Adirondacks Region
Lake Placid Daycation
Lake Placid
Lake Placid’s motto could be “the town that the Olympics built”! Being the only place in the U.S. that hosted the winter Olympics twice is an impressive feat, but what brings people to the town is much more. Year round activities, beautiful Lakes and scenery, great hotels and restaurants, and plenty of things to do all year. Check out our picks for your perfect Lake Placid Daycation!
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Lodging
Breakfast - Being a resort town means that Lake Placid has a lot of great food options. Our top pick for breakfast is the breakfast club, etc. Their BC Rosti’s have home-fries that are topped with numerous egg options and other accessories. Corned beef hash, sharp cheddar and hoolandaise over 2 eggs and Home-Fries? How can you go wrong with that. The mascarpone and berry stuffed French Toast is fantastic, too. You can’t go wrong with the Big Mountain Deli and Creperie either. With crepe options like Apple Pie a la Mode and Strawberry Short Crepe - how can you go wrong? For non-crepe eaters, the eggs, smoked salman, and lemon caper cream cheese is a clever and wonderful creation.
Morning Itinerary
The Olympic Museum
This interactive museum that chronicles the 1932 and 1980 Olympics is a fantastic way to spend the morning in Lake Placid. Even if you aren’t a sports fan, there is so much to see here. Marveling at how simple the speed skates and other equipment from the 1932 Olympics were is fascinating, but thinking about someone going 45mph using wooden skis makes you wonder how the athletes survived much less succeeded. And as many people in our age group remember the successes of the 1980 Olympics with the Men’s Hockey Team winning the gold, Chuck Mangione playing at the opening ceremonies, Eric Heiden’s 5 Gold Medals, and sister Beth’s medal. You can also see the hockey arenas from 1980 and 1932 as well as skate on the speedskating track which is right next to the museum.
A Walk Down Main Street
No trip to Lake Placid would be complete without the customary walk down Main Street. No matter what season that you go, there are always great things to see as you walk through the town with Mirror Lake a stone’s throw away. In the winter, there is a toboggan run at the end of the lake that let’s you channel your inner 14 year-old self that will take you more than 300 yards onto the lake after you speed down the frozen chute.
Lunch - There are a lot of great lunch options on or near Main Street. One of our faves is The Cottage. Being right on Mirror Lake, the view is fantastic, but the food options for lunch are upscale with Artisan Pizzas, great sandwiches, and even Shrimp Cocktail as a lunchtime appetizer! Another great option is the Pickled Pig. Their specialty is Barbeque, but they have some creative concoctions like Texas Twinkies. They are Smoked jalapenos with chorizo cream cheese and house-smoked brisket, wrapped in maple bacon. Crazy good! They also have a variety of barbequed sandwiches, tacos, poutine, and gluten free options.
Afternoon Itinerary
Olympic Ski Jumping Complex - Lake Placid
Just two and a half miles from downtown Lake Placid is a fascinating place where you can watch prospective Olympians practice year round. At the base of the mountain you can watch aerial skiers performing their acrobatics on snow in the winter or landing in a pond in the summer. From there you take the Gondola to the base of the ski jumping platform then ride a 26 story high elevator to the top of the platform where you can marvel at an amazing view of the ADK mountains and be amazed with the courage that ski jumpers have to even try their craft. After the elevator returns you to ground level, you can zipline down the mountain or just take the gondola back down if you’re not feeling adventurous.
Whiteface Mountain - Wilmington
In the summer months the amazing view to the right awaits you with a drive up Whiteface Mountain and a walk to the top from there. In the winter, you can strap on your skis and take the gondola up the mountain to ski the highest vertical drop ski hill east of the Rockies. If you aren’t that athletically inclined
Top of the Park - Lake Placid
All skiers know the phrase - Apres Ski! The dictionary definition is social activities and entertainment after skiing, but we just call it “having a glass of wine or two”. Even if it is summer and it is Apres Hike, Apres Museum, etc. - the perfect Lake Placid apres place is Top of the Park! With tons of different varietals to choose from and a gorgeous view of Mirror Lake on the back patio, it is the perfect Apres Anything prior to dinner on your Lake Placid Daycation. For the non-wino’s out there, they have cocktails and beer as well, but we always have our “that was a great day chat over a glass of wine.
Dinner
The View at the Mirror Lake Inn is usually our go to fine dining restaurant when we go to Lake Placid. Quality food, great ambience, and an incredible view check all of the boxes for a great relaxing meal after a fun day in the area. Some people disagree with us and feel that Salt of the Earth Bistro right down the street is better. You can’t go wrong with either of them. A scant 10 miles away in Saranac Lake is the Fiddlehead Bistro, which is also a great option, with some great options like the Grilled Churrasco and steamed mussels. All three places have great wine options and have unique and tasty food.
Evening Itinerary
Lake Placid Center for the Arts
With numerous productions throughout the year and rotating art exhibits, the LPCA is a great place to go for an artsy evening all year round. Many world-class artists pass through the doors of this 355-seat theatre.. Whether it is music, comedy, contemporary circus or dance - there is plenty of great shows to see here throughout the year.