Best Things to Do in Lake Placid, NY

Many know Lake Placid as the home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Winter sports is certainly one of its claims to fame and continues to be. But the village of Lake Placid offers so much more to visitors: a beautiful, quaint town surrounding tranquil Mirror Lake, awesome views of majestic Adirondack mountains from anywhere in town plus loads of hiking trails and other fun outdoor recreation options. There’s no shortage of great restaurants and fun shops, too.

Located in Adirondack Park — a massive 6-million-acre park of public and private land — in upstate New York, Lake Placid is 110 miles from Montreal, 250 miles from Boston, and 280 miles from New York City. It may be a bit of a drive for some, but it’s certainly worth the travel time.

A year-round destination, Lake Placid has plenty to keep visitors happy each season. The 10 top things to do in Lake Placid are highlighted below. 

#1 Visit the Olympic Museum

Lake Placid Olympic Museum highlights the history of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic games in Lake Placid. You’ll see uniforms, and equipment (skates, helmets, hockey sticks, skating costumes, etc.) along with informational displays providing history and context. Once you’ve completed the museum (allow 30-40 minutes), walk upstairs to see the ice hockey arena where the U.S. team beat the Russian team in the nail-biter semi-final during the 1980 Winter Olympics. There’s also a gift shop on the second level. 

When visiting the museum, you’ll learn how the area became known for winter sports. It began in 1895 when Dr. Melvil Dewey, the state’s education secretary and the creator of the Dewey Decimal System, began the Lake Placid Club focusing on outdoor sports. Then in 1916, Henry Uihlein II came to the area for tuberculosis treatment and took an interest in speed skating; the area later hosted the Outdoor Speed Skating Championship. It’s an interesting history and a good place to understand the development of competitive winter sports — and to view the gear used back in those early days. 2634 Main Street, Lake Placid

#2 Visit the Olympic Ski Jump Complex

You can’t miss the Olympic Ski Jump Complex as you enter the village of Lake Placid. The two ski jumps are part of the landscape. Today this is a training center and is open year-round. Visitors can enjoy a photo exhibit of the history of ski jumping in the lodge. Also, there’s a gondola ride up to the base of the 90-meter and 120-meter jumps. Once at that level, there’s a zipline that might tempt some brave souls. Finally, there’s a glass elevator to the top of the 120-meter jump. From the top, you can peer out over the landscape in the enclosed tower; then you can step out onto a ledge to look down on the ski jump itself, imagining the excitement that the ski jumpers have when they’re getting ready for their events.

Back down on the parking lot level, there is a large pool at the base of some smaller ski jumps. This is an area where athletes can practice their aerial feats in the off-season. 5486 Cascade Road, Lake Placid

#3 Visit the Lake Placid Sliding Center

The Lake Placid Sliding Center is the site of the Olympic bobsled, luge and skeleton runs. Visitors are invited on bobsled rides. 220 Bobsled Run Lane, Lake Placid

#4 Take a scenic boat of Lake Placid Lake

Boat tours of Lake Placid (just north of Mirror Lake where the village of Lake Placid sits) are offered several times a day. The rides originate at Lake Placid Marina and Boat Tours and feature pontoon boats with a captain who narrates the ride. You’ll learn some local lore and learn about some of the private homes (“camps”) that dot the lake. You’ll also take in some gorgeous scenery as the surrounding mountains are the backdrop in all directions. If you’re staying on or close to Mirror Lake, you can walk to the marina which is between Lake Placid Lake and Mirror Lake. 24 George & Bliss Lane, Lake Placid

#5 Walk around Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake is actually the lake in the village of Lake Placid. Lake Placid Lake, the body of water, is just north of the town. The walk around the lake is just short of 3 miles, and it’s a leisurely way to enjoy the village. Note that the walk itself is on a sidewalk that rings the lake; in between the sidewalk and the lake are shops, restaurants, a public beach, and private homes. Despite the physical separation from the water, you’ll still have plenty of nice vistas of the lake along your walk.

#6 Stroll through town

Main Street has a nice variety of shops and restaurants to explore. You’ll find everything from souvenir shops to clothing and home furnishing stores. And you may be tempted by realtors’ offerings (maybe a vacation getaway home here?!) as you pass by their offices. 

#7 Take a hike!

There is an abundance of trails in the area offering varying degrees of difficulty. We chose Cobble Trail which is accessed off the loop road around Mirror Lake. If you’re staying on a property by the lake, you could easily walk to the trailhead. 

The woodland hike along Cobble Hill Trail offers two trail options (the trail splits) once you get started. The shorter way up (0.8 miles) is steep with some large boulders. The longer way up (1.3 miles) has more even terrain — although there are lots of tree roots and some rocky areas — and you’ll walk along the shore of Echo Lake. The two trail options are marked; once you get to the decision point, you can take the trail to the left for the “easier” hike. Both trails merge near the summit, at 2,300 feet, and you’ll be rewarded with a fabulous view. In the distance, you’ll be able to see the Olympic bobsled track.

There are plenty of other trails in and around Lake Placid. Check online — or ask at your hotel or inn, to find the one that suits you best.

#8 Drive up Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway

Opened in 1936, this 5-mile paved road takes you up Whiteface Mountain — New York’s 5th highest peak at 4,867 feet. Driving up Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway is a must if you want to get your bearings in the Adirondacks and enjoy incredible beauty. There are several spots along the way to pull over and enjoy the vistas; most of these spots also have a picnic table or two. Once you reach the top, park the car and have a look around. The panoramic views are breathtaking! To the northwest, you’ll see Lake Placid Lake, to the north is Montreal, and to the east is Vermont. 5021 State Route 86, Wilmington

#9 Visit John Brown Farm State Historic Site

In the shadow of the Olympic Ski Jump Complex is a peaceful farm that once belonged to abolitionist John Brown. Today you can visit John Brown Farm State Historic Site: his home, his grave, a barn, and walk the trails. 

In 1859, John Brown led a group in an attack on the U.S. Arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. He was arrested, tried, and hanged later that year. His body was returned to his farm.

This is a lovely, tranquil spot. You can walk into the home which is furnished with period pieces. There’s also a barn up the hill that has displays that recount the movement to abolish slavery. While here, consider a hike on the grounds; there are several short trails. 115 John Brown Road, Lake Placid

#10 Dig into Great Food

Lake Placid has no shortage of great eateries and many of them are on Main Street (on the west side of the lake). We especially enjoyed our delicious dinners at Caffe Rustica, Jimmy’s 21 (lakeside on Main Street), and Salt of the Earth Bistro. 

Lake Placid: Town vs. Lake

The village of Lake Placid surrounds Mirror Lake, a quiet, tranquil lake with no motorized boats allowed. The west side of Mirror Lake is the commercial district with Main Street’s hotels, shops, and restaurants; the east side is more residential with a few hotels near the southern end. 

Lake Placid Lake actually sits north of Mirror Lake. It’s 5 miles long and about 2 miles wide; 3 islands pop up in the middle of the lake. There is no commercial development here. Instead you’ll find over 200 homes (referred to as “camps” here) and associated boathouses. Some camps are clearly owned by wealthy individuals with huge structures, but there are modest dwellings, as well. The only lodging found on this lake is Lake Placid Lodge, a sprawling resort. 

There is minimal public access to Lake Placid Lake. In fact, some sections of the lake cannot be accessed by cars — there aren’t any roads in some places. So when visiting their vacation homes on the lake, homeowners who do not have road access park their cars at the marina, load up their supplies and groceries in their boats, and cruise over to their homes on the lake.

Where to Stay

The village is very walkable. If you choose your lodging on or close to Mirror Lake, you’ll be able to walk to quite a few venues. Staying close to the lake is nice because you don’t always drive when setting out for a place nearby plus you gain a good feel for the town since you’re on foot.

We stayed at the Crowne Plaza (which sits up on a hill overlooking the lake). That proximity to the lake and the downtown allowed us to walk around Mirror Lake in the morning, to the Olympic Museum, the marina for the boat ride, downtown Main Street to window shop, the trailhead for a hike up Cobble Hill, and out to dinner in town (although some restaurants will require a car). 

There are plenty of other great lodging options. We know some people who love Mirror Lake Inn. Just make sure where you rest your head at night is not far from the spots you most want to enjoy in your free time.

Nearby Attractions

The Adirondacks have plenty more to offer not far from Lake Placid. Consider these options to extend your getaway in this amazing area of New York state. They include interesting sites dating back to the French and Indian War and the American Civil War as well as inviting spas, parks, gardens, shopping, dining — and horse racing!

• Historical Sites in the New York Adirondack Mountains (including President Grant’s Cottage, Fort Ticonderoga, Fort William Henry, Saratoga Battlefield, John Brown’s Farm)
• Hudson River Area: Top Sites to Visit in Dutchess County, NY
• Saratoga National Historical Park (Saratoga Battlefield)
• Saratoga Springs: Health, History & Horses!

Final Thoughts

Our sojourn in Lake Placid was delightful. It’s a peaceful place with breathtaking scenery, lots of outdoor exercise options, and of course, winter Olympic sports history and experiences. There’s hiking, biking, boating, and swimming in the warm weather and, naturally, lots of winter-weather sports including skiing, skating, and tobogganing.

Comments

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