A Weekend in Lake Placid

 

I recently got home from the most wonderful weekend away with friends. I cannot recommend visiting Lake Placid enough! What a wonderful place. Relaxing, but with plenty to do. It was perfect for a long weekend. I am already planning a trip back, that is how much I loved it. I have spent a good amount of time in the Adirondacks, as my husband is from the area, but I had never been to Lake Placid. 

Where we Stayed

We stayed at the Placid Bay Hotel. It was very affordable, had nice remodeled rooms, a pool, kayaks paddle boards and canoes to use as part of your stay, and a fire pit. The outdoor area really sold it for me. We got out on the water twice, and there is access to Lake Placid proper. One of my favorite things was waking up early to sit on the dock and watch the sunrise. It did not disappoint. After watching the sun come up, I went out in a kayak with one of my friends who went paddle boarding. It was so beautiful with mist still  on the water and cool morning temperatures. If your hotel doesn't have access to water spots there were lots of places to rent them on Lake Placid and nearby Mirror Lake. I definitely recommend it. 

Things to do in Lake Placid 

The town of Lake Placid actually sits on Mirror Lake. Luckily our hotel was walking distance to the shops and restaurants which was great. I loved how easy it was to get around. When visiting Lake Placid you MUST

1. Go to Emma's to get ice cream. We went twice. I got the Maple Creme soft serve both times. The first night we walked with our cones over to the park looking out over Mirror Lake. The second time we ate as we walked back to our hotel after a fun night out. 

2. Cocktails and Dinner at Smoke Signals and The Cottage. I was so impressed with the waterfront dining options in Lake Placid. Both nights we got to enjoy waterfront dining with little to no wait. Smoke Signals for BBQ was incredible. The second night we went to The Cottage. There was a wait, but we got cocktails and enjoyed them sitting in Adirondack Chairs looking out over Mirror Lake. We sat right on the water and the food was very good as well. 

3. Shopping! So many fun shops to pop into. 

                                               

                        

Outdoor Activities

There is not shortage of outdoor activities to do in Lake Placid. We had one full day in the area so we did two different activities before heading back to the hotel to get out on the lake and enjoy the pool. 

1. Whiteface Mountain. The views around Lake Placid is dominated by Whiteface Mountain. When we discovered how short the drive from town was to the mountain, we decided to check it out. Since most of us are not avid hikers, we decided to take the Cloudsplitter Gondola to the top of Little Whiteface. There is also a drive to the top of Whiteface, and of course hiking is an option. The views from the Gondola and of course at the top were breathtaking, but I have to be honest that I found the Gondola ride nerve wracking. I was not expecting it to be so high or steep, so if you are at all unsure about heights, I would not recommend it. I am glad I did it, but I do not think I will be doing it again haha. 

2. Get out on the Water! We opted for a morning boat tour on Lake Placid, and I am so glad we did! I was not expecting the homes on the lake to have so much history or beauty, so on top of beautiful views from the water, we saw beautiful homes and learned a lot about the history of the area. I highly recommend it! 

If you love beautiful, relaxing places with lake and mountain views, you must visit Lake Placid. I cannot wait to go back! I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!