Things to do in Lake Placid, New York

December 29, 2020 Lake Placid, NY 12946, USA


First timers guide to Lake Placid, New York during the winter season.

Lake Placid, New York.

Lake Placid is a small village located in New York's Adirondack region. It's home to not one but two Winter Olympic Games, the first in 1932, and the latest in 1980. Lake Placid is located in what is called the Tri-lake region which includes Lake Placid, Saranc Lake and Tupper Lake. It's quite a ride from New York City, five hour car ride to be exact. You could also extend your trip and visit Montreal, Canada since it only two hours away. This a great location to visit all year around with many things to do for solo travelers, families, couples, and friends!


I want to explore more of New York State beyond visiting the Catskills, which I usually tend to visit more. Lake Placid is a perfect way to see more of upstate New York. I didn't know what to expect when visiting and loved my time here so much. I'm not much of a winter vacation kind of gal but I enjoyed my time despite the cold weather. The small town vibe with gorgeous scenic views is the perfect place for  disconnect. I would love to come back to Lake Placid during the autumn season to see fall foliage in this area. Here is what we did during my time here!

*There's many activities to do in Lake Placid depending on the season you visit, so this isn't a complete list of things to do there. This was just what I got up to during my short visit.*


Stay in a Resort.

There are so many accommodation options in Lake Placid for all budgets. On this trip I stayed at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort that is situated with spectacular views of Mirror Lake. I also liked that it was in walking distance to many shops and eateries on the main road. We visited just before the holiday season kicked in full swing so there were already gorgeous holiday decoration all around the resort. It gave the property an extra cozy and warm feel. We also witnessed a coat of snow during our stay so it really put us in the winter spirit. The staff were so helpful during our stay. I loved our spacious room with a fireplace and enjoying all the amenities this property had to offer. If you want a more detailed post on my experience at this property (click here) to read more!


Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort Lake Placid


Dine at Generations.

I loved having breakfast at this restaurant! Its actually owned by the family that owns Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort! The food is sourced locally which is part of their sustainable values. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner but could only speaks for their breakfast. I definitely recommend ordering the Hasselhoff, Alpine Rancheros and the North Country Burrito. The service was so amazing and everyone was friendly and gave us great recommendations on things to do whilst here.


Where to eat in Lake Placid, NY, Generations Tap & Grill, Breakfast in Lake Placid, NY

Generations Tap & Grill, Places to eat in Lake Placid NY, Lake Placid NY

Shop Local.

What I enjoyed most was seeing all the local mom & pop stores on the main street. Through the pandemic these businesses were hit the hardest. I'm a firm believer in supporting small businesses when you travel locally and abroad! We ended up purchasing some Lake Placid sweaters from the store called Critters. It's a family owned business and they have huge assortment of awesome souvenirs and a great gift shop located within the Alpine mall. It was nice to stroll around and check out specialty stores and gift shops that we weren't familiar with back home.


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Visit Olympic Sites.

One of the main focal points of interests when visiting Lake Placid is visiting the Olympic sites. They are very proud of being an Olympic town since you will see signs and posters everywhere while you're driving or walking around. As I visited during the pandemic, you had to get to have scheduled timed ticket to enter certain attractions and wasn't able to get one during our stay.  I have to come back to be able to check these places out. There is a Oylmpic Sites Passport which gives you access to all sites which can save you some money if you want to see multiple sites during your trip. Here are a few you can go visit:

  • Olympic Sports Center
  • Olympic Sports Complex
  • Olympic Jumping Complex
  • Olympic Museum

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Visit Whiteface Mountain.

Whiteface mountain is actually the fifth highest mountain in New York. On a clear day you can see views of the Adirondack region, Vermont and Montreal, Canada. It has the greatest vertical drop in the East more than Aspen, Colorado or Lake Louise in Alberta and Snowbird in Utah. If you enjoy to ski, there are 288 skiable acres of diverse trails on Whiteface Mountain.

We drove around 25 minutes to get to Whiteface mountains. Unfortunately since it did snow while being there, we weren't able to do the infamous scenic drive through Whiteface mountain. The road was closed and the toll area was blocked. That didn't stop me from hopping out the car and admiring the gorgeous views at the base of the mountain.  All the pine trees had freshly coated snow, truly looked unreal. It was like a winter wonderland postcard.



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Comment Below,
Have you visited Lake Placid before?

28 comments

  1. Great recap of things to do in Lake Placid New York. My best friend went years ago and absolutely loved it. Definitely on my bucket list!

    Debbie

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  2. Oh wow, what a gorgeous place! I am not a fan of the cold and snow but can handle it for a few days to visit somewhere like this.

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  3. Its beautiful in winter. The olympic site look great too. Im sure I will have a lovely time here.

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  4. Wow! The foods looks really delicious! Seeing those wonderful pictures I know it was an amazing experience!

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  5. Nnniiiccceeeee...I am so staying at a resort while I am here. It's been a while and Lake Placid looks so beautiful from here.

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  6. Lake placid in winter omg!!! Gorgeous!!! I would love to spend a weekend there, that would be amazing...

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  7. That resort has some gorgeous views! Also that restaurant looks so good, thanks for sharing all of these spots.

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  8. It looks beautiful there. The golden arrow lakeside resort sound like it's really well located. It helps to be near shops and restaurants when you go on holiday.

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  9. Lake Placid looks so beautiful! I would love to visit there.

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  10. I live in the Capital Region and went to Lake Placid many years ago. I would love to return and check it out. I've never been there in the winter and a lot of our friends go there. Looks beautiful!

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  11. The snowy background looks very beautiful and magical! Thanks for introducing us the Lake Placid NY, and maybe one day we can visit this place even in a different season.

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  12. Looks like a great trip. Beautiful and relaxing.

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  13. Everything about this place is amazing and love the decoration. The food also look yummy.

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  14. Those are some wonderful selection of things to do in Lake Placid New York. Been there several times but will have to do some of those.

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  15. This post is very creative I like your content .keep sharing this kind of post.

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  16. Your tips and advice are always practical and actionable. Thanks for making complex topics easy to understand.

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