New York
Lake Placid is the smallest town ever to host two Winter Olympics, and it still looks and feels like it: a single lakeside Main Street, a 1980 rink where a group of American college kids beat the Soviet Union, ski jumps rising over the trees, a bobsled track that sends visitors down the same ice the champions use, and Whiteface Mountain standing over it all with the biggest vertical drop in the East.
Around the village the Adirondack Park spreads out in every direction: the 46 High Peaks, the cliffs and gorges of the Ausable River, the historic cure cottages of Saranac Lake, the natural history museum at the Wild Center, and, an hour or two south and east, the steamboats of Lake George, the ramparts of Fort Ticonderoga and the racetrack and spa town of Saratoga Springs. This guide organizes the region by what you actually want to do, which are the Olympic sites, the mountains, the lakes and the history, with 20 experiences, 10 places to stay across Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Lake George and Saratoga Springs, and six guides that cover itineraries, seasons, food and family trips.
Olympic Center and the Miracle on Ice Rink
The 1980 Rink where the United States beat the Soviet Union and the 1932 arena beside it, plus the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, public skating and the Olympic Oval across the street. The one stop that explains why this village exists.
Olympic Jumping Complex
The 90-meter and 120-meter ski jumps rising above the village, with a glass elevator and chairlift to the top, a view across the High Peaks and, in summer, athletes training on plastic-covered ramps.
Mirror Lake and Main Street
A one-mile loop around a clear mountain lake, a Main Street of shops, bakeries and brewpubs facing the water, and the village's famous winter scenes. The free, walkable center of every Lake Placid trip.
John Brown Farm State Historic Site
The grave and farmhouse of the abolitionist John Brown outside Lake Placid, set in a quiet meadow beneath Mount Marcy and Algonquin, a peaceful place with a powerful story and views of the High Peaks.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The 1980 Rink where the United States beat the Soviet Union and the 1932 arena beside it, plus the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, public skating and the Olympic Oval across the street. The one stop that explains why this village exists.
The 90-meter and 120-meter ski jumps rising above the village, with a glass elevator and chairlift to the top, a view across the High Peaks and, in summer, athletes training on plastic-covered ramps.
Drive the five-mile Veterans Memorial Highway to near the summit of Whiteface, walk or ride to the top of the fifth-highest peak in New York, and ride the Cloudsplit Gondola from the base in Wilmington for a 360-degree view.
The 1980 Olympic alpine venue and the biggest vertical drop in the East, with more than 3,000 feet of skiing, long groomers, steep expert terrain and a gondola, plus cross-country and snowshoe options around Lake Placid.
Ride a real Olympic bobsled track with a professional pilot, try the mountain coaster, and explore cross-country trails at the sports complex that has hosted the 1932 and 1980 Games.
FreeA one-mile loop around a clear mountain lake, a Main Street of shops, bakeries and brewpubs facing the water, and the village's famous winter scenes. The free, walkable center of every Lake Placid trip.
Short, rewarding hikes in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks: Cascade Mountain's bare summit, the family-friendly Mount Jo and the shoreline of Heart Lake, all within a short drive of Lake Placid.
Boardwalks and bridges above a rock-walled gorge on the Ausable River, with waterfalls, pools and a short, easy walk that suits all ages. A beautiful and accessible rainy-day-or-any-day stop beside Whiteface.
The Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks: a mile-long sandstone gorge with a rim walk, bridges, a raft or tube ride through the canyon, and adventure options for families, about an hour from Lake Placid.
FreeThe grave and farmhouse of the abolitionist John Brown outside Lake Placid, set in a quiet meadow beneath Mount Marcy and Algonquin, a peaceful place with a powerful story and views of the High Peaks.
One of America's oldest theme parks, a small, sweet, storybook village in Wilmington with rides, reindeer, Santa himself and Christmas cheer even in summer. A classic for families with younger children.
A self-guided, smartphone-led scavenger hunt through the village, with riddles, photo challenges and local history that turns a Main Street stroll into a game for families and groups.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Mirror Lake / Village Center
The village's classic lakeside resort, a full-service inn on the shore of Mirror Lake with a destination spa, indoor and outdoor pools, fine dining and a short walk to Main Street and the Olympic Center.
Check rates →Lake Placid Shoreline
A rustic-luxury Adirondack lodge on the shore of Lake Placid itself, with great-camp style rooms and cabins, stone fireplaces, a lakeside restaurant and a quiet, secluded feeling a few minutes from the village.
Check rates →North Elba / Whiteface Area
A big, comfortable family resort of suites with kitchens and fireplaces, pools, a spa, a game room and a theater, a few minutes from Lake Placid and close to Whiteface Mountain.
Check rates →Lake Placid / Golf Area
A large, dependable resort-style hotel with mountain views, an indoor pool and golf access, set slightly outside the village center and a good fit for groups, events and families who want brand-standard comfort.
Check rates →Mirror Lake / Main Street
A lakefront hotel right on Main Street with its own dock and beach, an indoor pool, lake-view balcony rooms and the best walkable location in Lake Placid, a classic for first visits.
Check rates →Lake George Village
A large hotel on the south shore of Lake George beside the historic fort, with indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants, lake views and a walk to the beach, steamboats and village.
Check rates →Lake Placid Village Edge
A value-minded, modern chain hotel near the village with breakfast included, comfortable rooms and easy access to the Olympic sites, a practical choice for skiers, families and budget-aware visitors.
Check rates →Downtown Saranac Lake
A restored 1927 downtown hotel in Saranac Lake with a grand ballroom, a historic lobby and walkable access to shops, breweries and the lakes, a stylish alternative to Lake Placid fifteen minutes away.
Check rates →Lake Flower / Saranac Lake
A waterfront hotel on Lake Flower in Saranac Lake with lake-view rooms, a dock and easy access to downtown, Lake Placid and the Wild Center, a good-value base on the water.
Check rates →Broadway / Downtown Saratoga Springs
A restored Victorian hotel on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, with period details, a courtyard pool and a walk to the shops, restaurants and the Spa State Park, the elegant base for a Saratoga stay.
Check rates →Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Olympic Center and the Miracle on Ice RinkStay
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Lake PlacidLake Placid Village Edge
Do
Olympic Jumping ComplexStay
Mirror Lake Inn Resort and SpaMirror Lake / Village Center
Do
Mirror Lake and Main StreetStay
Golden Arrow Lakeside ResortMirror Lake / Main Street
While you are there
Concerts, shows and games are on sale in the coming months, from stadium nights to small rooms. Our sister site Purveyor lists them with dates, venues and seats.
Also nearby: Plattsburgh
A three-day plan that fits the Olympic venues, a mountain summit, a lake day and a gorge into a small village, with sequencing tips for weather, crowds and tickets.
How to choose between Mirror Lake, the Whiteface area, Saranac Lake, Lake George and Saratoga Springs, with trade-offs on walkability, price and atmosphere.
How to see the Olympic Center, the ski jumps, the bobsled track and Whiteface, with ticket tips, sequencing and what is worth skipping.
A season-by-season guide to the Adirondacks, covering summer, fall color, winter sports, mud season and what is open when.
Which side trips are worth the drive, how long they take, and how to combine them into loops that make sense.
The best things to do in Lake Placid with children, from bobsleds and ski jump elevators to otters, waterfalls and Santa's Workshop, with age tips and rainy-day backups.
