Lake Placid is the perfect destination to visit whether for a 2 day or 3 day vacation, it’s an idyllic short or long weekend getaway! 2-3 days is the perfect amount of time to be able to take in some of the key sites and breathe in all that fresh mountain air!
When I initially considered visiting Lake Placid, the first thought that came to mind was that monster horror movie from the 90’s about the crocodile that went loose in the town. While I can assure you there aren’t any man-eating crocodiles around, I went there with low expectations and came out very pleasantly surprised by how charming (and crocodile free) the city was!
Nestled in the Adirondack mountains, and surrounded by many nearby lakes, Lake Placid has many outdoor activities to offer visitors. If you’re someone that enjoys spending time in nature and a small town feel, then a Lake Placid vacation is the perfect idea for you.
What to expect in Lake Placid
It’s cool – Make sure to check the temperature in advance of your travel. When we travelled at the end of August (coming from Ottawa), it was several degrees cooler. I mean – you are in the Adirondack mountains after all!
Best time to visit – One of our guides mentioned the best time for fall foliage is end of September early October. Undoubtably surrounded by all that greenery and protected forestry, it would be gorgeous to see with all the changing of the leaves.
Expect $$ – It is a touristy town, and many of the activities are expensive. It’s a very quaint destination with a small town feel, but don’t let it fool you! Of course there are endless options of free or affordable activities to do, but just go in prepared!
How to get to Lake Placid
The drive to Lake Placid was surprisingly short and is by far the easiest option to get here, particularly if you’re coming from neighbouring Northeastern cities.
The drive down to Lake Placid, actually felt part of the experience and it was filled with beautiful scenery on your way to the destination. It’s part of the road trip experience!
If you’re travelling by car, here are some approximate navigation times:
- Montreal: 2 hours
- Burlington: 2 hours
- Ottawa: 3.5 hours
- Syracuse: 3.5 hours
- New York City: 5 hours
- Boston: 5 hours
- Toronto: 6 hours
- Pittsburgh: 10 hours
Things to do in Lake Placid
From family friendly museums, to the adventurous couple, there’s a little something in Lake Placid for everyone! Not only that but it’s a city that has beauty to be seen, regardless of the season! Some of the activities below will be weather dependent, but there’s options for every time of the year.
Boat tour
A top rated activity I found while doing my travel planning routine for this trip, was this Lake Placid Marina and Boat Tour. The reviews were good, but I couldn’t find any blog posts on the experience, but we went ahead anyways to give it a go!
I have to say, it was probably my favourite activity of the weekend and was definitely a memorable Adirondack experience. Think of this like those LA celebrity home bus tours, but instead it’s on a lake, these are the summer homes or ‘camps’ of the 1% and the celebs aren’t necessarily A list.
It was fascinating nonetheless (and motivating) to know if you invent a zipper or become CEO of a large multinational, this is where you can vacation in luxury with your 3-door boat garage!
Our guide was super knowledgeable about the past and present regulations, traditions and stories behind the homes – won’t spoil it for you, you’ll have to hear it for yourself!
It was also just serene to be out on the water, on a pontoon for an hour with the breeze of the lake and the Adirondacks in the background.
High Falls Gorge
Just a short drive from the city, close to Whiteface mountain is the beautiful High Falls Gorge. It’s a privately maintained nature park with water falls, hiking trails and river walks. It’s actually open year-round and each season brings its beauty and unique array of activities from snowshoeing to picnics.
The falls walk itself can be completed in about 30 minutes and is good for beginners, all ages and is wheelchair accessible. It’s a spot that been around since the late 1800’s so it’s beautiful to imagine how long people have been walking around there for.
However, go into this expecting for it to be overpriced for what it is (which for me personally, I find typical for US tourist attractions). It costs $12.50/person (in summer) to enter and while it is well maintained, the full walk of the falls is 30 min total.
Olympic sites
Undoubtedly, one of the most iconic places to see in Lake Placid are the Olympic sites. Did you know they hosted the Olympics – twice! From skip jumps to luge, the sites from the games have been maintained for future enjoyment.
You can get an Olympic Sites Passport, but be sure to check the website if the sites you are most interested in are available. When we went quite a few were closed for renovation, so it didn’t make sense to purchase.
Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface
I hadn’t visited a ski resort in the summertime before. It was incredible to take ride up and see the expansive mountain views and thick forestry, in all its green glory!
A short 15 minute ride up to the top and you’ll see . The gondola is only available to tourists in the summertime, if you’d like to go in the winter, make sure to bring your skis or snowboard!
Explore downtown
Take a stroll through the main downtown street and enjoy small local cafes, artesanal shops with a mix of big brand names. Behind the shops you’ll see the stunning Mirror Lake and notice how quiet it is without the sound of motorized water-crafts because they aren’t allowed on the lake. The best part is this is free and the downtown is very quaint with lots of photo opportunities!
Hiking trails
Because we were travelling with my parents and they aren’t big into long walks, we didn’t end up going to explore any of the trails, but Lake Placid is FULL of different incredible hiking spots.
Here are a few you should consider exploring:
Seasonal activities
- Kayaking on mirror lake is a popular summer activity in Lake Placid. Since no motorized vehicles are allowed on the water, there’s loads of room for water sports!
- Skiing/Snowboarding at whiteface, having been up on the top of the mountain the slopes look impressive even without snow on them!
Where to stay in Lake Placid
We booked relatively last minute and as such it does book up quickly, particularly at the tail end of summer when the city prepares for it’s flagship event, the Ironman. Unless you’re participating, it’s best to avoid it at this time and prices soar.
We stayed at the Lake Placid Inn Residences, a renovated motel that had a lovely kitchenette and honestly was a very clean and nicely decorated spot. It was close to town and near a grocery story and would definitely recommend this, it’s particularly great if you are a family travelling as they have multiple bedrooms. I could imagine this being a great apres ski destination.
Some other incredible hotels to consider for your stay:
Where to eat in Lake Placid
While you’ll see lots of big brand names when it comes to shopping, you won’t see many restaurant chains here.
- Emma’s lake Placid Creamery: So yummy, we went twice! It’s a small shop that’s always full, but it’s worth the wait!
- Soulshine bagel: Cute breakfast spot with the most unique treat – Rainbow bagels!!
- Big mountain deli & creperie: Good mix of sweet and savoury! We loved them so much we try to recreate them at home! Try the #70 the brie & brown sugar!
Overall Lake Placid is a great weekend trip for couples, families and friends alike to visit and enjoy the great outdoors!
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