We love watching winter sports in Lake Placid, but let’s be real … sometimes it’s freaking cold standing out in the snow as a spectator. Right? I’d argue that you can achieve the best of both worlds — comfort and the thrill of being there in person — when you watch winter sports in the summer or fall. There are plenty of opportunities. Everything from Hockey, Speed Skating and Figure Skating competitions to Nordic Combined, XC Skiing, Ski Jumping and Freestyle Jumping.

I recently came across the blog and Instagram account @wonders_within_reach, and was really inspired by this family’s experience traveling and finding accessible family adventures. This is a darling family of five with a 3rd grader and two kindergartners, one of whom has spina bifida and is in a wheelchair. I especially loved their story — and very positive experience — traveling to the Adirondacks. In addition to the sites mentioned in their blog, it got me thinking about other activities around Lake Placid that are accessible for all. The more research I’ve done on accessibility in the Adirondacks, the more I’ve found. Here’s what I recommend.

I love fall! It’s my favorite season with cool temperatures and gorgeous fall colors. My previous autumn post in early September got me excited about the season, but with the start of October this weekend, leaf peeping is approaching it’s peak! Here are my top tips and must-do activities for enjoying the autumn leaves.

We’ve had several days of rainy weather in Lake Placid this week. After a day or so, we start getting cabin fever and look for new ideas for things to do on rainy days. In fact, this is a continuation of a previous rainy day post I did back in June. Check out these five activities for rainy weather.

Just like chicken noodle soup, a walk through the woods to a pond is good for the soul. It’s different from hiking to a mountain top. Not only are these hikes less strenuous, but having a lakeside destination is often much more serene and peaceful. Generally less human traffic. Low key. Usually forested walks. Great in summer if you’re looking to take a dip in the water. Good in the spring mud season when we need to avoid higher elevations — but be prepared with bug spray in black fly season. Ideally, try these trails in autumn to catch reflections of fall color in a crystal clear pond.

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.

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.

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.

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.

As anyone who visits the Adirondacks knows, soft serve ice cream is where it’s at in the summertime. Many of these little one-room walk-up houses of deliciousness are only open Memorial Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, with few exceptions. This makes them truly the taste of summer. I also love that they offer limited flavors that change frequently. Get the scoop on where we get our cones.