There are no winter Olympics this year but we all can remember — or at least remember hearing about — one of the country’s biggest — and most shocking — Olympic wins: the men’s hockey team defeating Russia in 1980. The U.S team, a plucky bunch of college kids, beat the professional Russian team in what is still called the “Miracle on Ice.”
Lake Placid is the home of that miracle, and it’s hard to get it out of one’s mind when visiting the Adirondacks, a virtual scenic winter wonderland in upstate New York. The Adirondacks are still an epicenter of winter fun — as well as fun in the other three seasons.
Of course, it is fitting that there are a lot of outdoor activities, including skiing and boarding at Whiteface Mountain. Get a glimpse of what’s it’s like to be an Olympic bobsledder at the new Cliffside Mountain Coaster at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, the longest year-round mountain coaster in the U.S. Other attractions at the Olympic site include the new Sky Flyer Zipline at the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex and the new SixRide Experience, an eight-person gondola that brings guests from the Olympic Jumping Complex’s base lodge to the 90-meter and 120-meter ski jump towers.
For hikers, there are five fire tower trails in Hamilton County that travelers can visit and climb. Other fantastic outdoor activities include dogsledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing, pond hockey, ice skating and cross country skiing. For those looking for Instagram shots, go to Ausable Chasm, about an hour from Lake Placid where there are frozen waterfalls just waiting for a close-up.
There’s plenty of lodging options from quaint bed and breakfasts to family-friendly resorts to luxurious retreats such as Mirror Lake Inn, Whiteface Lodge and Hotel Saranac. The newest offering is the Lake Placid Inn and the Saranac Waterfront Lodge, both of which opened this year.
www.adirondackusa.com
