Fun you can only find in Lake Placid

When it comes to destinations for your next getaway, Lake Placid is an exhilarating option that brings adventure at every turn. The home to not one but TWO Winter Olympics, an iconic mountain range brimming with High Peaks, and a historic downtown steeped in charm and culture, it’s hard to be bored here. The time between late fall and early winter is perfect for making the most of your stay, with fewer crowds, availability at stunning resorts, and little to no wait times for your favorite hangouts. Spend your days exploring historic landmarks, soaring high over the landscape with scenic flights, or training on the very stomping grounds of Olympians. There’s so much to do here; this list will help you start planning.

Hi Notch Indoor Climbing Gym

Climbers of all levels can train and build their skills year-round with Mt Van Hoevenberg’s Hi Notch Indoor Climbing Gym. With more than 1,500 feet of climbing space and a 30-foot top rope wall, you'll have plenty of room to spread out and test your skills. The facility is packed with features, including 3 TruBlue auto belays and various lead options, plus a bouldering wall and a traverse wall. If you need gear, don’t fret! Hi Notch provides shoes, harnesses, belay devices, and chalk so that you can focus on having a fantastic time climbing.

Perfect your form with multi-sport simulators around town

You may have noticed that snow in the Adirondacks comes early (sometimes starting as early as mid-October) and stays until late spring. For warm-weather sports enthusiasts like golfers, this can be a hindrance when it comes to perfecting their drive or swing. Luckily, sports bars around the region have amped up the fun with indoor multi-sport simulators! Those who book a session at Roamers Café & Bar can practice on simulated golf courses, step onto the pitcher’s mound for baseball and softball, test their accuracy with football and basketball, and even kick or pass the soccer ball with on-screen goals. Find more golf simulators at Big Z’s and, soon, The Fringe.

Take a ride on USA Luge’s Start Track

This is your chance to take an exclusive tour of the USA Luge Indoor Start Training Facility, where athletes from the United States and around the world come to train! During the tour, visitors can explore the indoor refrigerated start training ramps, then watch Olympic-level sleds being manufactured and assembled. The cherry on top? Tours include an exciting ride down the ramp, giving you a taste of Olympic competition. Tours and rides take place every Friday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Take a short drive to a world of Adirondack legacy and history

Take a Wild Walk at The Wild Center!

The Wild Center’s Wild Walk, a trail across the treetops, opens up a world of play with interactive features, bridges, and canopies, plus plenty of opportunities to learn about the surrounding wilderness. During the winter, visitors can also enjoy the enchanting Wild Lights event, where thousands of lights transform the campus into a magical wonderland.

Scenic Flights

The Adirondacks' scenery is best seen from the air! With Lake Placid Airport (LKP) just minutes from town, take your own chartered flight, including small, private, or corporate aircraft. Looking to fly in from a nearby Northeast city? Cape Air in Saranac Lake offers flights from New York City and Boston, connecting you directly with the Adirondacks, with amazing views throughout your flight.

Uniquely indoors: Make jewelry, sip on ciders, and perfect your candle making 

Design your own jewelry

When the weather isn't perfect, take the adventure indoors! A Lake Placid staple for decades, Just Bead It on Main Street is the perfect fix for a boring afternoon. Create your own jewelry and gifts with their vast collection of beads and charms from around the world.

Hand-pour a candle

Pair your new handmade jewelry with a handmade candle at Pure Placid. The Pure Placid Candle Bar is the perfect place in town to slow down, choose your own fragrance with intention, and make fun memories all in one place! They offer walk-in candle pouring and scheduled classes, and for private events, you can book the entire space for your group.

Take a brewery tour

Whether you’re just coming off a day of crafting or this is the main event, take a brewery tour around Lake Placid. The region is home to an eclectic group of brewers and makers, with pubs and breweries that have been perfecting their craft for decades. In the mood for a mixed drink or a moody bar to tuck into? Cocktail bars and lounges dot the region, serving up creative drinks for every occasion.

Winter is just around the corner; fill it with days of Adirondack fun 

With snow already dusting the mountaintops, it’s time to start preparing for all the festivities winter brings.

Discover Biathlon

Returning in December, Discover Biathlon offers a cross-country skiing lesson and professional instruction on the Olympic Biathlon Range. Take a ski lesson to start the program, or head straight to the range to hone your shooting skills. Your day includes an hour-long PSIA ski lesson, an informative video on Biathlon, and instruction on the Olympic Biathlon Range.

Skeleton Experience

Try skeleton in one of the country's only state-of-the-art facilities! This unique heart-pounding experience puts you face down on a skeleton sled as you speed down the sliding track head first, solo, at 30 miles per hour, using your legs and shoulders to steer. Dates extend all winter long, from December to March!

Curling

Experience curling at the Olympic Center in the 1932 Jack Shea Arena! This is the perfect activity for a group, with low-stress competition on historic ice. The beauty of the sport? No skates are needed! Participants need only wear rubber-soled shoes, and the Olympic Center team handles the rest, providing stones, brooms, and safety gear.

Public Skating

Glide along the ice on a historic rink of your choosing this winter. Skate indoors on the Herb Brooks Arena, the 1932 Jack Shea Arena, or take the fun outside on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval, where you can practice your spins or simply enjoy a leisurely skate with stunning mountain views. Skate rentals are available at Locker Room 5 or at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval.

Learn to ski at Whiteface Mountain

At Bear Den Learning Center, brush up on your technique and skills with a professional lesson! Whiteface Mountain offers programs for beginner skiers and riders, as well as private lessons for anyone seeking a one-on-one learning environment. With a lesson from the pros at Whiteface, you’ll feel comfortable from the very first minute on the snow.