Lake placid summer vacation
Lake placid is a beautiful place to visit. It has a lot of attractions and attractions that attract tourists from all over the world. The lake placid is the first place to visit in the state of new york. It is located in the southern part of new york state, which is between the towns of quogue and montauk.
The weather around lake placid is very pleasant during most parts of the year. It has mild winters and hot summers. The temperatures during summer can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit while winters are usually cold with temperatures ranging from -10 degrees Fahrenheit to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lake placid summers are the most relaxing and fun to be had. They are filled with activities that will make your family happy. There are many things you can do in lake placid, but here are some of the best ones:
The best time to visit Lake placid is from early spring through late fall because this period offers warm sunny days with cooler nights than other seasons do here at Lake placid. There are several outdoor activities that you can participate in when you visit here such as hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing and boating among others. You can also rent boats or jet skis for your trip here if you want something fun to do while visiting Lake placid by yourself or with friends!
THINGS TO DO IN LAKE PLACID, NY THIS SUMMER
PADDLING ON MIRROR LAKE
The downtown part of Lake Placid is actually located on Mirror Lake, although Lake Placid is just a short hop away. As the name suggests, Mirror Lake is reflective and calm, making it a perfect spot for paddling, especially since motorized boats are not permitted. We stayed at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, so we had free access to their kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and rowboats right off their private beach.
However, even if you are staying out of town, you can still rent equipment at the Eastern Mountain Sports or Mirror Lake Boat Rental and launch right from there. The running path around Mirror Lake is only 2.7 miles, so the lake itself is no more than a mile in length. You can easily explore the whole lake in an hour or two.
BOATING ON LAKE PLACID
The actual Lake Placid is much larger and more exclusive. Some of the houses on the lake and its islands are only accessible by boat. I would recommend renting a motorboat (if you have a boating license) or signing up for one of the boat tours to get out on the lake just to gawk and the gorgeous private family “camps” along the shore.
We had an amazing time tubing with ADK Aquatics. You can sign up for a 1.5-hour session to try water tubing, water skiing, wakeboarding, or simply tour the lake. We visited Echo Bay, saw Whiteface Mountain from the lake, and had an absolute blast tubing. The safety precautions and service of the team was top-notch.
OLYMPIC SKI JUMP
Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980. The 1980 winter Olympics was when the United States defeated Russia in Men’s Hockey, known as the “Miracle on Ice” so the nostalgia is strong.
On our first trip to Lake Placid, we visited the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex and since then, they have expanded to also include a zip line ride. You can take a gondola up to the top of the mountain and the base of the ski jumps.
From there, the newly-remodeled glass elevator takes you to the sky deck of the 120-meter ski jumping tower. The views from here of the Adirondack High Peaks and Lake Placid are amazing, but what really makes your stomach drop is looking down the length of the ski jump. You will have even greater respect for Olympic ski jumpers after this birds-eye view.
There are other Olympic Venues throughout Lake Placid, and if you are visiting at another time, it may pay to purchase the Olympic Sites Passport. These are currently not for sale because many venues such as the Lake Placid Olympic Museum and the Olympic Center were closed for much of the summer of 2020 or visitation was limited.
WHITEFACE CLOUDSPLITTER GONDOLA
Whiteface is one of the more well-known ski resorts in New York, but like many resorts, it isn’t just a one-season destination. The six-passenger Cloudsplitter Gondola ride reopened just in time for our visit.
The Gondola carries you from the Main Base Lodge to the top of Little Whiteface in fifteen minutes, offering beautiful views along the way. Due to current safety concerns, you travel only with those in your party, and facemasks are required throughout the visit. The gondola ride takes you over mountain streams and rock faces until you reach the top, where you can enjoy the observation deck and picnic area.
On a clear day, you can see as far as Lake Champlain to the east, the tallest peaks in New York to the south, as well as Lake Placid and the village.
HIGH FALLS GORGE
If you love chasing waterfalls, then High Falls Gorge packs a punch. Otherwise, this can be a somewhat overpriced tourist attraction for the time you will spend here. You can choose a 30-minute walk along the gorge to view waterfalls from a series of overlooks and bridges, and/or explore the slightly longer nature trail through the woods.
They have done a good job managing traffic flow this summer to ensure one-way traffic. That combined with face mask requirements and social distancing guidelines of one party per platform make a safe way to explore what could be a very crowded attraction (it just makes it a bit slow going.)
The waterfalls are beautiful but you can get somewhat similar views at different parts of the Western Branch of the Ausable River if you drive along Route 86 and are willing to get out and explore.
Just keep in mind that they are only open five days a week in the summer (closed Wednesday and Thursday) and the cafe is currently closed so be sure to plan accordingly. It is very easy to combine the Whiteface Gondola and High Falls Gorge in one morning or afternoon as they are located just minutes apart.
SANTA’S WORKSHOP AT THE NORTH POLE
If you continue further up Highway 86 to Wilmington, New York, you can then take a left to head to the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway. Before you arrive at the toll booth, you will pass through North Pole, NY, home to Santa’s Workshop.
Unfortunately, Santa is not in residence this summer, but you can still stop into the Post Office gift shop and mail a postcard from the North Pole. In other years, families with young kids or those that love Christmas all year long will enjoy a stop to see Santa and enjoy the rides and attractions.
WHITEFACE VETERANS’ MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
If you are looking for a scenic drive or epic views without challenging hikes, the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway delivers. This is a toll road, so it is a bit of a steep price to pay for those views, but the five-mile road isn’t too challenging (unlike Mount Washington in NH) and offers plenty of pull-outs and scenic viewpoints to make it worth the while.
For summer 2020, some of the attractions at the top are limited, including access to the summit, the glass elevator, and the castle. The capacity is also limited to 70 cars at a time — which means fewer people and less traffic for enjoying the drive!
Be sure to make your pit stops along the way up, as most of the parking lots and pull-outs are on that side of the road. The views keep getting better but you get different angles so be sure to stop at a few spots along the drive.
PICNIC BY THE AUSABLE RIVER
The drive along Highway 86 crisscrosses the Ausable River and offers plentiful opportunities for hiking, fishing, and wading in the river. Pick a spot where there is parking in one of the pull-offs (this is easier if you are visiting mid-week) and walk down to the river to enjoy a picnic along the river bank or the large rocks that are scattered throughout.
Places to Eat with Kids in Lake Placid
1. Dancing Bears Restaurant
It’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner at this Main Street American bistro popular with kids. Enjoy omelets, pancakes, artisanal burgers, signature pizzas, salads, and appetizers.
2. The Breakfast Club
The first meal of the day is available all day at this popular Main Street eatery. Of course, there are also burgers, salads, chicken dishes, and for the adults, specialty coffees.
It’s pizza with a view of Mirror Lake at Ere’s Pizza.
3. Ere’s Pizza
Overlooking Mirror Lake, this popular Italian bistro offers eat-in or takeout service. Just be advised Covid-regulations restrict the number of diners permitted to eat inside. Locals rave about the pizza.
It’s hard to make a choice with all the flavors at Emma’s Lake Placid Creamery.
4. Emma’s Lake Placid Creamery
Kids love this downtown ice cream parlor whose frozen creations hit the spot even on the coldest nights. Enjoy hard and soft ice cream options; the truly daring will want to try the cheesecake on a stick.
You won’t have a hard time filling up a bag of treats at A Pinch or a Pound!
5. A Pinch or a Pound
This artisanal candy shop is without question worth a visit. Enjoy old-fashioned favorites, sour and gummy candies, chocolate, taffy, and more.
