72 Hours in Lake Placid
We get plenty of Airbnb guests up for a long weekend in Lake Placid. Sometimes two nights and often three nights. So here’s a suggested itinerary designed for first time visitors with 72 hours in town. This is good for May through October.
Day 1 (half-day)
A view of Mirror Lake from Mid’s Park on Main Street
Arrive, check-in and drop off your luggage
Put on your comfortable walking shoes and take a walk around Mirror Lake to stretch your legs and get your bearings. Take your time on the walk down Main Street past many local shops, restaurants and Mid’s Park. As you follow the sidewalk around Mirror Lake Drive, you’ll pass the public beach and tennis courts on the south end of the lake and the Lake Placid Marina on the north end. Near the marina, look for a sign (on the sidewalk side, across the street from the marina) for the canoe carry. Take the short foot path down to a small canoe put-in for a nice, somewhat secluded view of Mirror Lake. The complete loop around the lake is about 2.8 miles. If starting from our cottage, the round-trip is about 4 miles.
If you’re staying in a rental house with a kitchen and want to stock up a little, make a quick visit to the Green Goddess Market for a few supplies.
For a casual dinner, try either Players on Main Street or the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery on Mirror Lake Drive. Players has outside dining with a waterfront view, and they’re known for their burgers. The Pub has a fun outdoor deck, their own award-winning beers and great fish & chips.
Day 2 (full day)
If you want to get out for breakfast, try Soulshine Bagels or Big Mountain Deli & Creperie. For coffee, visit the Coffee Bar or Origin Coffee.
For a day of classic Lake Placid sightseeing, grab some to-go sandwiches and drive over to the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway and up to the top of Whiteface for views of the whole region. You can pick up sandwiches at either Simply Gourmet on Saranac Ave., or the Corner Store on Newman. It’s about 16 miles or 25 minutes to drive over to Wilmington. When you get to the top of Whiteface, enjoy the view and have your picnic lunch on the summit.
In the afternoon, head over to the Lake Placid Marina to catch a boat tour around Lake Placid. The boat tour takes you past a lot of beautiful old, multi-million-dollar camps on the lake, and gives you a sense of the lake’s size. Typically the guides share some history, as well as cheeky society gossip of who lives where. Sort of a Hollywood-meets-Lake Placid who’s who tour. It’s a little corny, but beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains. For a more custom lake tour, check out the ADK Aquatics for private boat tours.
For a tasty dinner, choose either Players on Main Street, Big Slide Brewery or Maggie’s Pub at the Lake Placid Lodge. These are all good and you can’t go wrong. Players is the most laid-back of the bunch, but Big Slide is pretty laid-back too. Maggie’s Pub is a little nicer being in the hotel, and has outstanding views of Lake Placid and Whiteface.
Day 3 (full day)
Rise and shine for a big activity day. For your second full day in Lake Placid, I recommend either a hiking day or a paddling day. Your choice. After a good breakfast, grab some to-go sandwiches and plenty of water, and spend your day in the great outdoors. For a wonderful introductory hike that’s good for families and people new to the Adirondacks, I have five favorite hikes under 1,000 feet of elevation gain. If you’d like to get out on the water, grab some canoes, kayaks or SUPs and go for it. Make a whole day of it.
In the afternoon, after you’ve burned plenty of calories on your activity day, reward yourself with a soft-serve ice cream. These stands are an ADK must-do stop in the summer time.
For your last night in Lake Placid, plan on dinner at Jimmy’s 21 on Main Street. Excellent food and great views. They have something for everyone.
Day 4 (half-day)
On your last day in Lake Placid, try something unique and fun. Ride the Cliffside Coaster on Mt. Van Hoevenberg. This is a scenic coaster that takes advantage of the old bobsled track from the 1980 Olympic games. So you get a little taste of Olympic history and something fun and different that you can’t do anywhere else.
