Winter in Lake Placid is wonderful and unique

When it comes to winter, Lake Placid is the expert. It has everything you need for a memorable winter getaway: snow, cozy lodgings, and tons of great restaurants where you can get hearty food and delicious drinks. While those are the basic requirements of a winter vacation destination, Lake Placid goes above and beyond.

The mountainous landscape, dotted with glittering frozen lakes and quaint Main Street lined with charming shops, creates a beautiful winter wonderland. With snow-capped peaks as the backdrop to almost every scene, there is a sense of existing in a snow globe. In addition to the stunning scenery, Lake Placid offers a ton of fun winter activities and attractions. It's these unique offerings that will elevate your trip from enjoyable to perfect.

Check out these 10 one-of-a-kind Lake Placid experiences and start planning your own perfect winter getaway!

1. Dine in a gondola

Make your dinner experience extra memorable when you dine lakeside in a ski gondola. The Cottage Restaurant and Café offers dining in two refurbished gondolas on their patio overlooking Mirror Lake and the snow-covered mountains beyond. The gondolas, which can seat up to six adults, are heated, making for a cozy and intimate meal. Seating in the gondolas is first come, first serve, so plan to arrive early or be prepared to enjoy a drink at the bar inside while you wait for an opening.

2. Ski and snowboard Olympic slopes

Lake Placid is a true ski town. and a two-time host of the Winter Olympic Games! Whiteface Mountain, host of alpine events for the 1980 Winter Olympics, is a mere 15-minute scenic drive from downtown, and it has everything you could dream of for a perfect ski-cation. With 24 miles of skiing and riding over 3 peaks, the largest vertical east of the Rockies (3,430 feet!), and a dedicated learning center, skiers and riders of all levels will find ample terrain to explore. 99% snowmaking coverage keeps the slopes top tier no matter the weather, and three lodges offer onsite dining, drinks, music, shopping, and more. More advanced skiers and snowboarders also have the unique opportunity to fly down slopes that once hosted the world's best alpine athletes for a gold medal-worthy moment of their own.

3. Go for a dog sled ride

Imagine gliding across a frozen lake, surrounded by snowcapped mountains, in a wooden sled pulled by a beautiful team of sled dogs. The cold air pinks your cheeks but you are warm, tucked in under layers of blankets. It's exhilarating, romantic, and a winter wonderland dream come true. This picture perfect winter experience in the mountains does require Mirror Lake to be completely frozen over, which sometimes doesn't occur until mid-winter. However, if conditions allow, rides may begin as soon as the day after Christmas!

4. Ice skate on the Olympic Oval

The James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval in downtown Lake Placid has hosted Olympic speed skating legends like Eric Heiden, who won an unprecedented five gold medals during the 1980 Olympics. Today, the outdoor track offers public skating sessions with an added bonus – stunning views of the tallest mountains in the Adirondacks! For an added dose of winter magic, opt for an evening session and skate under the lights.

5. Snowmobile between mountain towns

Journey back and forth between quaint mountain towns with ease when you snowmobile the Adirondack Rail Trail. The 34-mile trail travels over rivers and through the woods, connecting the communities of Lake Placid, Ray Brook, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, and Tupper Lake. Rent a sled and spend a day exploring the surrounding region, indulging in great food and drinks as you go.

If you prefer to take your time and soak up the great outdoors under your own power, the trail is also great for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even fat tire biking!

6. Speed down a bobsled track

Have you ever wondered what it's like to speed down a frozen track like they do in the Olympics? Find out when you book the Bobsled Experience at Mt Van Hoevenberg. A two-time Olympic venue and a frequent host of international sliding sport events, visiting the track at Mt Van Hoevenberg is a unique experience by itself. Add to the thrill by whizzing down the ice in a real bobsled! Piloted by a professional, all you need to do is hang on tight and enjoy the ride.

7. Experience the thrill of skeleton

Looking for an even greater thrill than the bobsled experience? Take the track on head first when you brave the skeleton experience! Guaranteed to get your heart pounding, riders lay face down on a skeleton sled and speed down the sliding track head first, solo, at speeds that reach 30 miles per hour, using just your legs and shoulders to steer!

The skeleton experience is offered in winter months during holiday weeks in December, January, and February, so plan your trip dates accordingly if this makes your list of must-dos in Lake Placid.

8. Skate and play on a frozen lake

When Mirror Lake freezes, it becomes a winter playground. A two-mile track is cleared around the perimeter so you can ice skate or enjoy a stroll with a unique perspective of downtown and your mountain surrounds. Pond hockey rink areas are also cleared for pick-up games and tournaments.

When you get chilly, step off the lake onto the sidewalk and head into a nearby restaurant for a warming cup of cocoa or a creative cocktail.

9. Watch world class winter sports in action

One of the many benefits of living in a winter Olympic village is the high caliber of international sporting competition that continues to pass through the historic venues, especially when they have been as expertly cared for as the ones in Lake Placid! From bobsled, luge, and skeleton world cups to high-flying ski jumping and aerials competitions, hockey tournaments, biathlon and cross-country ski races, and international figure skating events, the best of the best winter athletes come to Lake Placid to climb the podium and put on a stunning show.

As you plan your visit, check the regional calendar to see what top tier sporting events are coming to the Lake Placid Legacy Sites, and what world-class art and culture events will be going on around town!

10. Walk where miracles took place

During the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, a young and largely amateur US men's hockey team defeated the professional, four-time defending gold medalist Soviet Union team in an upset 4-3 victory known as The Miracle on Ice. Today, you can visit the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena, named for the coach that led the team to victory, and possibly even skate on the ice where the miracle itself occurred!

The 1980 rink isn't the only historic ice in the Olympic Center. Take a walk down the hall to the 1932 Jack Shea arena where 16-year-old figure skater Sonja Henie charmed the world and took home the gold in the 1932 Winter Olympics. Or book a curling session in the USA rink.

Your visit to the The Olympic Center isn't complete until you've toured the Olympic Museum, home to North America's second-largest Winter Olympic artifact collection. If all this history makes you hungry, grab a bite and a drink at Roamers Café & Bar, which boasts a stunning view of the High Peaks glittering beneath snow and ice in the distance.

Even more to explore

When talking about what makes Lake Placid unique, outdoor recreation simply must be mentioned. Lake Placid is nestled in the heart of the Adirondack Park, a 6-million acre Forest Preserve managed by the State of New York. Miles of trails through the mountains and forests create a winter playground for anyone who loves the great outdoors. Hike, cross-country ski, or even ice climb to see this winter wonderland in its purest form. Winter conditions can be challenging, though, so make sure you come prepared with the knowledge and gear you need to stay safe and have a successful outdoor experience. 

This winter, plan a Lake Placid getaway that is as unique as it is beautiful, as fun as it is relaxing, and as perfect as you could wish a vacation to be.