This winter, enjoy family fun in Lake Placid, New York
Busy looking out the windows at snow-capped mountains, deer, babbling brooks and rugged rivers, kids’ anticipation begins before they arrive!
Nestled between Santa’s workshop in North Pole, NY and the 46 Adirondack high peaks, Lake Placid’s storybook setting is the ideal family winter getaway for children of all of ages.
From endless outdoor winter activities to museums to an array of events, there’s something for mom, dad and all of the kids to agree upon in this American alpine resort village, where they’ve been playing in the snow for over 100 years!
Mirror Lake, in the middle of the village, is action-packed in winter with a mix of dogsleds, pond hockey, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and recreational skaters taking advantage of the new, 3.2-kilometre ploughed skating track that circumnavigates the lake.
Of course this all surrounds the popular toboggan chute, which remains a favourite family-friendly, affordable and unique experience.
On the trail
Once the snow flies, many Adirondack summer hiking trails become well-travelled ski and snowshoe trails.
Although snowshoeing has been around for more than 6,000 years, today, it’s one of the fastest growing winter sports in the United States. For runners, triathletes, and Ironmen, snowshoeing is an excellent winter cross-training activity to stay in shape, burning more than 600 calories per hour.
Snowshoeing is also simple to learn and fun for everyone in the family. Little equipment is needed for this affordable activity. Many hotels in Lake Placid offer trails of their own or have snowshoes on site.
Rather ski? Sure, Lake Placid offers kilometres of groomed cross-country trails, but there’s no better way to immerse yourself in the serene, wintry wilderness than by taking to the backcountry trails, whether on snowshoes, metal-edged backcountry or traditional Nordic cross-country skis.
Accessible, easy, family-friendly trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing include those at the nearby Peninsula trails and Henry’s Woods.
Alpine skiers of all levels will enjoy a day at nearby Whiteface Mountain, where experts enjoy the black diamond runs, newbies can learn to parallel ski from the start, and young skiers and boarders have their own Kids Kampus at the mountain that begins at Bear Den Lodge!
Area attractions include natural wonders such as Ausable Chasm and High Falls Gorge, accessible on snowshoes in winter, the Olympic Museum, which showcases Lake Placid’s winter sports heritage, the Wild Center, and favourites like the old-fashioned movie theatre on Lake Placid’s eclectic Main Street.
The busy calendar of events includes skating shows, world-class and amateur competitions, winter carnivals and a variety of arts, from film to ballet to live theatre.
Of course, there are a variety of family dining options and cosy lodging properties to call home base during your visit. To plan the perfect winter family getaway, visit www.lakeplacid.com.