{I received complimentary Olympics Sites Passports. However, all opinions are my own.}
Lake Placid, a small village nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, was the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. While the town may be small, there is so much to see and do regardless of what season you visit. My family and I took a road trip up to Lake Placid this summer. This was our family’s first time visiting the area, but will not be our last! It’s approximately a four-hour drive from northern Westchester County and there’s enough to see and do in the area to make it a weekend visit.
{The Olympic Passport, comes with a lanyard to wear around your neck}
If you plan to visit the Olympic Sites, than the Olympic Sites Passport is your best bet. For $35, you get one-time admission to the Lake Placid Museum, Whiteface, Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway, the Olympic Sports Complex and the Olympic Jumping Complex. Plus, you get discounts on additional activities. The passports are valid for one year, so if you don’t get to see everything in one trip, you can come back!
{Trying to keep pace with an Olympic speed skater}
Our first stop was the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. The museum is located in the Olympic Center, where the famous 1980 “Miracle” ice hockey game took place. The museum is small but packed with artifacts and information about the winter Olympics. Some of our family’s favorite exhibits were the collection of torches and fashion from the various Opening Ceremonies and the mascot collection. We even got a peek at the 2018 Winter Olympic mascot! We enjoyed several photo ops including a medal podium and sitting in a bobsled. The museum has several hands-on exhibits, including speed skating and curling, which my kids enjoyed.
After a quick lunch which we ate by Mirror Lake, we headed to the Olympic Jumping Complex, located two miles away. We rushed to get there in time to watch the Summer Jumping series show, advertised on posters all over town, only to be disappointed to discover that it was not taking place. We parked at the top parking lot and rode the chairlift down to the bottom of the hill. For an additional fee, you can extreme tube down the hill on the left! We watched as several people tubed, and screamed, down the hill, but my husband and I were not brave enough to try! Although the kids would have done this in a heartbeat, you must be at least 13 to ride the 90-meter jump. The 20-meter hill available for children 12 and under to ride is closed until mid-August.
Although the Summer Jumping series show wasn’t taking place we did spend some time watching athletes practicing their jumps into the pool. After seeing other athletes jumping off the traditional ski jumps we rode the chairlift back up to the top of the hill. We took the elevator to the top of the observation deck where we watched athletes ski down the hill and got to see amazing scenic views.
We then drove to Whiteface Mountain base lodge, an approximately 15-minute drive from the Jumping Complex. We rode the Cloudsplitter Gondola from the base to the top of Little Whiteface in the enclosed gondola. We enjoyed the scenic views during the approximately 15 minute ride to the top.
The top of Little Whiteface is 3,678 feet above sea level. From here you can see Whiteface Mountain in the distance. There is also an observation area that offers spectacular views of Lake Placid. There’s an Adventure Zone that includes several different inflatables including a bounce house, slides and more. Children can play for $10 an hour or $15 for the day. After our gondola ride we left Whiteface.
At the last minute we decided to end our day with a drive to Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway. The historic highway, opened in 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, takes you to the top of Whiteface Mountain. We are so glad that we made this decision! After passing the Toll House it’s a five mile drive to the top of the summit. There are nine scenic stops along the way, which we decided to pass, and instead headed straight up to the top. Once we parked the car we first took a quick peek in the Castle, where there’s a small gift shop and a cafe.
We then opted to climb the Alpine Nature Trail, a fifth-of-a-mile-long trail with both steep steps and rocks. I wish I was more prepared with my hiking boots, but luckily, we were all wearing sneakers!
Once at the top, we were 4,867 feet above sea level and literally in the clouds. We were at the top of the fifth highest point in New York state! Unfortunately, it was a pretty cloudy day. Regardless, these were the most breath-taking, scenic views of our visit. After spending some time up here admiring the views we opted to take the elevator down to the parking lot.
The Veteran’s Memorial Drive was our last site visit of the day. We were able to visit four sites within the span of a day without feeling rushed. Summer is a great time to visit the Olympic sites in Lake Placid with so much to see and do!
The Details:
*The Olympic sites are spread throughout Lake Placid and the surrounding area. A car is necessary to get from one site to another.
Lake Placid Olympic Museum
2634 Main Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
(518) 302-5326
Hours: Open daily 10 AM – 5 PM
Admission: $7/adults, $5/seniors, students and children (6-12), Free/children 6 and under
Olympic Jumping Complex
5486 Cascade Road
Lake Placid, NY 12946
Hours: Please check the site, as dates and times vary
Admission: $11/adults, $8/seniors, juniors, Free/children 6 and under Event Days: $16/adults, $10/seniors, juniors, Free/children 6 and under
Whiteface Mountain – Cloudsplitter Gondola Ride
5021 Rt. 86, Scenic
Wilmington, NY 12997
Hours: Peak season (June 30 – September 4) 9:30 AM – 5 PM
Admission: $22/adults, $15/seniors and children (7-12), Free/children 6 and under
Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway
Memorial Highway
Wilmington, NY 12997
Hours: Peak season (June 6 – October 9) 8:45 AM – 5:30 PM
Admission: $15/vehicle/driver, $8/additional passenger, Free/children 6 and under, $8/bicycle
Tips:
Make sure to wear sneakers, even in the summer. There is a lot of walking and if you visit Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway, rock climbing and steps (if you opt to take the Alpine Nature Trail).
Pack water! Lots of walking makes you thirsty!
Food and beverages are sold at Whiteface Mountain, Veteran’s Memorial Highway and the Olympic Jumping Complex if you are hungry or thirsty.
You may want to bring a sweatshirt or jacket with you to Veteran’s Memorial Highway. Remember, you are 4,867 feet above sea level!
