Invent Your Perfect Winter Day in Lake Placid

Invent Your Perfect Winter Day in Lake Placid

Welcome to Lake Placid, New York, a special Adirondack mountain town with an extraordinary history! This charming, vibrant village nestled in the high peaks of the Adirondack Mountains became America's first winter vacation destination in the early 1900s, when one of the local resorts, Lake Placid Club, remained open for the winter season and welcomed guests to discover the delight of cold-weather activities. Since then, Lake Placid, located approximately three hours from Ottawa and only two hours from Montréal, has become a premier winter destination for travellers. Now, you are welcome to Lake Placid to invent your own perfect winter day! Indulge yourself in some of the best and most enjoyable winter experiences you can't find anywhere but here.

The Adirondacks are brimming with possibilities for the most adventurous among us to those seeking a quiet getaway filled with rest and relaxation. There's so much to do! No matter your vacationing style, we've got you covered. Solo adventurers, families, couples, retired travellers, and even pets will love the endless opportunities in this Olympic Village. We are sure you will find Lake Placid to be the perfect place to enjoy the best of winter.

Imagine a serene morning exploring the snowy woods, followed by coffee next to a cozy fire overlooking frozen Mirror Lake as you watch a dogsled team circle the ice. Next, explore the unique, welcoming shops and galleries on and off Main Street of Lake Placid, the perfect spot to search for creative, locally made items that you won't find anywhere else. From charming Adirondack keepsakes, foodie-friendly delicacies, books and jewelry to outdoor outfitters, shopping in Lake Placid is a delightful experience. You can finish your afternoon with a scenic drive or a spa treatment and then settle in for a delicious evening meal at make up Lake Placid's diverse and innovative dining scene. You will be delighted at the wide array of dining options, including Adirondack-style barbecue, locally sourced farm-to-table goodness, gourmet delicacies, and casual dining and takeout opportunities.

Maybe the pace of your perfect day is more of a play-all-day theme! Possibilities are limitless for outdoor activities, with wintry fun and excitement around every bend. Spend a day full of fresh, frozen fun as you ice skate, cross-country ski, ice fish, enjoy a pick-up hockey game, or take a brisk hike through the snowy woods. For a unique winter experience, ride the Lake Placid Toboggan Chute onto frozen Mirror Lake, snowshoe through history at the John Brown Farm, or explore the scenic High Falls Gorge. You can even experience the woods by horsedrawn sleigh!

A perfect day in Lake Placid wouldn't be complete without at least acknowledging that this sparkling winter playground has bragging rights to say the Olympics took place in our backyard, hosting not just one but two Winter Olympic Games! Today, you can tour many of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Legacy Sites. In the heart of the village, you'll find the famed Olympic Center, full of history, great fun, and activities. Enjoy public skating, hockey tournaments, the Olympic Museum, figure skating, and tours of this amazing complex, the site of one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympic history, where the U.S. hockey team beat the Soviets on February 22, 1980, in the famous "Miracle on Ice."

Towering just outside of downtown at the Olympic Jumping Complex are the 90- and 120-metre ski jumps. Ride the new Skyride gondola to the base of the ski jumps, and from there, take the scenic elevator to the sky deck for stunning views of Lake Placid and the Adirondack High Peaks. Nearby, at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, you'll find the 1980 Olympic bobsled track, luge experiences, snowshoeing and Nordic skiing opportunities, an indoor climbing gym, and much more.

Take the short, scenic drive from the town centre to Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort, where you can make tracks on the same slopes as Olympians! With the biggest vertical drop of any ski centre in the eastern United States and more than 288 ski-able acres of diverse trails, you'll lose track of time skiing and riding on pristine trails, catching the breathtaking views, or grabbing a mid-trail bite to eat. Whiteface Mountain is the perfect mountain for every skier, from beginners to experts.

For nearly 100 years, the Olympic legacy has burned bright in this little mountain town, but the party isn't over! Besides being one of the few places to host two Olympic Winter Games games, Lake Placid has hosted a plethora of World Cup events annually and, for the first time since 1972, will be the site of the 2023 World University Games! Lake Placid is no stranger to the high stakes of competition, the thrill of the crowds, or the excitement of monumental athletic wins. Since hosting the Olympics, Lake Placid has become a reliable host for all things winter sports. From training world-renowned winter athletes to hosting World Cup events, Lake Placid continues to champion winter athletes from all over!

End your perfect day by settling in for the night at a full-service Adirondack luxury resort, a cozy bed and breakfast, or a rustic cabin surrounded by fresh mountain air and expansive High Peaks scenery. Many places to stay in Lake Placid are situated within walking distance of historic Main Street and the surrounding dining, trails, and activities. The beautiful wintry backdrop of the Adirondack High Peaks makes for a postcard-perfect scene, and many of our hotels and motels offer big views and balconies. Special packages are available at many properties throughout town to help you make the most of your vacation.

With so many possibilities to enjoy, don't let the season pass without creating your very own perfect day in Lake Placid. The "what to do" is up to you, but we promise the memories made in Lake Placid, New York, will bring home the gold!

Plan your trip today at www.lakeplacid.com.