Currently, the thick snow covers the trees, the main street is decorated with lights, and the town is bustling. Although the vibrant autumn leaves do pose big competition, there is no better time to be in Lake Placid than in the winter.
Enjoying Mirror Lake in the winter. Photo: TripAdvisor
Visitors are overwhelmed by the activities and food options, which is why I am sharing the ultimate winter guide to Lake Placid today. With two years of local experience, I have created a guide for tourists to make the most of their visit!
Let’s begin with food options. I recommend a lighter breakfast because there will be big meals later in the day. Soul Shine Bagels or Big Mountain Deli and Creperie offer excellent grab-and-go options that taste delicious. Whether you are feeling sweet or savory, you can’t go wrong there.
For lunch, I would hands-down recommend the Cottage at the Mirror Lake Inn. Right on the water, they serve cozy, old-school-style food in an amazing atmosphere with great service.
For dinner, I have two choices depending on your mood. Jimmy’s 21 Eatery serves homemade Italian in an upscale dining room, while Lisa G’s, a street off the lake, is much more casual and has the best burger in town. Dessert at either of these restaurants is never disappointing.
Activity-wise, after reading all of this, you will want to extend your stay. Walking, skating, playing, fishing, tobogganing, or dog sledding out on Mirror Lake are once-in-a-lifetime experiences with incredible views of the mountains. In town, shopping is great for both adults and kids. An obvious main attraction is skiing, so if you aren’t on the slopes yourself, make sure to watch any events happening at Whiteface or the Olympic ski jumping facilities. Last but not least, don’t forget to either walk through or take a tour of the iconic Olympic Centre arena, and take a moment to read and appreciate the history made there in 1932 and 1980.
I will leave you with two important takeaways. One, make sure your camera is charged, because being able to capture these moments and look back on them later will bring you great joy. Two, make sure to wear layers. That mountain air is crisp, and you wouldn’t want to catch a cold.
