Ski at Lake Placid
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When scouting out destinations for your next ski vacation, consider Lake Placid, home to Whiteface, the only Olympic slope east of the Rockies.
Whiteface has a vertical drop of 3,430 feet. But if that presents too big a challenge, don’t worry. There are trails for skiers at every level. There are 10 lifts and 75 trails, about a third of which are for beginners.
Nearby Mount Pisgah has even more trails suited to beginners and families. Those who choose not to ski may want to try tubing.
Cross-country skiing is another option for outdoor recreation, and backcountry and touring options are available. If you’re new to cross-country skiing, there are a plethora of centers that offer rentals and lessons. Some of the trails have lights for night skiing and rangers regularly canvass them. An even less strenuous recreational activity that allows you to explore the beauty of the winter wonderland is snowshoeing. Many shops in the area rent these out on an hourly or daily basis.
Lake Placid was twice home to the Winter Olympics: in 1932 and 1980, the year of the Miracle on Ice in which the US amateur team beat the Soviet Union. You might want to check out the Lake Placid Olympic Center while you’re there. In addition to the Herb Brooks Skating Arena, you can see the Olympic ski jumps (pictured above) that rise 90 feet and 120 feet respectively and dominate the area’s skyline. You can also luge or bobsled at the Olympic Sports Complex.