3 Days in Lake Placid

                                                  3 Days in Lake Placid 

This trip was a bit bumpy prior to leaving.  We were originally booked to go to Burlington, VT. About a month before arrival we were called by our hotel that they had to cancel us because our hotel was closing and turning into apartments!  We decided to just choose a new hotel.  Then, about 2 weeks before we were scheduled to leave we found out that our city had been very naughty (starting with our local college), and we were now a "Red County" for Vermont travel.  We were thinking of waiting to see if Cortland could start behaving...but decided that wasn't going to happen.  So...we changed our hotel to Lake Placid, and started researching things to do there for 3 days instead.  We did consider the fact that we would be entering Lake Placid from a red county.  We weighed our behaviors, and decided that we do wear masks, social distance, wash our hands,  and stay out of crowds.  It was the correct decision.  We did not carry the virus with us to Lake Placid. 

We spent 3 days in Lake Placid, October 20-22.  Overall, the weather was not great...but it was not bad.  We were able to do everything that we planned to do, despite the on and off rain. We were definitely due for less than perfect...all of our other summer trips the weather was really outstanding. We dressed for the weather, and carried on!

Our 4 1/2 hour drive to Lake Placid was largely foggy.  For a good hour we were on roads in the Adirondacks where we did not see another car.   I guess people weren't out and about!

Big Slide Brewery:  The first stop when we arrived into town was Big Slide.  This was absolutely my favorite meal of the trip, and we ate at a lot of good places.  Big Slide is farm to table...and fantastic.  The lobster for my lobster roll arrived at 8:30 AM that day.  Cute place, great ambience!! They have outside dining, dining in a large heated tent, or dining inside.  

Hampton Inn & Suites Lake Placid: We were able to check in on the app and park our car.  Our room wasn't quite ready, but we just wanted to park there.  This hotel, located on the southern tip of Mirror Lake is a perfect location.  Walking to everything really.  Our room 524 had amazing views of Mirror Lake from the balcony. We had great breakfasts that we ordered from a server who filled our plate for us.  We were able to eat in the massive lobby.  There is a lobby bar which we simply ran out of time to try!!

Mirror Lake:  Mirror Lake is the signature center of Lake Placid.  A wonderful 2.7 mile paved walking path goes thru the village and around the lake. The northern end of the walking path has a connection to Lake Placid itself. Each day we were there we walked the lake.  We loved it all...even with the rain and clouds!!

Goose Watch Winery: On the way back to the hotel from the walk around Mirror Lake we stopped in here for a wine tasting.  The young lady was very sweet, and we bought 4 bottles. 

Lake Placid Pub and Brewery:  Located literally right next to our hotel, we enjoyed dinner here on our first night.  The place is very cute, COVID precautions were in effect.  We ate upstairs next to a great fireplace.  Relaxing end to our first night in LP. 

John Brown Farm State Historic Site:  We drove out here the next morning.  It was only a couple miles out of the village.  This place is so relevant in 2020.  Although it was raining, we walked the grounds a bit taking in the history.  When we travel we like to explore historical places in the area.  We learned so much that we wished we had already known.  The Memorial Garden was especially somber and moving. 

Olympic Ski Jump:  Had we been here on a weekend, we could have ridden the Gondola that looked like a great time.  We saw the ski jump that was not open...but the massive site was awe inspiring.  Even from the ground it looked super scary...I can't imagine the adrenaline rush being up at the top preparing to go down for a ski jump.  Weekends you can also take an elevator to the top of the ski jump.

Great Adirondack Brewery:  We drove back to the hotel and parked, and walked into the village to have lunch here.  We ate out in a heated tent.  It was raining pretty hard. The beers were pretty good, the food was OK...nothing spectacular. While we were eating, the rain stopped and there was a peek of sun. We decided it was time for our Mirror Lake walk and exploring!

Smoke Signals:  When you mention Lake Placid this is the place everyone tells you to go.  It opens at 4 daily at this time.  It does get busy, but the night we went there was not a line at 4:30.  Great BBQ place!!  Quintessential Lake Placid.  Our server was fantastic.  Lots of space between tables, thus the long lines!!  We heard that Thurman Thomas from the Buffalo Bills had been in there 2 days earlier for dinner...popular place!!

Lake Placid Olympic Museum:  The next morning we did our last walk around the lake.  We got to see sunrise over our hotel from the lake, so that was very cool.  We wanted to go to this museum, which is only open Thursday-Sunday at this time.  So...after checking out of our  hotel and leaving our car parked there, we walked here to visit.  It's a small museum...but the crowning achievement is going upstairs to see the ice rink that Miracle on the Ice was played on.  So cool!!!  The Zamboni was cleaning the ice for an event that day.  Glad we stayed...learned some Olympic history.

Players Bar & Grill:  We drove and parked on Main Street so that we would be ready to drive home.  This cute bar has great food and nice outside seating that has beautiful views of Mirror Lake. We were glad we decided to have a last lunch in LP before leaving to enjoy this place.  It is quite large, and pre and post pandemic should be quite a fun time of people.

Adirondack Popcorn Company:  This is only open Thursday-Sunday.  If we had not stopped in before driving home we would have missed some awesome popcorn!!!  Don't miss this if you are in the area.

We loved Lake Placid!!  This will be our final trip for quite a while.  Currently, we have no plans to travel at all until April.  8 trips...8 successful trips...Now it is time to stay at home again and dream of travel in 2021.

All places mentioned in this blog have full reviews on Trip Advisor.