WINTER ACTIVITIES IN AND AROUND LAKE PLACID VILLAGE

The Lake Placid Retreat is a five minute walk to charming Lake Placid Village.  If you feel like taking a day off from the mountains, you can enjoy a really pleasant bit of small town America just by wandering down Main Street.  Below is a list of activities and a selection of some of the town's better restaurants, cafes and pubs:

Dog Sledding: Just off Main Street, Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours offers reasonably priced excursions across frozen Mirror Lake. 518 891 6239.

Indoor and Outdoor Skating: Lake Placid Village has several excellent ice skating venues that offer open skating sessions for all ages. The most visible place to work up some speed on the ice is open-air Olympic Speed skating oval located on Main Street just before the turn off to Route 73 and Keene. There are also several indoor rinks in the 1980 Olympic arena and another in the 1932 Olympic skating center. Skate rental and sharpening is available at the shack right next to the Olympic oval. For hours of operation call: 518 523 1655.

Massage/spa treatment at the Mirror Lake Inn:  The Mirror Lake Inn is located just down the hill in the direction of the Village.  You can enjoy any number of spa comforts there that includes use of their whirlpool, steam room and sauna.  It's a good idea to book treatments in advance of your trips, especially weekends.  Sessions run run $60-$100 depending on how thoroughly you want to be exfoliated. Tel 518 523 2544.

Shop the outlet stores. The Gap, Bass, and Geoffrey Beane are all excellent values.  The town also has numerous arts and crafts stores selling traditional Adirondack gifts.

Major sporting events.  There's usually something going on including ice-skating competitions and exhibitions, ski-jumping, bobsled, downhill/slalom, ice hockey,  etc.  Major athletic events that are held in town include: The Iron Man Triathalon (July), The ESPN Great Outdoor Games (July), The Lake Placid Horse Shows (late June/early July), The Goodwill Games, World Cup winter sports competitions--the list goes on and on. . .

The Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Wilderness Railroad.  This is a short train ride that goes from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake through the woods.

Drive up or ski lift up Whiteface Mountain.  A road goes most of the way to the top and an elevator takes you the rest of the way.  To get there drive out route 86 toward Wilmington and follow signs for the Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway.  You can also take a ski lift to the top which has lovely views and still usually operates even in the rain.

The Movies.  On main street.  3 screens, usually with a children's movie playing. 

Burlington and Montreal.  Both are about 2-2.5 hours away.  Both are fun and make a nice day trip.  Bring your passport if you're planning on visiting Canada.

RESTAURANTS 

The Cottage.  We think this cozy restaurant has the best apres ski vibe in town (see photo above).  It has decent sandwiches, excellent Guinness on tap and hot drinks like hot buttered rum.  A great view of Mirror Lake, a nice outdoor terrace and a fireplace make this a lovely place for lunch, dinner or a light snack.

The Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood Company.  Good solid meat and lobsters right on Main Street.  Not too pricey and not pretentious.  They have a good selection of local beers.

The Brown Dog Deli.  On Main Street just across from the Hilton.  Good sandwiches.  Not a bad wine bar and tapas to boot.

The Mirror Lake Inn Restaurant.  Pricey but very pleasant with a great view of Mirror Lake.  The best value here is the buffet breakfast with great local specialties like pumpkin pancakes with Adirondack maple syrup.   

The Veranda. Nice view atop Hillcrest Avenue across from the Holiday Inn overlooking the town.  This is where Bill and Hillary Clinton dined when they came through a few years back.

Lake Placid Pub and Brewery. This bar has a signature local beer called Ubu Ale that is one of the best microbrews in the Northeast. There is a wide selection of other ales and lagers both in the nonsmoking lounge upstairs and in the English-style pub downstairs. Open late.

Mr. Mikes.  A good elbows-on-the-table, pizza-and-beer joint.  Excellent for kids.  Next to the bowling ally near the route 73/route 86 intersection. Best of all, they deliver.

Casa del Sol.  An excellent Mexican restaurant in the Town of Saranac Lake.  About a 15 minute drive. 

Reservations: TEL 646 239 2114 / EMAIL reservations@lakeplacidretreat.com
To see if a particular date is available please visit our reservation calendar


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