This lakeside village is in the very heart of New York’s Adirondacks region.
Welcome to the North Country, New York’s vast, forested Adirondacks region. This protected land measuring 6 million acres has just a handful of notable towns clustered around its larger lakes and mountains. Among them, Lake Placid is the most storied, with a cozy village, ski training center and array of activities, including summertime hiking and biking, fall leaf peeping, and winter snow sports — plus drinking and dining all year long.
Explore Lake Placid
- Plattsburgh
- Saranac Lake
- Schroon Lake
- The Village of Lake Placid
Plattsburgh
Overview
Near the top of Lake Champlain — which separates New York from Vermont — Plattsburgh is a North Country playground. This tiny, scenic town draws outdoor enthusiasts who boat and kayak on the lake and hike the rugged, rocky mountains that surround it. It’s also a jumping-off point for Canada, just 90 minutes to the north.
Known For
Museums, Lakes, Parks, Winery
Saranac Lake
Overview
More than any other Adirondack village, Saranac Lake has a history of attracting wealthy visitors, starting with Gilded Age tycoons like Rockefeller and Vanderbilt. These titans of industry built grand lodges, called camps, around the lake — ushering in what we now call the Adirondack style. Today’s visitors (whatever their income bracket) come to hike, cycle and boat, while enjoying the town’s craft beer and live music scene.
Known For
Outdoors, Dining, Museums, Galleries
Schroon Lake
Overview
One of the many lakes that dot the Adirondacks, peaceful Schroon is just south of Mount Marcy, the highest point in the state, and close to the mountain town of Keene.
Known For
Mountain Views, Boating, Fishing
The Village of Lake Placid
Overview
This historic village has a quaint Main Street and, because it sits along the shores of Mirror Lake, offers year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure, including hiking, biking, boating, ice skating, tobogganing and more.
Known For
Dining, Museums, Outdoor Activities, Shops
Stay in The Center of it All
Immerse yourself in your destination at these centrally located hotels.
Spend 72 Hours in and Around Lovely Lake Placid, New York
Go for the Gold
Start your three-day weekend at Mirror Lake, right in town. In warmer weather, you can kayak, stand-up paddle, rent a fishing or pontoon boat or simply hike around the pretty lake. Wintertime adds options like skating, snowshoeing and tobogganing down a truly vertiginous chute. Take in the historic ski training center before enjoying water views at Lake Placid's top restaurant, aptly named Top of the Park.
Visit Historic Saranac
Visit nearby Saranac Lake, the Adirondack village that attracted the late-19th-century industrialists who built grand, secluded lodges, called camps, along its shores. Hike (or bike) the area, then stop by the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center. For dinner, try the upscale, farm-to-table Fiddlehead Bistro.
Hike Whiteface Mountain
Head to legendary Whitehead Mountain for a day packed with outdoor adventure, recreation and stunning views, whatever the weather. You can ski, hike and find lunch at the summit at New York’s highest food truck. Return to the village for dinner at Liquids & Solids at the Handlebar, a cool spot selling house-made sausages and great cocktails (those would be the “liquids”).