Olympic winter frozen in Lake Placid weather
Ice skating at the level of Tonya Harding It is an unattainable dream for most mortals, but for others, slipping into one of the Olympic training areas that she frequented in her good years is not so much.
Upstate New York, between the foothills of the gigantic set of mountains Adirondack and Mirror Lake, Lake Placid quietly awaits to offer the visitor an everlasting Olympic winter.
A film about the IRA
The Olympic character of the New York town began to float in the air from the very birth of the winter Games when the American Charles Jetraw He won the first gold medal in history at the **Chamonix Winter Olympics (1924)** in ice skating.
Jetraw, who grew up in nearby Lake Placid and trained in the great frozen lake that dominates the valley , he returned from the international competition with the desire to make his village the host of the event.
The small town of Lake Placid was so involved in the initiative that its inhabitants used a special tax to defray expenses s to build the necessary spaces for such a celebration and in 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, Lake Placid managed to put itself on the world map for winter sports.
Lake Placid in winter
Since then (and including a second edition in 1980) it has not ceased to be in it, a mixture of the unbeatable natural conditions of the environment and the passion of its few residents and visitors for this type of sports.
Visit Lake Placid while the Winter Olympics are taking place in PyeongChang It has a special charm, but the town is so picturesque and has so much to offer that, snow or not, any visit can be memorable.
In addition to practicing downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, or snowboarding at Whiteface and its surroundings, the visitor can choose: ice skating on the magnificent frozen lake that is the hallmark of Lake Placid, or on the speed training track.
Placido Lake Placid
The level of adrenaline can be adjusted to suit the consumer from zero to one hundred. There will be those who have enough with a quiet sleigh ride on the lake.
Siberian huskies are fast , but the passenger's heart rate won't go up more than an extra one or two when starting the sled. Even if touching the ice is too much for others, they can enjoy walking through the streets of the town, full of small charming shops, the old cinema, a traditional popcorn shop, creperies and a multitude of craft and gift shops related to Adirondacks and Lake Placid's Olympic past.
Perhaps one of the best excuses to visit the town is in fact its culinary offer and the variety of spaces to hang out on a cold day: from its Municipal Library (founded in 1886 and overlooking the lake), passing by the relaxed Lake House, where to have a drink or play board games on a blizzard day.
To warm up with an après-ski cocktail, or just to indulge, The Cottage It is an established restaurant bar with a good patio. Also interesting, something more artistic and hip, is Liquids and Solids at the handlebar, where they support local livestock and every Friday they offer a special gastronomy menu with local beer.
When it comes to beer, there's no shortage of local craft options: **Lake Placid Pub and Brewery** is the classic, known for its famous 'Ubu', and Great Adirondack Brewing , the very center has award-winning beers. The newest of the three, **Big Slide Brewery and Public House**, is just outside, and in addition to its ten creations it offers a very friendly menu and service that makes it worth a stop around the corner. cross-country skiing session Mount Van Hoevenbe.
This is where the adrenaline level begins to rise, with a foray into the Olympic Complex where the visitor can practice Bobsled, Luge and even Skeleton.
Only the ascent (by elevator) at Ski Jumping Facilities they offer an exceptional panoramic view of the valley, at the same time that they make the hair stand on end to whoever puts themselves in the shoes of the athlete about to jump, even when these facilities have become obsolete since today there are more jumps competition level height.
the charm of Lake Placid, tenderly frozen in time , is equally divided into its '80s Alpine-style architecture and its glittering Olympic past within everyone's reach.
The Olympic Passport, which can be purchased for the modest price of $35, offers access to a good number of activities, from the Olympic Museum where you can find ice skates from the 19th century, to a cable car ride to the top of Whiteface.
Whiteface Summit
On the way to the mountain from the town, a stop at the high Falls Gorge, which in winter offers a spectacular walk along the frozen waterfalls.
As you travel through the area, for a 360º experience, listen to local artist Lana del Rey. She was always clear that that village of just 3,000 people was too small for her in every way. Lake Placid was always her particular 'Twin Peaks'.
High Falls
WHERE TO SLEEP
Mirror Lake Inn. The second highest rated hotel near a ski resort in the United States. Family-owned classic luxury at the foot of Mirror Lake.
Cayuga House . A fantastic family home renovated with exceptional taste. Five rooms within walking distance of downtown, ideal for groups.
Lake Placid Lodge. Chosen as one of the best by the readers of Traveler Magazine in the United States, a place to disconnect from the world and mobile technology.
Whiteface Summit