Lake Placid – An Olympic City Revisited

July 9, 2023 by admin

This article is a stub of the following post:

From Plattsburg to Lake Placid: A Foray Into the Heart of the Adirondacks

What to do in Lake Placid?
Conclusion

What to do in Lake Placid?

The Adirondacks are the land of the endless lakes, forests and untamed mountain ranges. It has hosted many Olympic’s most recently when the region peaked in 80’s. Unfortunately it feels little forgotten now but still holds a lot of charm. Beyond the flashiness of that period, Placid holds a genuine charm and lots for you to do. From cultural activities to the great outdoors, welcome to Lake Placid.

Fun Fact: The town has a horror movie named after it!

Mt. Marcy, Cascade Mountain and Other Nearby Hikes

South of placid you will find some fantastic hike available via the parking lot near the Adirondack Lodje at Heart Lake. These include Mt. Marcy, a mountain forged in American myth-making and the highest mountain in New York State (a place associated with president Teddy Roosevelt). There are also great trails from this location leading to Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Algonquin Peak as well as Mt Jo.

You could always hike up to the weather station at Whiteface or do one of the many other nearby 46’s such as Cascade Mountain, a personal favourite.

Saranac Lake

One of the most beautiful villages in New York State, Saranac is perhaps prettier then Placid but also less busy. Known for its “Cure Cottages”, and a sanitarium for Tuberculosis patients, you can read more about it here.

Whiteface (Winter and Summer)

Whiteface mountain offers some great winter skying as well as some option for hiking over the summer months. The famous ski hill is also home to the Whiteface weather station offering fantastic views of Lake Placid itself via a depression era road open during a part of the fall and summer months. For more information on the famed mountain click here.

Olympic Facilities

For those who enjoy sporting history, Lake Placid is a must see! One of my first stops would be to the hockey rink in town where the famed “Miracle on Ice” took place. This was the famous game at the 1980 Winter Olympics where the amateur athletes from the United States beat the superpower team from the Soviet Union. You will find plenty of other facilities in town as well, many have been recently renovated! The rink itself is now a museum dedicated to the Olympics.

For those interested in the alpine sport, you will be able to take tour of the old ski jumping facilities. They have not yet been torn down and seem to be preserved for the time being.

Main Street and the City

Although the main street in placid cannot rival nearby Saranac, it is still a beautiful place with many worthwhile businesses and restaurants lining it.

There are two landmark churches in town, the first is the iconic Adirondack Community Church, built of stone by the lake at the entrance to the village.

The second is the quaint, St Eustace Episcopal Church, a wood building with a stone tower that looms above the main street.

For those staying overnight the city still has a working movie theater, a beautiful building with a faux neoclassical facade. The building is called the Palace Theater and dates from 1926.

Lakefront

Right off the main street you will find the public lakefront, complete with a bandstand for those warm summer nights.

In the fall you will get some nice foliage but in summer the lake is filled with kayaks and gentle water craft.

Indulge in a Brew

There are quite a few bars in town I could recommend but I’ll stick to the microbrews for this post. Options have improved since I started coming to Placid which is great! My current favorite is the Great Adirondack Brewing Company, located on the main strip. Once of their classics is the Whiteface Stout, a 7% nitro tap masterpiece. They do experiment a little and there is always something new to try, especially if you like IPA’s and Sours.

If you don’t mind driving, there is also the delicious Big Slide Brewery outside of the core and the rather plain but iconic Lake Placid Pub & Brewery by the lake, with their famous UBU beer. I’ve personally enjoyed all of these, but my choice does lie with the Great Adirondack Brewing Company.

Lake Placid Toboggan Chute (Winter)

For those enjoying the winter’s snow, here is just one more activity to add to your list! Downtown has an old toboggan chute for you to go sliding down!

Jack’s Dam and the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society

The south end of the city has some pretty neat old homes and churches.

Makes sure to stop at the pretty jacks dam.

Continuing along this road will take you to an old train station. Open seasonally it serves as a small museum for the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society

John Brown’s Grave and Farmhouse

For history buffs, I recommend a visit to John Brown’s grave and farmhouse site just south of the city, where the ski jumps are located. I had no idea this was here for the longest time and I only came across it after multiple visits to the city. The abolitionist’s grave is never a busy attraction but makes for an interesting read about the life of African American farmers in upstate New York. For more information you can click here.

Ausable Chasm (Summer)

This family’s friendly adventure allows you to enter a natural wonder of the Adirondacks, a deep rock cut in the Ausable river. You can tube it, hike it or go it by rope the choice is yours.

For more information click here.

High Falls Gorge

This powerful waterfall on the Ausable river is a sight to be seen, even if the private owner does overcharge a little for it!

Conclusion

There is nothing quite like an Adirondack getaway. If it is your first time in the region you will have to visit Lake Placid, whether camping or looking to stay in town. With a good selection of bars and restaurants, Lake Placid can also boast to being in the heart of everything. It will only grow on you from here!