(Less Than) 24 Hours in Lake Placid

Last weekend my dad visited and we ventured up to Lake Placid for the day. While we weren’t there for long, we packed a lot into our short, 20 hour visit. This is a great itinerary for anyone who wants to make an effort to get up to the Adirondacks, but is worried about time constraints, or for anyone who just loves to do a lot in a short period of time!

Day 1:

7:00am – Leaving at this early hour might seem inhumane to some commoners, but it will get Lake Placid enthusiasts up there early with a whole day to enjoy!

11:15am –  Arrive in Lake Placid! Check into your hotel (if they will let you) or just stop by and see if they will let you drop your bags and park your car. Luckily, we were able to check into our hotel (the Mirror Lake Inn) and after taking a few minutes to freshen up from the long drive began a casual stroll downtown.

The Mirror Lake Inn

11:45am –  Brunch at The Breakfast Club etc. Sit down at a this quaint breakfast spot on Main Street, Lake Placid and grab a bite to eat. Recommendations include any variation of their “rosti” – eggs and chives on top of a sizzling tray of home fried potatoes, banana-nutella french toast, and their elaborate Bloody Mary.

The Elaborate Bloody Mary

12:30pm – Walk down the street to the end where the Olympic facilities are located. Check out the 1932 indoor hockey rink – the first permanent structure that remained in use from the winter Olympics – before heading down to the Olympic museum. The Olympic museum albeit small, (it is only one room) gives a solid overview of both the 1932 and the 1980 winter Olympic games held in Lake Placid. Sporting exhibits include: Ice Skating, Ice Hockey, Luge, Bobsled, Skeleton, and Skiing. Other exhibits outlined the history of the Olympics, the evolution of Olympic fashion over the years, the many stages of the Olympic medal, as well as highlights of hometown Olympians who were born and raised in Lake Placid. 

Main Street runs along beautiful Mirror Lake

2:00pm – The afternoon provides the perfect time to wander the many shops of downtown Lake Placid. Look for jewelry at Just Bead It, check out the latest titles at, The Bookstore Plus, or buy a stuffed animal for your favorite little one at, Critters. I would also recommend my personal favorites: The Fallen Arch for all running needs and Adirondack Trading Company for all things reminiscent of the Adirondacks or for a fun souvenir. Lake Placid has a wonderful variety of shops all up and down it’s Main Street; One could walk up and down for hours.

4:30pm – As evening begins to settle in, wander back to your hotel room for a quick nap before dinner. After getting up at 6:30 to make the trip and spending the whole day touring, this is some much deserved rest.

6:00pm – Dinner at The View. Enjoy a delicious dinner overlooking Mirror Lake at The View, located inside the Mirror Lake Inn. They use locally sourced ingredients, and serve fresh bread as well as a variety of surprise taster courses throughout the evening. Recommended dishes include the crab cake appetizer and the sweet potato gnocchi dinner.  

8:00pm – Enjoy sitting fireside in the Mirror Lake Inn lobby in their comfortable chairs and warm, rustic fireplace.

9:30pm – Venture back out into downtown to make a trip to Ben & Jerry’s for ice cream. Especially when you come from somewhere where Ben & Jerry’s stores don’t exist, this is a special treat!

10:30pm – Retire back to your hotel room. It’s been a long, wonderful day of venturing in Lake Placid and you will most definitely sleep well tonight.

Day 2:

8:00am – Breakfast at The Breakfast Club etc. While 8:00 may seem a bit early to wake up when you’re on vacation, if you need to get on the road early, getting up for one last Lake Placid breakfast is well worth it.

8:45am – Say goodbye to the wonderful town of Lake Placid as you drive out. It’s been a wonderful 24 hours and you’ll definitely be back soon!

- all photos are my own -