Lake Placid Travel Guide

  View from Olympic Ski jumps
by chrissyalex
  • View from Olympic Ski jumps
      View from Olympic Ski jumps
    by chrissyalex
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by L-A
  • Building the ice castle
      Building the ice castle
    by Phildagr8
  • Mirror Lake, Lake Placid, NY
      Mirror Lake, Lake Placid, NY
    by 850prc
  • olympics for me
      olympics for me
    by heitzenrater

Pro

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 Mountains,lakes,rivers,fantastic fall foliage 


Con

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 Expensive and a bit touristy 


In a nutshell

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 Great place for a romantic weekend for outdoor lover or Winter Games enthousiasts! 

 

Explore Lake Placid

Things to Do  

Ski Jumping Complex

Ski Jumping Complex, Lake Placid

 chrissyalex Says:  Take a ski lift and then an elevator to the top of the Olympic ski jumps! I really enjoyed this more than I expected! The views are spectactular and you can stand right where the ski jumpers are before they make their jump! An added bonus when we were visiting, was that... 

Horseback Riding

Horseback Riding, Lake Placid

 davidm23 Says:  My family and I took a ride with the Adirondack Equine Center while visiting Lake Placid last week. It was fantastic. They start the ride right in town along Mirror Lake and some pretty amazing views. I couldn't believe how well the horses looked and behaved. My 7 year old... 

Scenic View Train - (Don't Do It)

Scenic View Train - (Don't Do It), Lake Placid

 bobby420 Says:  It's a total ripoff. We went with kids and the train has one car which is open and rest is just regular train. It has no scenic view it just goes through swamps and neighborhoods.Goes to next stop and comes back. They gave 45 minutes to get down at next stop. What's to do at... 

Mt. Algonquin: A good challenge!!

Mt. Algonquin: A good challenge!!, Lake Placid

 ando_deepti Says:  There are 46 peaks to conquer in the Adirondack region. Mt Marcy and Mt. Algonquin are both good challenges and can be attempted by folks that consider themselves moderately fit.For Mt. Algonquin, plan to spend a day trekking the 8-9 miles to and from the summit @5,114 feet.... 

Hotels  

Mirror Lake Inn

 5 Reviews and 414 Opinions  We had first wanted to stay at Lake Placid Lodge, but their only remaining room had no view, so this... 

Lake Placid Lodge

 1 Review and 187 Opinions  This place is a fantastic special treat. Not inexpensive, but worth every penny, we obviously had a... 

Restaurants  

The Cottage @ Mirror Lake Inn: Wonderful ambience and bistro

The Cottage @ Mirror Lake Inn: Wonderful ambience and bistro, Lake Placid

 L-A Says:  Local beer - Nine Hat. Sandwiches are wonderful. We had chicken chipotle pesto and pulled pork. We were on the deck, with a wonderful view of Mirror Lake (across the street from Mirror Lake Inn, but on the lake). Chicken Chipotle pesto sandwich. Zesty sauce and well cooked... 

Jimmy's 21: mistake by the lake

Jimmy's 21: mistake by the lake, Lake Placid

 belgianbeerboy Says:   This place should be avoided at all cost ! Went here with family and was seated quick at a table overlooking Mirror Lake . That is where the good stuff ends. I usually pick Italian places because they are a safe bet just about anybody can make it and do it fairly well.... 

Nightlife  

Rumors nightclub: Fun, great bartenders....

Rumors nightclub: Fun, great bartenders...., Lake Placid

 bammbamm Says:  Nice place to go and hang out. the bartenders there are great and have terrific personalities. The place is pretty big, esp. for the area it's in, Main Street, Lake Placid is pretty jam-packed. The only thing we weren't happy with was the DJ. He seemed more interested in... 

Some Mexican Bar/Restaurant: Wings and Beer

Some Mexican Bar/Restaurant: Wings and Beer, Lake Placid

 SirIsaacBrock Says:  I can't remember the name of the bar, but it was a mexican themed bar/restaurant on the edge of Lake Placid going to Saranac Lake. We ordered the happy hour beer and wings. The beer was cold and the wings were HOT!. I guess they don't really have a medium in Mexico. The... 

Transportation  

The Car Ride Up - From Albany

The Car Ride Up - From Albany, Lake Placid

 Phildagr8 Says:  First, make sure you have enough gas to get there. From Albany, NY, drive North on I-87 until you get to Exit 30. This part of I-87 was voted the most scenic highway at one point in time. Be careful of state troopers in the middle median (at those No-U-turn areas) because... 

Winter is Losing its Grip !

Winter is Losing its Grip !, Lake Placid

 Bwana_Brown Says:  As I drove down from Montreal to Albany in March, 2004 I had to pass through the Adirondack Mountains near Lake Placid. In this section of Interstate Highway 87, I passed many areas where the streams of the Adirondack Mountains had been frozen into curtains during the long... 

Local Customs  

Sneak beer onto Whiteface Mt
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

SirIsaacBrock 11 reviews
Top of the chairlift at Whiteface Mt

We learned from a local that it is common to bring a backpack with beer to store in the chalet half way down the hill. Since the choice of beer is pretty much non-existent and what is there is expensive, it's a good idea to bring a small backpack with your favourite beverage. That way you can stop half way down and enjoy the sun while sipping some suds.

Use the picnic tables at the top of the first chair lift. The scenery is great.

Written Apr 15, 2005

Related to:
 Skiing and Boarding

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Warnings and Dangers  

Lock it up!

Lock it up!, Lake Placid

 Phildagr8 Says:  Just be sure to lock your car. There aren't too many high paying jobs in the area (year round), and 'boys will be boys' when there's nothing else to do. I don't want to sound discriminitory, but all I'm saying is that crime happens if you're not smart about things. Park your... 

Whiteface AKA Iceface skiing

Whiteface AKA Iceface skiing, Lake Placid

 SirIsaacBrock Says:  Whiteface mountain, which is the main Lake Placid ski destination and the hill that held the Olympics, is a very icy hill. The wind blows across it and any snow that is there in the morning is gone by the afternoon. If you're skiing there, make sure your skiis are sharpened.... 

Tourist Traps  

Don't get ripped off at the souvenir shop!

Don't get ripped off at the souvenir shop!, Lake Placid

 Phildagr8 Says:  Along the main road that goes thru Lake Placid is a long string of shops. Make sure you do a cost comparison if you really want that sweatshirt, t-shirt or other souvenir. You may find the prices are a little lower (~$5 or so) if you look for the items in the adjacent... 

What to Pack  

Comfortable ,casual clothes

Comfortable ,casual clothes, Lake Placid

 chrissyalex Says:   Comfortable shoes with thick soles for hiking. Bring clothes that can be layered. It was chilly in the morning, but the noon sun was very warm. Sun screen, mosquito repellent Don't forget.....lots of film :-) 

Off The Beaten Path  

Go hiking!!

Go hiking!!, Lake Placid

 Phildagr8 Says:  On your way to Lake Placid, you'll pass some great areas to go hiking! During good weather, you'll see cars parked along Rt 9 after you've gotten off the exit 30 on I-87. In fact, the first thing you'll pass is a natural spring on the left after you get off the exit, less... 

Mount Marcy, New York, 5,344 feet Above See Level

Mount Marcy, New York, 5,344 feet Above See Level, Lake Placid

 heitzenrater Says:  Mt. Marcy in the northern Adirondacks is the highest peak in the state of New York. Hiking to the top of Marcy a quick walk in the woods.The first ascent was made in 1837. Although technically not the most challenging hike, be prepared to spend a majority of the day on the... 

Sports & Outdoors  

White Face Mountain
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WillAntoniou 92 reviews
the east face of White Face Mountain

White Face was my best ski experience in the US. It is a really a huge mountain, with the biggest vertical drop in eastern America.

If you like to ski, I think you'll like White Face.

Many of the olympic skiing events took place here when Lake Placid had the Olympics in 1982 or something.

Equipment: skies or snowboard. there are also rentals of both at the mountain.

Written Dec 13, 2006

Related to:
 Skiing and Boarding
 Mountain Climbing
 Family Travel

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Favorites  

The jewel of upstate New York

The jewel of upstate New York, Lake Placid

 Boomscat Says:  New York state is not just New York City. There are a lot of beautiful spot all around the state. Lake Placid is a great place for a weekend retreat or for a camping trip. The town of Lake Placid is very well developed ever since the Winter Olympic Games in 1980. There are... 

Adirondack Mountains

Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid

 Bwana_Brown Says:  We enjoyed the opportunity to do some relatively easy mountain climbing on the well-worn (thanks to ancient glaciers) Adirondack Mountains in upstate-New York. The weather conditions in mid-September turned out to be just right for us. On this trip, it was relaxing on top... 

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Map of Lake Placid