Planning your Lake Placid Vacation in New York!

Visiting Lake Placid New York

Lake Placid is a village overflowing with Olympic spirit. As host to two Winter Olympics, a distinction this village shares with only two other cities in the world, and its unforgettable place in history as the setting of one of the greatest moments in sports history when the U.S. Hockey team defeated the Soviet Union, Lake Placid beams with pride. Combine this inimitable ambiance with the beauty of the age old Adirondack Mountains, the purity of pristine lakes, picture postcard perfect snowfalls and pleasurable summer temperatures and you will be quick to understand what makes Lake Placid a highly sought after vacation destination. Lake Placid is popular among sports enthusiast from around the world for its unbounded offering of outdoor play activities. In the snowy season Lake Placid is an Olympic sized wonderland for skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice climbing, and ice fishing. And when temperatures start to rise Lake Placid is transformed into a gigantic playground for golfing, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, biking, and tennis. Throughout the year events abound from spectacular winter carnivals, decades old traditional horse shows, and unparalleled figure skating. Whether you are shopping for that perfect gift hand crafted by one of the Adirondack regions own gifted artisans, a piece of that famed New York extra sharp cheddar, or full gear for your awe inspiring Adirondack adventure you will find it all and so much more in the stores of Lake Placid. Lake Placid restaurants from the simple to the elegant serve up a wide variety of culinary delights in some of the most picturesque settings. From restaurants considered to be among the finest in the Adirondacks to small cafés serving everything from Adirondack cuisine to deli sandwiches they are sure to impress your palette and delight your senses with some of the most beautiful lake and mountain views you could ever be privy to.

Lake Placid Climate

Lake Placid is home to a continental climate and offers four distinct seasons. The summers are short with temperatures hitting highs around the mid 70s and lows dropping just below the 50 degree mark. Fall temperatures dip to the mid 20s in the latter part of the season and almost never rise above the mid 60s. These cool fall temperatures bring with them brilliant colors as the leaves turn vivid hues of orange, yellow, and red. Winters are frigid with average lows just above the zero degree mark while the average highs range from the mid to high 20s. Early spring temperatures stay in the low teens and barely break the freezing mark. Later spring offers low temperatures of around 30 degrees with highs rising up to the low 60s.

Lake Placid Skiing

Lake Placid has been referred to as the "Winter Sports Capital of the World." When it comes to skiing Lake Placid offers up more skiing opportunities than most places. The Lake Placid region is home to the nationally famous Whiteface Mountain, this mountain boasts the highest vertical drop in the East at just over 3300 feet and is the only place on this side of the United States to have ever hosted the Winter Olympics. It is an Alpine skiers dream. For the cross country skier hundreds of miles of stunning trails wait. Skiers can explore these trails with a friend or hire a guide. The different skiing experiences available in the Lake Placid region cater to skiers of all skill levels. Imagine skiing along the back country enjoying the untouched beauty of the snow white fields or descending a peak with heart pounding on the flight downward through the majestic mountains and make the dream a reality. Whatever the choice, one thing is for sure; the feeling and exhilaration of the Adirondack ski experience can last a lifetime.

Lake Placid Travel Tips

The climate of Lake Placid allows visitors to enjoy outdoor activities year round. Temperatures can be extreme and visitors should dress warmly and dress in layers so they can take off and put on clothes as needed. The temperature range can be varied in any given day and it usually gets colder in the evenings. Whether participating in winter or summer sport you should avoid exceeding your physical fitness level, a pulled muscle could put a damper on your vacation. The sun can burn even in the winter and your lips are more prone to chapping so it is wise to protect your skin with sunscreen and your lips with lip balm. When participating in outdoor sport and not going with a group or being directed by a guide, you should always know where you are going, make sure the route you have chosen is safe, check the weather conditions, and never go alone. Before you set out whether it be snowmobiling, hiking, horseback riding, or any other outdoor activity you should always let a reliable person know where you are going and when you will return. Do not deviate from the itinerary and make sure the person will notify the proper authorities if you do not return on time. The area is vast, dense and mountainous so if you stray too far off it may be difficult if not impossible for someone to find you if you get lost. Make sure you always take a first aid kit, water and some non perishable staples. Lake Placid is a safe place to visit, but it’s still a good idea to use traveler’s checks instead of cash. Do not to leave valuables in your car. Even though Lake Placid is small there is ATM access at several locations around town.