I’ve never been much into the Olympics, but after a trip to Vancouver and Whistler in January I caught a bit of a bug. Anxious to keep the spirit alive as I waited for the Games to begin, I planned an early February trip to Lake Placid, NY, home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games and a place both entrenched in and proud of its Olympic history. From ‘Miracle Monday’ specials at the famous Dancing Bears Bar to the photos of champion Olympians past hanging on the walls at the High Peaks Resort to the signs all over town wishing ‘good luck’ to local Andrew Weilbrecht, member of the US Olympic Alpine Ski Team -- the Olympic ties practically hit you over the head at every turn in this tiny town in New York’s Adirondacks.
During my weekend (with my husband, Ryan) in Lake Placid, we skied, spa-ed, rode the bobsled with professionals, hung out in the hot tub at the hotel (much needed after suffering bobsled injuries), drank local beer, attended a 113-year-old winter carnival where I entered a frying pan-throwing contest (I didn’t win), and visited an ice castle. Whether you get into the Games or not, there’s plenty to do and see on a winter weekend in Lake Placid. And it’s hard to believe, but the all the friendly locals we met told us that it’s even better in the summer.
First stop on the trip was the Olympic Sports Complex. There you can bobsled, skeleton, try the biathalon, visit the Olympic Museum, ride an elevator to the top of the Olympic ski jump, and more. We chose the bobsled. Let’s just say it goes a lot faster than you think it will. So much so that the opening of my helmet was turned to the side and I was staring into blackness for the last part of the trip down the track.
Next we checked into the High Peaks Resort. The resort is right on the edge of Lake Placid’s main drag and is across from Mirror Lake. (Mirror Lake is the name of the lake located in the town of Lake Placid. Confusing, I know.)
Then it was time to sample some of Lake Placid’s local brew, Ubu Ale.
The next day, we took a short ride over to Saranac Lake to the annual Winter Carnival, the longest-running event of its kind in the East – 113 years to be exact. Not sure what year the frying pan toss began, but it was too funny to pass up.The entry fee was $2. This is not a great photo, but we weren't allowed to get too close for fear of getting hit in the head with a frying pan. Obviously.
After the Carnival, we sampled Saranac’s local brew and then headed to the Ice Palace to take photos.
We’d done lots of activities, so it was time to relax at the spa at the famed Mirror Lake Inn. The massage therapist was great at avoiding my injured bobsledding arm!
After the massage and a soak in the hot tub, it was time to head to happy hour at the famous Dancing Bears bar. There are $2 pints from 4pm to 7pm every day.
The next morning it was off to nearby Whiteface Mountain for skiing. Whiteface boasts it has the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies. Maybe it was the cold weather or the early hour, but Whiteface was empty and we got in several runs before calling it quits and making the five-hour drive back to NYC.
