Join the après fun in Lake Placid
If you're a skier, you surely already know the joys of après-ski. If you're not a skier, après-ski is a French term, translating to “after ski”, and encompasses all of the activities that follow a day on the slopes. In other words, the after-party. Après-ski can be some of the best fun of a ski trip or a day of skiing, and the greatest news ever is that you don't even have to ski to join in on the après fun. Because there are so many activities going on in and around Lake Placid, it's more like après-everything, and everyone is invited!
As you may have expected, Lake Placid can easily claim title to some of the best après activities in the entire Northeast! Here, you'll find it all, from live music events to a quiet spot to put your feet up next to a crackling fire, so you can choose an activity that fits your mood and is just right to round out your day. So what are the best places and activities happening around town? Here are a few ideas for you – wherever you go, you're bound to enjoy your time in Lake Placid!
Where to go, what to do
For a classic mountain town après vibe, stop in and experience the cozy, relaxed setting at Dancing Bears Restaurant. Choose a table or a seat at the bar and chat with friends, watch a game, or daydream as you gaze out on Mirror Lake and Main Street. Savor appetizers and snacks, enjoy drinks, or settle in for a hearty and satisfying meal surrounded by Adirondack decor. Or settle in next to the fireplace and recount the day's adventures.
Just down the street, gather with friends at the Marcy Bar inside the Grand Adirondack Hotel on Main Street. With regular live music and a unique twist on bar snacks, hand-crafted cocktails, shareable small plates, and classic favorites, this is a sweet spot to top off a day of skiing, snowshoeing, or other outdoor activities. Modern, timeless, classically Adirondack, and close to everything, this is a can't-miss stop on your après itinerary!
Toward the other end of Main Street, Generations at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort hosts a super fun Happy Hour. Featuring a drink menu with draft beer and seasonal cocktails, and a food menu that keeps it local with items grown, raised, and cultivated in New York's Adirondack region, you're sure to find something that hits just the right spot. Ask about some local favorites, like the Wolfjaw Burger and Fire Tower Pretzel (and for a real treat, check out the awesome dessert menu)!
Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, a favorite of locals and visitors alike, has a long-standing reputation for offering the best pub fare in Lake Placid. With a menu featuring award-winning beer, pub classics like deep dish pizzas, cheeseburgers, and "the best wings this side of Buffalo", you can't go wrong! Each story of the brewpub building has its offering and its vibe, with P.J. O'Neill's Irish pub downstairs, the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery's brewpub on the second floor, and The Hop Loft up above on the third floor. If you've got kids in tow, this is a great option, with an activities room for the littles and a fun kids menu with great choices for even the pickiest eaters.
Rustic decor, a crackling fireplace, and a tasty menu await you at Whiteface Lodge Resort's Peak 47, the perfect place to unwind after a day of outdoor adventure. Sip a local brew, or a signature drink, or enjoy a glass of wine from the extensive wine list. Choose seating at the copper-topped bar, and enjoy a snack or a casual meal with your drink, or settle in at one of the comfortable tables and enjoy the company of friends and family as you recount the day's fun and plan your upcoming Adirondack adventures.
Happily ever après
Join in on a creative paint-and-sip adventure hosted by The Peaks Paintbar. Après has never been so much fun! The venue has a great lineup of scheduled sessions, including a beverage and all the supplies needed to create your masterpiece. A full bar is available for additional drink purchases, along with snack options. While it's not necessary to book in advance, it's still a good idea to schedule ahead of time and reserve your spot. Check the event schedule for a full lineup of upcoming sessions, and check the calendar often as new sessions are added in regularly!
For a truly memorable and one-of-a-kind experience, go ice skating at the Olympic Oval. Skate on the same ice where Olympic history was made and where Eric Heiden won five Olympic gold medals during the 1980 Olympic Games! The Speed Skating Oval is not only historic and special to Lake Placid, it's one of the few remaining outdoor rinks of its kind. Grab your skates and join in on this fun activity! You'll want to check the public skating schedule and pricing before you go (and if you don't have your skates, rentals are available!)
For a super fun and different après activity, head over to Big Z's at Lake Placid Lanes on Main Street. Featuring 8 bowling lanes, arcade games, a casual restaurant, and a full bar, Big Z's is an ideal après choice where families, friends, and everyone in between can relax and have a great time. Knock down some pins, catch the game, enjoy drinks and a bite to eat, or simply relax and hang out. Big Z's at Lake Placid Lanes is not to be missed!
If you're a film buff, you can't miss the experience of the Palace Theatre! First opened in 1926, this locally owned vintage theater is showing first-run movies on four screens, and even after nearly a century of operation, it remains one of Lake Placid's best options for spending an afternoon or evening with your family, friends, or even as a solo outing. Popcorn is optional, but recommended! Movie showtimes can be found on the Palace Theater's Facebook page.
If you aren't planning to attend a specific après activity, but still want to spend some time in Lake Placid, an evening walk around Mirror Lake is an absolutely beautiful 2.7-mile loop, with wide, well-maintained sidewalks and benches placed at nicely spaced intervals along the route where you can stop to rest or just enjoy the spectacular mountain and lake views.
There is no better place for après-everything than Lake Placid. Enjoy your time here and don't forget to top off your trip with plans for your next visit!
