So, we know that Lake Placid is a great family destination, but I haven’t really tested that out since I don’t have any kids. In fact, my only child is an over-photographed doberman mix.
It’s not that I don’t LIKE children. After all, some of my best friends were once kids.
And some of my best friends, now adults, DO have kids. And through these friends, I more fully understand the nature of Lake Placid’s family-friendly status. Case in point: this last weekend I got to witness part of a three-generation Lake Placid family fun vacation experience.
It all began when one of those friends contacted me recently to say that she’d be in town for her parents’ 50th anniversary. She and her sister had planned a long weekend, staying at the Crowne Plaza Resort, and with a special dinner celebration at the Whiteface Lodge on the actual anniversary for their parents, their husbands and kids - aged 6-11.
I met up with them for an afternoon during their visit and asked my friend - let’s call her Deborah - some questions about their trip. The following is an actual conversation that occurred later by email.
Q: So from where did you and your family members travel to get to Lake Placid?
"DEBORAH": My parents and sister reside on the shores of Lake Ontario in Sackets Harbor, and Dexter, N.Y. respectively. For them, it is a three hour drive to Lake Placid. My husband, children and I traveled 2 hours to Placid as we are a little East of Saratoga in the historic town of Schuylerville.
Q: What was the impetus for your decision to visit Lake Placid over any other destination for your parents' anniversary - or in general?
DEBORAH: We bandied about lots of ideas for over 6 months trying to find the 'perfect' location to mark such an important milestone and a place that could appeal to 3 generations and to all of our diverse interests. We were all drawn to Lake Placid for its beauty and for the plethora of activities the village and the Adirondacks have to offer.
Q: So, that plethora of activities included what, exactly?
DEBORAH:
- Each morning, my son Patrick and I walked the 2.7 miles around Mirror Lake taking in the views and enjoying the exercise.
- As a group, we went to the ski jumps to watch practice and took the chair lift up & elevator up to top of the jump. It was the first time that my sister and her children had ever ridden on a chairlift.
- We took paddle boats out from Crowne Plaza's private Beach on Sunday & Monday. We had all 3 generations tooling around Mirror Lake yesterday. It was a blast!
- We traded babysitting duties and my husband and I were able to go out on the town one evening. First stop: the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, of course!
- My sister’s kids play lacrosse, so they were thrilled to be able to catch some of the Summit Lacrosse event action while we were in town.
- We went swimming at the beach, played in the snow in front of the Conference Center, and went shopping on Main Street.
- And, as a group, we all hiked up Cobble and had breakfast at the top!
Q: Your father told me he had a perfect day on his anniversary. Did I really hear that? Are you aware that is the Lake Placid brand message based on interviews just like this, and did you put him up to this? *
DEBORAH: No need for a hearing aid (and no, I didn’t put him up to it) - you heard him right. It was perfect - straight out of a promotional video. We not only invented our perfect day - we got to live it! We can not say enough about the superb customer service for my parents' special anniversary dinner at Whiteface Lodge. The meal was wonderful and the staff understood the essence of their jobs - they knew that they were not only providing a meal - they were helping create a special event and cherished memories. Specifically, Michael and Chellie were great.
Q: What is your favorite activity/non activity in Lake Placid? Did you do any solo activities?
DEBORAH: We ran out of time & alas, I did not get to kayak alone - guess we will just have to come back! My favorite activity was the hike. I also thoroughly enjoyed dining with my family and my friend while taking in the amazing views of the Mountains & the Lake.
(Editor’s note: let’s hope I’m the friend referenced in this answer.)
Q: Any other revelations - reactions - insight?
DEBORAH: We will be back, and maybe more often because the youngest voices always carry the most weight. We go places for our kids’ birthdays, and now both of mine want to celebrate theirs in Lake Placid. That means other family members will be there, too! We will also be back to ski - we went home by way of Whiteface Mountain & stopped to walk around & plan our priorities for the 2013-2014 season.
Q: Does anybody really know what time it is?
DEBORAH: Does anybody really care? :)
Now that I’m home, I kind of wish I were back on Lake Placid time; when you live life in the moment, disconnect from the demands life places upon you & you can breathe & relax.
Moral of the story: If you go ahead - despite my influence - and have kids (whether they’re in their 10’s or their 30’s), it appears that Lake Placid is a great choice for family vacations.
In this case, 50 years of marriage (congratulations!) + three generations = successful long weekend of family activities in Lake Placid, in which everyone got to do everything (or nothing) they wanted to do in pursuit of several perfect days in a row.
Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up!
Kim Rielly is the director of communications for the Lake Placid CVB
As you drive through town, you might have noticed the colorful banners, with the Lake Placid, Adirondacks USA logo, or mark. This artwork represents the culmination of an in depth process to develop a brand identity that reflects what Lake Placid means to our residents and visitors - and we interviewed a LOT of both!
In those interviews, many people referred to the “Perfect Day” they had in Lake Placid. For some, it’s a walk around Mirror Lake in the morning on a rainy day, an afternoon spent reading on a porch followed by a Sinfonietta concert in the park. For others, the day begins with a hike, then a kayak, then shopping on Main Street, then a dinner at the pub.
There is no one series of experiences that results in a Perfect Day in Lake Placid; everyone is invited to Invent their Own Perfect Day!
