Lake Placid Travel Guide

Welcome to Lake Placid!

A name like Lake Placid can conjure up images of a sleepy town with residents lazily reclined lakeside in obligatory Adirondack chairs. While the area is synonymous with peaceful retreats, it is anything but indolent. Hosting the Winter Olympics not once but twice—in 1932 and 1980—has left it with a legacy of athleticism. The area's most popular attraction, aside from its mirror-like lake, is Whiteface Mountain Resort, which has retained its Olympic facilities including bobsled and luge and a jumping complex. Amateur athletes compete annually here at the Empire State Winter Games. In the spirit of competition, Lake Placid also hosts the annual Ice Dance Championships in August and one of the USA's six official Ironman Triathlons.

Boasting superlative views and cradled by the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is by all means a small village but its resort town status has afforded it with more amenities than one might expect. Situated 289 mi (465 km) from New York City, the area was originally settled for mining opportunities in 1840, but it wasn't long before urbanite society discovered its restorative effects far from the madding crowd of the city. By 1923, the area already boasted 21 tennis courts and seven golf courses. Today, recreational pursuits for those wanting to explore nature include cross-country skiing, rafting, canoeing, hiking and fishing.

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