Plattsburgh is a small city on Lake Champlain in New York's North Country. From the viewpoint of a visitor on foot, it is very walkable, with enough streets lined with beautiful houses, interesting historic buildings and monuments and pleasant waterfronts with paths, a bridge or two and pleasant vistas to reward a day or two of your time. It is also home to a State University of New York college and has an array of restaurants, bars and cafés.

The closest American city to Montréal, Plattsburgh (city and town) has a population of about 32,000 (2020).

The area was the site of a native Indigenous village at the time of Samuel-de-Champlain's 1609 Lake Champlain valley expedition. The French settled in the area during the «coureur-de-bois» fur trade era in the mid-to-late 17th century. Historically a French area, Plattsburgh later fell to the English, and then the United States.

Located on the western shore of Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh is separated by the lake from Burlington, Vermont to the east. It is the primary city serving the vast Adirondack Park region, as development within the park boundary is strictly limited outside the few existing villages (such as Saranac Lake and Lake Placid).

Plattsburgh has a long military history. The city, founded in 1785, is home to a War of 1812 museum; it was the site of the Revolutionary War's Battle of Valcourt Island and the War of 1812's Battle of Plattsburgh, a naval engagement on Lake Champlain in 1814 that was the final battle of that war and ensured American control over the city for the final time. In 1915, the Preparedness Movement established the first of the "Plattsburgh camps", volunteer pre-enlistment training grounds for prospective future Army officers. During the Cold War, Plattsburgh Air Force Base (PAFB) was the Strategic Air Command's primary wing on the US East Coast; its sheltered location in the Champlain Valley was protected by the rain shadow of the Adirondack Mountains. The 556 Strategic Missile Squadron, activated at Plattsburgh AFB in 1961 and armed with a dozen Atlas liquid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, disbanded in 1965. The Air Force base closed in 1995.

The former base, one of four military bases in the United States large enough for a Space Shuttle landing, now serves as a small civilian airport.

Plattsburgh bills itself as a "two state, two nation, do-it-all destination" on Lake Champlain with several historical and art museums, a famous sandy beach, marinas and a downtown dining and entertainment district.

There is excellent documentation about the historical monuments and the most important buildings on plaques, and there are several maps with marked points of interest on signposts on the city's sidewalks.

• The Barracks Golf Course, 24 Golf Course Rd, ☏ +1 518-566-7150. 18 holes, near former air force base, catering and banquet/event space for parties and weddings. $20-32/player. 
• 44.725-73.4231 Cumberland Bay State Park, 152 Cumberland Head Rd, ☏ +1 518-563-5240. Early May-Columbus Day. A clean, well-maintained beach for day use on the Cumberland Head peninsula on the western shore of Lake Champlain. Picnic tables and grills, camping, playground and playing fields. (updated Sep 2020)
• 44.696944-73.4547222 Strand Center for the Arts, 23 Brinkerhoff St, ☏ +1 518-563-1604, [email protected]. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Art gallery, classes and exhibitions. (updated Nov 2021)

Plattsburgh serves a regional market; to the many tiny villages in the Adirondacks with only a few small, local independent merchants, the Champlain Centre is the closest major mall.

As a cross-border shopping destination for Canadians, Plattsburgh's fortunes tend to be cyclical. When the Canadian dollar is strong, the Montréal community eagerly seek out cheaper prices in the US; when exchange rates are unfavourable, Canadians stay home en masse. Tightened passport restrictions in the post-9/11 era have also weakened cross-border demand. A few stores (such as Target, and JC Penney) do not exist over the border in Canada and some grocery items (such as milk and yogurt) are less expensive stateside.

Price Chopper, Hannaford, Yando's Big M (South End), North Country Food Co-Op (Downtown), and Wal-Mart are possible destinations for grocery shopping.

• 44.702389-73.4909721 Champlain Centre, 60 Smithfield Blvd. Established 1987, the mall features J.C. Penney, Target, Best Buy, Gander Mountain, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW, and a Regal cinema.  

Michigan red hots are a local favorite similar to a chili dog but seasoned differently. Recipes are prized and closely guarded. A red hot consists of a steamed hot dog on a steamed bun covered with a ground beef sauce. It may be served with or without raw chopped onions ("Buried" onions served beneath the meat sauce are traditional).

• ^{[dead link]} Bazzanos Pizza, 5041 S Catherine St, ☏ +1 518-562-8586. This local pizzeria serves a very tasty pie. Service is quick and the place is very clean. Other menu items include pasta, wings and burgers. A large plain pizza is around $12. 
• Claire and Carl's, 4727 State Route 9, ☏ +1 518-561-1163. This local chain has several branches and has been serving up Michigan Red Hots for decades. Inexpensive. 
• Gus Red Hots, 3 Cumberland Head Rd, ☏ +1 518-561-3711. Gus Red Hots has stood in the same locations for dozens and dozens of years. It famously serves Michigan Red Hots but also has a complete traditional American diner menu. Inexpenisve. 
• Karma Indian Cuisine, 334 Cornelia St, ☏ +1 518-561-8301. Plattsburgh's only Indian restaurant is nicely appointed and relaxing. The service can be quite slow and somewhat inattentive at times; however, the food is very tasty and well done. Northern and southern Indian dishes, several vegetarian selections, lunch buffet six days a week and all day Sunday. $10-15/main course. 
• McSweeney's Red Hots, 535 N Margaret St, ☏ +1 518-562-9309. McSweeney's stands in stark contrast to many of Plattsburgh's storied, decades old hot dog stands. It has been in existence only a few years but has won a large following and local acceptance with its delicious dogs. A limited diner menu of burgers and wings is also available. Be sure to try the hand cut fries with gravy. Inexpensive. 
• Quiche et Crèpe, 5139 Us Ave, ☏ +1 518-561-4086. Quiches and crèpes are the specialty at this restaurant owned and operated by a local French couple. Fresh soups, salads and sandwiches, excellent food. Inexpensive. 
• Price Chopper, 19 Centre Dr, ☏ +1 518-562-3560. Grocer with a large, fresh and well-tended salad bar, and a hot prepared food section. Diners make their own plates and pay by weight. A seafood counter will steam or fry selections while you wait. 

• 44.743413-73.4254521 Elfs Farm Winery and Cider Mill, 7411 State Route 9, ☏ +1 518-563-2750. Tu-Su 11AM-6PM. Elfs Farm is a winery and cider mill that produces amazing grape and fruit wines. They also press fresh apple cider during the apple season. Stop in and check out their tasting room. They offer a three dollar wine tasting and you get to keep the glass when you leave. (updated Aug 2016)
• 44.698132-73.4518442 Irises, 20-22 City Hall Pl, ☏ +1 518-566-7000. A beautiful cafe and wine bar in downtown Plattsburgh. (updated Aug 2016)

Hotels are clustered along I-87. If you want accommodation closer to downtown, consider checking out homestay listing sites.

• 44.697832-73.4919351 Best Western The Inn at Smithfield, 446 Route 3, ☏ +1 518-561-7750, toll-free: +1-800-243-4656, fax: +1 518 561-9431. 
• 44.698089-73.4879252 Holiday Inn Plattsburgh, 412 Route 3, ☏ +1 518-561-5000. 
• 44.697033-73.5023753 Plattsburgh Microtel Inn & Suites, 554 State Route 3, ☏ +1 518-324-3800, fax: +1 518 324-3810. 
• 44.696335-73.5050784 Hampton Inn and Suites, 586 State Rt 3, ☏ +1 518-324-1100. 

• 44.697222-73.4555561 Plattsburgh Public Library, 19 Oak St, ☏ +1 518 563-0921, fax: +1 518 563-7539, [email protected]. M F Sa 9AM-5PM, Tu-Th 9AM-8PM. City library with public Wi-fi hotspot - no user name or password is required. Public use computers are reserved for cardholders.