o'clock.
So that's kind of our idea behind it is we'd
(26:34):
rather have more offerings for people to choose from that,
you know, makes it work for their vacation.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Yes, that's a great idea.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
We ended up breaking it up into two days just
because we were staying at ed around Tech Safari and
we really enjoyed going back there in the early evenings
to do their activities.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
But I think to do the tree tops in the
morning and.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
Then after you've gotten your work at it and maybe
sweat it a little bit, you could go relax down
the little river and that is just a perfect day.
Speaker 7 (27:02):
Yeah. I agree. You know, you're working a little bit
doing that treetop adventure, but then that tubing, you're just
laying there in the beautiful Hutson and I don't know,
that's so scenic and the water temperature is perfect.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
So and I love the confidence that the adventure course
brings to kids because my kids are eight and six,
and while my daughter had been on one before, this
was my son's first time. And at first he was
a little afraid to go up there and he wanted
to come down, but we pushed him through it and
to see what happened next was absolutely amazing. He was
(27:34):
so excited to go through all of the challenges and
all of the courses, and then he wanted to go
back and do many of them again, and we really
had to pull them to leave.
Speaker 7 (27:43):
And the idea of that independence too, I think that's
just they can go on their own, but our staff
is there. And of course we do allow parents that
are under one hundred and seventy five pounds they want
to purchase a kid's admission ticket and climb, but they
don't have to. They can totally supervise from the ground
free of charge. And what I like about our kids
courses is you have to go in order, but you
don't have to keep going. So if they did courses
(28:05):
one and two and three, and then they looked up
and saw because course four is pretty high off the ground,
go do that. They don't have to go do that.
They can go do course one ten million more times.
Or if they loved course two, they can go back
to that. That kind of thing, so that's cool. And
then for the older kids that are almost ready to
go on the bigger courses but maybe not quite old
enough or tall enough, that course four definitely is a.
Speaker 6 (28:28):
Good challenge for them.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Yes, it definitely was a great challenge for them, and
I'm so glad it gave them, especially my son, the
confidence to show that he can keep going even if.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
He thinks he's scared. He just has to put his
mind to it.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
I wish I could tell myself the same thing, because
I have an irrational fear of heights. And I did
purchase a ticket to climb with them and they were like,
come on, Mom, and I don't know. I got up
there and I got.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Scared, which I didn't want to do.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
But you know what, I said, all right, maybe I'm
a better cheerleader because I don't want them to see
me so scared of them.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
They get scared, so I cheered from the ground.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
I encourage them to go, and I was so proud
watching them achieve all that they did and seeing the
confidence and like you said, the independence. It was such
a wonderful feeling for them.
Speaker 7 (29:17):
Well, I'm so glad that they had so much fun
and that I hope you had fun up there.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Too, Oh I sure did.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
So tell me where is Tubby Tubes and at Aroundeck
Extreme Adventures located.
Speaker 7 (29:28):
So Tubby Tubes is going to be. So Lake George
is like the very central part of our region. Right
when most people are coming up to the area, they're
staying in that Lake George, but there's beautiful towns like
all around surrounding. So Lake Luzerne is where Tubby Tubes
Riverco is and that's about ten minute drive from downtown
Lake George. And then at aroundick Extreme is up in
(29:49):
Bolton Landing, so that's like a twelve to fifteen minute
drive north of Lake George Village. So they're both pretty
central to the Lake George region.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
So it's perfect in the morning you can have into
tail to get breakfast and then head to your activity.
So how far in advance should we book these activities
and should we get them online or over the phone
in advance?
Speaker 7 (30:10):
Yeah, so we definitely recommend booking in advance for everything.
The tubing does have a bit more of a limited capacity.
There's only six trips per day, so those I really
recommend booking at least a few days out. If you're
looking to come on a Saturday, I'd say at least
a week out. But if you know, like Sunday through Friday,
a couple days in advance. Something important to note is
(30:34):
we're always monitoring the weather, and in our area we
will sometimes get rain or storms forecasted a lot and
then it changes day off. So with the tubing, we
don't go tubing if it's going to be tyrenchly downpouring, thunderstorms,
that kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
Cloudy.
Speaker 7 (30:50):
Absolutely, the Hudson up here is so clean and so warm,
so even if it's a little bit lower than air temperature,
it's totally fine. And tickets can be purchased right online
at tubby tubes dot com. And then the treetop Adventure
That website is Adironticextreme dot com. And the cool thing
about that is we do climb rain or shine. So
if you're booked for a vacation in the Lake George region,
(31:13):
you know and you see it's going to rain on
Tuesday and Wednesday, unless it's like torrential downpour, thunderstorm, hurricane
type thing, I would still book a treetop adventure. And
the reason is you're not going to the beach that day,
and the title you provide a great amount of like
a natural umbrella. There is a bit more With that said,
(31:33):
the tree tops can get sold out too, we do
a lot of summer camp. Sometimes midweek that could have
us sold out, so I never recommend just driving up there. Okay,
but there's typically almost every day there are same day
reservations available, especially if you're flexible. But if you're like
very scheduled and you're like, we need to go between
(31:54):
eight and ten am, then book those tickets a couple
of days in advance online just to avoid disappointment.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
Great excellent advice.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
And I should also add that Tubby Tubes is perfect
for all ages. I love how you have the different
sized tubes and rafts that any child can go into,
and they could also be tethered to you, so you
don't have to stress out going down the very lazy
river that your child does not near you, because you
could just drap them to your tube, which makes it
so much fun because then the family can float down together.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (32:22):
Yeah, the lazy river tubing you just tune up is perfect.
And then the treetop Adventure ages six and now.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Thank you so much again, Jamie Roselle.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I look forward to seeing you the next time we're
in town. I'm Michelle Jurson the Passport Mommy.
Speaker 6 (32:36):
You're listening to passport. Mommy, I'm Michelle Jursen, and it
is that time of year again. School is almost back
in session, and that means school buses will be traveling
your roads in your neighborhoods. And you know millions of
students will ride to school this year on diesel buses.
But a new survey says that parents are ready for
something cleaner. So I'm happy to have with me today,
(32:59):
Tucker Perkins. He is the President and CEO of the
Propane Education and Research Council with information on this survey
and how we can improve the ride to school for
our kids.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Hi, Tucker, good morning, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 6 (33:13):
My pleasure. So what does this new survey tell us
about how parents feel about school transportation?
Speaker 2 (33:20):
So it's very interesting that in a nationwide survey of
parents and school educators, over eighty percent of them said
they thought their child or the children going to their
schools should ride to school in a cleaner bus, a
lower emission bus than today's diesel bus.
Speaker 6 (33:39):
Absolutely, And so how our pro pain bus is better
for children?
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Well, they're much better for children because they're quieter, they're
more comfortable in those cold mornings, they're cleaner, and think
about it. We've all been behind that school bus when
it pulled away from the bus stop. We see that
cloud of black smoke. When you choose a propane powered bus,
that cloud of black smoke is gone.
Speaker 6 (34:04):
Incredible, Yeah, I mean, so let's just talk about and
obviously it impacts the environments and it impacts their children's health.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yes, so what we know certainly it does impact both
the environment and a children's health. So let's talk about
each of those lower greenhouse gases. That's where we really
tend to think about minimizing our impact on the environment.
And a propane school bus has lower greenhouse gases than
a traditional diesel bus. For the child, though, when I
(34:33):
say that cloud of black smoke is gone, we now
know inside that cloud of black smoke, we're harmful pollutants
that created asthma, bronchitis. So the children are given a
chance to ride to school in a healthier environment. They
in turn go to school more days. And the last
benefit that we often overlook, but it's really important, is
that those buses are quieter. They enter a calmer bus,
(34:56):
they can have normal conversations with their friends. The drive
is in control of the children on that bus and
then when they get to school, not only was it
quieter on every street, they drove healthier for them, They
arrived at school calmer, and teachers tell us they're ready
to learn much more early in the morning than children
that rode to school in a loud, clanging bus.
Speaker 6 (35:19):
So interesting, and now let's talk about the cost of
low emissions buses. Did parents weigh in on that?
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Yeah, that was an interesting part of the survey and
probably one that's not different from most other environmentally challenging solutions,
and that is they wanted them. In fact, they felt
strongly that all children, not just their children, but all
children should ride to school in a low emission bus.
But they didn't want to pay much more for that advantage.
(35:47):
They were concerned about taking money away from already cash
starved school systems. When you choose a propane school bus,
the initial cost is about that of a diesel, but
the operating cost is half that of a detel. So
for many school systems that can mean three to five
thousand dollars saved per bus per year, and that really
(36:08):
adds up for a school system that makes the switch
from diesel to propane. If we think about electric buses
and many school systems think that electric bus is there
the only way to go. A propane school bus is
significantly cheaper upfront. In fact, you can buy about four
propane school buses for the cost of one electric bus
(36:29):
and they have about the same impact on the environment.
Speaker 6 (36:33):
So right now, how common are the propane school buses.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Well, today there are about twenty two thousand school buses
operating on propane, transporting well over a million children every day.
But that's just a low percentage of all the school
buses operating. We do see some fleets that have made
the switch and now they run one hundred percent propane fleet,
so we know it's a good idea. We're trying to
get other school systems, other fleet managers to make that
(36:59):
choice to pro paining power school buses.
Speaker 6 (37:01):
Terrific. Well, thank you for all of the work that
you're doing. I think it's amazing. Like you said, for
both our kids, the environment costs all around. It seems
to me like it's a no brainer. Where can we
go for more information to get involved to get this
started in our school district?
Speaker 2 (37:17):
Yes, rarely do you see, as you said, a combination
of better for the child, better for the environment, better
for our communities and yet cheaper to operate. We created
a website for parents to learn those facts. It's Betterourbuses
dot com. Better our Buses dot com a place where
parents can go to learn these facts who have talked about,
(37:37):
see the results of the study, and then engage in
their community, Engage with their school board to see that
their children can ride to school in a quieter, cleaner
bus powered our prop pain terrific.
Speaker 6 (37:49):
Well, thank you so much again at Tucker Perkins, President
and Chief Executive Officer for the Propane Education and Research Council,
Thank you for joining me today.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Thank you pleasure.
Speaker 6 (38:00):
I'm Michelle Jerson, and thank you so much for joining
me this week. I'm Passport mommy. Talk to you next time.
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