I post a lot about hiking and paddling, but recently I went biking for the first time in the Adirondacks. It was excellent! A new favorite activity for sure. While there’s a ton of downhill mountain biking trails in this area, I’m going to focus on road and gravel biking. I’m a newbie, so my experience and recommendations are geared toward entry-level cycling, and family-friendly.

Fall is right around the corner and it’s hands-down my absolute favorite time of year in the Adirondacks. The red and yellow leaves. The crisp temperatures. Apple picking season. Cider donuts. Corn mazes. Pumpkins. Love it all. Around Lake Placid, leaves usually begin turning by mid-September but won’t reach full-blown peak until late September or early October. Don’t worry so much about hitting the peak week, and just enjoy the foliage at whatever point you visit. Here’s a list of quintessential fall activities in the Adirondacks.

Whether you’re interested in trying a new activity or don’t want to haul all your sports equipment on vacay, there are plenty of great outfitters and rental shops to meet your needs. We recently did an overnight camping trip and rented gear, which worked out great. Here are our favorite outfitters and the sports gear they rent.

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.

Like many, when we first started paddling we rented tandem 2-person canoes. My husband now jokingly refers to them as “divorce boats” because different paddling styles and techniques can sometimes (ahem) result in disputes. Once we tried paddling solo canoes, we never looked back. Here’s why you should try it and what you need to know.

The Idem sloop is a sailing boat designed in 1899 for the specific purpose of racing on the Upper St. Regis Lake. Many of these boats have been carefully maintained over the course of the last 100+ years and kept up for racing on the lake. In the summertime, they race roughly between Memorial Day and Labor Day, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It’s a sight! However, races depend on how many of the boat owners and their crew are in town on a given day, the weather conditions and if there’s enough wind to race. So there isn’t any guarantee you’ll get to watch a race.

The Olympic Ski Jumps in Lake Placid are iconic. When we’re driving into town from the south, up 73, our first glimpse of the structures high above the trees is a favorite landmark. You can also enjoy a prime view of the jumps from the John Brown farm, and a distant view from the top of Cobble Hill. But the best is to get up close to really appreciate the size and pitch. In the summertime, the jumps come alive with athletes training.

This fall we’re excited to host two groups of friends coming to visit Lake Placid. One couple will be here for a week in early September and another couple comes in late September. None of them have ever been to upstate New York or the Adirondacks, so I’ve started a menu of activity options for visitors to consider.

Looking to catch live music while visiting Lake Placid? It’s hard to beat sitting outside in the park or hanging out on a deck and jamming to great tunes. Here are a few spots to catch a band in the summertime.

Even though the Adirondacks are a destination for the outdoorsy types, there are still plenty of cultural arts to enjoy. If you’re ready for a dose of some science, art, music and history, here’s my pick of exhibits and performances to check out.

Three of our favorite hikes with less than 2,000 feet of elevation gain (but more than 1,500 feet of gain). These mountain hikes may not be as difficult as the 46 High Peaks, but they are plenty challenging for many hikers and offer great views. The designation of easy, moderate or hard is completely in the eye of the individual hiker. HYOH! Hike your own hike.

Farmers’ Markets are a summer staple. It’s a wonderful way to support local farmers and small batch businesses, and get some tasty treats like artisan cheeses, sausages, fresh yogurt and more. Here’s our list of Adirondack farmers’ markets near Lake Placid for summer 2022, as well as some of my favorite stalls.