The Warm and Cold Weather Couples’ Guide to Lake Placid Vacations
Whether you’re visiting in the heart of winter or summer, Lake Placid delivers for couples who want to get outdoors and explore the Adirondacks.
On the Water
Cold Weather
Walk or snowshoe the 2,170-acre lake’s rim to catch sight of wheeling eagles and white-furred foxes, or rent some ice skates from the Lake Placid Skate Shop , and glide over to scenic Buck Island in the lake’s center.
Warm Weather
Lake Placid’s waters are perfect for exploring by kayak or canoe, and both are readily available from Placid Boat Rentals. You can also hop aboard the 35-foot mahogany Christie for a leisurely afternoon tour of the area’s waterways and great camps.
Climb Whiteface
Cold Weather
No mountain on the East Coast features a greater vertical drop. This gem of the Adirondacks features 87 trails for all abilities, including Cloudspin and Skyward, the two race courses for the downhill event in the 1980 Olympics. When you’re taking a breather, watch world-class athletes work at the Olympic ski jump center near the peak.
Warm Weather
The trails offer a moderately difficult day hike in nice weather, with scenic picnic spots available on the way up if you want to make it a full-day trip. If you’re not up to the trek, simply drive to the top, and it won’t impact your ability to see Montreal’s skyline some 80 miles to the north on a clear day.
Olympic Games
Cold Weather
Lake Placid has been home to two Olympics, and if you and your beau are itching to feel like medalists, put on a couple of helmets, and barrel down the side of the mountain in a tandem bobsled that reaches speeds that might get you pulled over on the highway.
Warm Weather
OK, it’s not outdoors, but the Olympic Center offers you the opportunity to skate on the same ice where the US Men’s Hockey team triumphed over the Soviet Union in the “Miracle on Ice” and ultimately won a gold medal in 1980.
Cycle the Adirondacks
Cold Weather
Drop by High Peaks Cyclery even in the snow to rent a pair of rugged Salsa fatbikes, and power up nearby 2,940-foot Mount Van Hoevenburg, where you’ll be able to conquer 4.4 miles of well-maintained trails that gradually gain elevation and a peak with stellar views.
Warm Weather
A pair of road bikes from the same cycle shop makes for the best mode of transport for the 18.5-mile Stickney Bridge loop, which takes you over covered bridges, past rivers and lakes, and over scenic Adirondack mountain passes.
Where to Stay
Even our classically unsentimental husband and wife found something awe-inspiring and romantic about the Lake Placid Lodge, and so will you once you take in its exposed beams, hand-crafted beds with impressive canopies that look like wooden bird’s nests, roaring fires, and the inventive Artisans restaurant.
