Five days · Lake Placid in winter

Lake Placid in winter for three generations: Olympic history, toboggans and Whiteface

Reviewed Oct 25, 2026How we verify

Four nights in the village, Wednesday to Sunday: Mirror Lake frozen below Main Street, the museum of two Winter Games, the Cliffside Coaster at Mt Van Hoevenberg, the toboggan chute at night, a day at Whiteface and The Wild Center on the way home.

Ski trips Snowy escapes without skiing Snowshoeing, dog sledding & winter sports

5 days / 4 nights Kids 7 and up Jan–Feb

Original illustration

Snow-covered frozen Mirror Lake at dusk, with a lit Christmas tree on the shore and the hills beyond — **Mirror Lake** · frozen white at dusk below the village, at the heart of a five-day winter stay

The trip in 60 seconds

Trip at a glance

Who it’s for: Grandparents, parents and children 7 and up who want a snowy village, Olympic history and a mix of easy and lively days
Route: New York City → Lake Placid (four nights) → Mt Van Hoevenberg → Whiteface → The Wild Center in Tupper Lake → home
Best timing: January and February, when the lake ice is thick enough for the toboggan chute. Keep the days Wednesday to Sunday
Pace: Mixed: one gentle day, three active ones and a travel day, with short drives and plenty of rest
Sleep: A hotel on Mirror Lake or Main Street for four nights
Getting there: About 5 hours by car from New York City. A car is needed for Mt Van Hoevenberg, Whiteface and Tupper Lake
Rough budget: Olympic Museum $15 per adult; lift tickets from $79; The Wild Center $28 per adult; toboggan chute $20 per adult
Good to know: Book The Wild Center and lift tickets ahead, and check the toboggan chute ice before Friday

Reviewed Oct 25, 2026How we verify

Illustration: a bird’s-eye view of Lake Placid in winter, Mirror Lake and the village, Mt Van Hoevenberg, Whiteface and Tupper Lake, with the five-day route: Day 1 Mirror Lake, Day 2 Olympic Museum, Day 3 Mt Van Hoevenberg, Day 4 Whiteface, Day 5 Wild Center. — Lake Placid in winter · the village on foot, with short drives to the mountain, the track and Tupper Lake

Postcards from the trip

Snow-dusted High Peaks under a pale winter sky, framed by a tall spruce and frosted forest below — **High Peaks in winter** · Fresh snow on the summits above a frosted spruce forest, January.

The Olympic ski jump towers at Lake Placid above a snowy landing hill, a chairlift and wooden fence in front — **Olympic ski jumps** · The two jump towers above the snow, a chairlift running beside them.

View down the gondola cables from Little Whiteface over frosted evergreen forest and a winding road in the valley — **Little Whiteface gondola** · Rime-frosted spruce from the cabin, the valley opening below.

Snow-streaked Whiteface Mountain and Esther Mountain seen across a wooded valley under a clear sky — **Whiteface and Esther** · Whiteface's ski trails from Jay ridge, a view for the whole family.

The idea

Five days, one snowy village, three generations.

Lake Placid is a small village that has hosted the Winter Games twice, and it still feels built for winter: a frozen lake below Main Street, a toboggan chute, a sliding track in the woods and a ski mountain twenty minutes away. It works well for three generations because almost everything has an easy version and a lively one.

The days run Wednesday to Sunday, which lines up Thursday’s dinner at Lisa G’s, Friday night at the toboggan chute and Sunday at The Wild Center. One day is gentle on purpose, and each active day ends with a long dinner close to the hotel.

Book the timed tickets and lift tickets before you go, dress everyone for real cold, and let the grandparents tell the children about the Miracle on Ice.

Day-by-day summary

Frozen Mirror Lake at dusk with lights on the shore

Day 1 · Wednesday · arrive · by carMirror LakeThe drive up, lunch at Big Slide, a walk around Mirror Lake and Main Street, and dinner at The Cottage.

The Olympic Center on Main Street in Lake Placid

Day 2 · Thursday · on footOlympic MuseumBreakfast at Dancing Bears, the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, lunch at the Pub, a free afternoon and dinner at Lisa G’s.

The snowy finish of the Mt Van Hoevenberg bobsled run, with the finish house and the High Peaks behind

Day 3 · Friday · by carMt Van HoevenbergBreakfast at Generations, the Cliffside Coaster at Mt Van Hoevenberg, lunch at Big Slide and the toboggan chute at night.

Ski runs on Whiteface Mountain seen from the gondola

Day 4 · Saturday · by carWhitefaceBreakfast at The View, a day at Whiteface with lessons or the gondola, lunch at The Cottage and dinner at Generations.

The Wild Center natural history museum in Tupper Lake

Day 5 · Sunday · depart · by carWild CenterBreakfast at Dancing Bears, the drive to Tupper Lake, The Wild Center, and the road home.

A lit Christmas tree beside snow-covered Mirror Lake in Lake Placid at dusk, hills beyond — A lit tree by Mirror Lake after fresh snow: the village goes quiet early on winter evenings, and the lakeside path suits any pace. Photo: LunchboxLarry, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The route

Five days, one base, short drives

Four nights in the village, with drives of 15 to 45 minutes to the mountain, the track and Tupper Lake.

Illustration: Mirror Lake frozen under snow with the village of Lake Placid on the shore and the High Peaks behind, original illustrated day card

01Lake Placid · Mirror Lake

Base: a hotel on Main Street or Mirror Lake, four nights. Lake Placid is about 5 hours by car from New York City. The village is walkable, and the day trips are 20 to 45 minutes by car. Walking the Mirror Lake shore and Main Street is free. Pace: a gentle arrival for three generations: mostly car time, then a flat village walk; the break is a long lunch at Big Slide.

Up into the mountains

Where to eat: Big Slide Brewery & Public House, from 11:30 a.m.

The last hour of the drive climbs into the Adirondack High Peaks, with snow on the spruce and the ski jumps showing above the trees as you come into the village. Check in, swap boots and find lunch at Big Slide Brewery, a timber brewpub with sandwiches, flatbreads and root beer for the children. It opens at 11:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday.

Around Mirror Lake

Where to eat: Origin Coffee, Main Street, daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Despite the name, the village sits on Mirror Lake, not Lake Placid, and in winter the lake freezes white below Main Street. Walk the shore at whatever pace the grandparents and the children set; it is flat, with benches and the peaks in view the whole way. Then drift along Main Street, a short strip of outfitters, sweet shops and cafés, and take a coffee and hot chocolate from Origin Coffee, open daily until 2 p.m. Expert tip: Get to Origin before 2 p.m.; it is a morning and lunch café and closes early.

Dinner at The Cottage

Where to eat: The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn, Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Cottage is the casual lakeside room of the Mirror Lake Inn, right on the water, with windows over the ice and a menu of burgers, salads and comfort food that works for three generations. It is closed on Mondays and open until 9 p.m. midweek.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · Origin Coffee — Main Street, daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why here: coffee and a bite in the village if you set off early from New York City.
Lunch · Big Slide Brewery & Public House — from 11:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday. Why here: a relaxed brewpub with plenty for children and grandparents.
Dinner · The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn — Sunday and Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Mondays. Why here: casual food with the frozen lake outside the windows.
Quick stop (viewpoint): Mirror Lake — below Main Street. Why here: a flat, easy walk with the peaks in view.

Arrive in daylight. The last hour of the drive climbs into the High Peaks and is slow in snow; leaving New York City early puts you in the village in time for lunch at Big Slide.

New York City → Lake Placid: about 5 hours by car. Hotel → Big Slide: about 5 minutes by car. Main Street → Mirror Lake shore: on foot. Main Street → The Cottage: about 10 minutes on foot.

Where to stay

Mirror Lake Inn — four nights; on the lake, with The View and The Cottage on site.
High Peaks Resort — four nights; on Main Street, with Dancing Bears for breakfast.

Dinner: The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn.

Tomorrow: the Olympic Museum, the Miracle on Ice rink and dinner at Lisa G’s.

Bad-weather plan

Heavy snow on the drive? Check road conditions before you leave and arrive in daylight. In the village, keep the lake walk short and spend longer over lunch at Big Slide and a hot drink at Origin Coffee on Main Street.

Stay: Lake Placid village · Anchor: Mirror Lake · book Wild Center timed tickets

Good to know: The Cottage is closed on Mondays. Origin Coffee closes at 2 p.m. daily.

Illustration: the Olympic Center on Main Street in snow, with skates, a hockey stick and Olympic rings, original illustrated day card

02Lake Placid · Olympic Museum

Base: Lake Placid village, second night. Today is all on foot along Main Street. The Olympic Museum is $15 per adult, $12 for ages 7 to 19 and 65 and over, and free for 6 and under. Pace: the easy day: a level walk on Main Street and one museum; the break is the open afternoon after lunch at the Pub.

Breakfast and the museum

Where to eat: Dancing Bears at High Peaks Resort, daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Start with breakfast at Dancing Bears, then walk to the Olympic Center on Main Street. Lake Placid held the Winter Games twice, and the Olympic Museum inside tells both stories through sledges, skates, uniforms and medals. Grandparents who remember the Miracle on Ice hockey game will find it here, and children can see how small and fragile the old equipment was. It is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Expert tip: Children 6 and under go free and ages 7 to 19 pay the reduced rate, as do adults 65 and over.

Lunch at the Pub

Where to eat: Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, kitchen from 11:30 a.m.

Walk down to the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, a long-standing brewpub with a kitchen open from 11:30 a.m., and order the burgers and a pitcher of its own root beer or ale. The afternoon is free: a nap for some, a skate or a turn round the shops for others, and a coffee at Origin before it closes at 2 p.m.

Dinner at Lisa G’s

Where to eat: Lisa G’s, Thursday from 4 p.m.

Lisa G’s is a friendly, busy local spot near the river at the edge of the village, with a long menu of comfort food that suits every age at the table. On Thursdays it opens from 4 p.m., which makes an early family dinner easy.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · Dancing Bears — High Peaks Resort; daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why here: a hearty breakfast a short walk from the museum.
Lunch · Lake Placid Pub & Brewery — kitchen Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Why here: a long-standing brewpub with food for every age.
Dinner · Lisa G’s — Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Why here: an early, easy family dinner.
Quick stop (coffee): Origin Coffee — Main Street, daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why here: an afternoon coffee and cocoa.
Quick stop (other): Lake Placid Olympic Museum — daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Why here: two Winter Games in one building.

Pace the week. Today is gentle on purpose: three big days follow, so leave the afternoon open for rest, a nap or an easy skate.

Hotel → Dancing Bears: on foot on Main Street. Dancing Bears → Olympic Center: about 5 minutes on foot. Olympic Center → the Pub: about 5 minutes. Main Street → Lisa G’s: about 10 minutes on foot or a short drive.

Where to stay

Mirror Lake Inn — second night.
High Peaks Resort — second night; the museum is a short walk away.

Dinner: Lisa G’s.

Tomorrow: the Cliffside Coaster at Mt Van Hoevenberg and, if the ice is thick, the toboggan chute at night.

Bad-weather plan

A stormy day is a good museum day. The Olympic Center is indoors, and Main Street’s cafés and shops are a few steps apart.

Stay: Lake Placid village · Anchor: Olympic Museum · museum daily 9:30–5

Good to know: The Olympic Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Illustration: the Olympic sliding track curving through snowy woods at Mt Van Hoevenberg, original illustrated day card

03Lake Placid · Cliffside Coaster

Base: Lake Placid village, third night. Mt Van Hoevenberg is about 15 minutes by car; the toboggan chute is in the village. The toboggan chute is $20 per adult and $10 for students, card only. Pace: a bigger day: the coaster in the morning, a rest in the afternoon, and the chute after dinner only for those with energy left.

Breakfast and the sliding track

Where to eat: Generations, daily 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for breakfast.

Breakfast at Generations, then drive out to Mt Van Hoevenberg, the Olympic sports complex in the woods south of the village, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sliding track curls down through the trees, and the Cliffside Coaster, a mountain coaster on rails, gives children and the brave grandparents a fast, safe run of their own beside it. Expert tip: Check the legacy sites page on the morning you go; the coaster and the track activities depend on the weather.

Back to the village

Where to eat: Big Slide Brewery & Public House, from 11:30 a.m.

Return for lunch at Big Slide, then a quiet afternoon: a rest at the hotel, or a hot chocolate on Main Street with the children while the grown-ups browse the outfitters.

The toboggan chute

Where to eat: Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, kitchen Friday until 10 p.m.

On Friday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., the toboggan chute on Mirror Lake runs a wooden slide down onto the frozen lake, and the toboggans skim far out across the ice. It opens only once the ice is at least 12 inches thick, typically in January and February, so check before you go. Tickets are sold on site, card only. Eat first at the Lake Placid Pub, whose kitchen stays open until 10 p.m. on Fridays.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · Generations — daily breakfast 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Why here: an early, sit-down breakfast before the drive out.
Lunch · Big Slide Brewery & Public House — from 11:30 a.m. Why here: an easy lunch back in the village.
Dinner · Lake Placid Pub & Brewery — kitchen Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Why here: a short walk from the toboggan chute.
Quick stop (snack): Hot chocolate on Main Street — in the village. Why here: an afternoon warm-up for the children.
Quick stop (other): Toboggan chute on Mirror Lake — Friday 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. once the ice is thick. Why here: toboggans down a wooden slide onto the frozen lake.

Check the ice. The toboggan chute opens only with 12 inches of lake ice. If it is not open, Friday evening is for a long dinner at the Pub instead.

Village → Mt Van Hoevenberg: about 15 minutes by car. Mt Van Hoevenberg → Big Slide: about 15 minutes. Main Street → the toboggan chute: on foot.

Where to stay

Mirror Lake Inn — third night; the chute is a short walk along the lake.
High Peaks Resort — third night.

Dinner: Lake Placid Pub & Brewery.

Tomorrow: Whiteface, with ski lessons for some and the Cloudsplitter Gondola for everyone.

Bad-weather plan

Very cold, windy or wet? The outdoor rides can close. Swap the morning for an indoor skate or a second look at the Olympic Museum, and keep the toboggan chute as a maybe.

Stay: Lake Placid village · Anchor: Mt Van Hoevenberg · toboggan chute needs 12 in of ice

Good to know: The toboggan chute costs $20 for adults and $10 for students, card only, with tickets sold on site.

Illustration: Whiteface Mountain under snow with the gondola rising over the ski runs, original illustrated day card

04Lake Placid · Whiteface

Base: Lake Placid village, fourth night. Whiteface is in Wilmington, about 20 minutes by car. Whiteface lift tickets start at $79 per adult, up to $109 on peak days. Pace: the hardest day for the skiers and an easy one for the grandparents on the gondola; the break is the late lunch at The Cottage.

Breakfast at The View

Where to eat: The View at Mirror Lake Inn, breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The View is the main dining room at the Mirror Lake Inn, serving breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. with the frozen lake below the windows. Eat well; it is a mountain day.

A day at Whiteface

Whiteface is the Olympic ski mountain of the region, with lessons for beginners and long runs for strong skiers. Skiers buy lift tickets online, where adult prices start at $79 and rise on peak days. Those who do not ski can still go up: the eight-passenger Cloudsplitter Gondola runs from the Main Base Lodge to the summit of Little Whiteface in about 15 minutes, over streams, ski trails and forest, to an observation deck with views of Lake Placid and the High Peaks. The gondola and the deck are wheelchair accessible, and the ride ticket is bought on site. Meet back at the base lodge at midday. Expert tip: Buy lift tickets online ahead; prices rise toward peak dates. Grandparents and non-skiers can take the gondola and be down in time for lunch.

Lunch, rest and dinner

Where to eat: Generations, in the village.

Head back for a late lunch at The Cottage, a long rest by the fire, and a coffee at Origin if you get there before 2 p.m. Dinner is at Generations, a lakeside restaurant with American comfort food, an easy last-big-night meal for three generations.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · The View at Mirror Lake Inn — breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Why here: a full breakfast before the mountain.
Lunch · The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn — Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Why here: a relaxed late lunch on the lake.
Dinner · Generations — in the village, by the lake. Why here: comfort food for the last big night.
Quick stop (coffee): Origin Coffee — daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why here: coffee after the mountain.
Quick stop (viewpoint): Cloudsplitter Gondola — Whiteface; ride ticket on site. Why here: the view over the High Peaks for non-skiers.

Split the party. Lessons for the children, the Cloudsplitter Gondola for the grandparents, and everyone back together for a late lunch in the village.

Village → Whiteface: about 20 minutes by car. Whiteface → The Cottage: about 20 minutes. The Cottage → Generations: a short drive or walk.

Where to stay

Mirror Lake Inn — fourth and last night.
High Peaks Resort — fourth and last night.

Dinner: Generations.

Tomorrow: The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, then the drive home.

Bad-weather plan

High wind can stop the lifts and the gondola. If the mountain is on hold, stay in the village for a skate and a slow lunch, and try Whiteface in the afternoon.

Stay: Lake Placid village · Anchor: Whiteface · buy lift tickets online

Good to know: Adult lift tickets start at $79 and reach $109 on peak days. The gondola ride ticket is sold at the mountain.

Illustration: The Wild Center among snowy forest in Tupper Lake, with otters and a river, original illustrated day card

05Lake Placid · Wild Center

Base: check out. The Wild Center is in Tupper Lake, about 45 minutes west by car; from there the drive home to New York City is about 5 to 6 hours. The Wild Center is $28 per adult, $26 for 65 and over and $15 for youth. Pace: a mostly indoor morning with short paths, then the long drive home; the break is lunch before you set off.

A last breakfast

Where to eat: Dancing Bears, daily from 7 a.m.

Breakfast at Dancing Bears, then pick up lunch to go at Origin Coffee, which serves breakfast and lunch all day, before you load the car.

The Wild Center

The Wild Center is a natural history museum of the Adirondacks on a big wooded site at Tupper Lake, with live animals, films and exhibits about the forests and rivers of the park, and paths outside in the snow. It is a good final stop for every age, and in winter it opens Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are timed and weekends sell out, so book before the trip. The drive west runs through Saranac Lake, the next village along, so there is fuel and coffee on the way if you need it. Expert tip: Book a morning slot. It leaves time for lunch in the car park and an afternoon drive home in daylight.

The road home

Where to eat: lunch from Origin to go; dinner on the way home.

From Tupper Lake the drive home runs south through the park. If you are staying another night, The View serves dinner from 5:30 p.m., though not on Tuesdays. Check the forecast before you set off: the Adirondack roads are slow in snow and the drive is long, so aim to be out of the mountains in daylight.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · Dancing Bears — High Peaks Resort; daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why here: a last hearty breakfast in the village.
Lunch · Origin Coffee, to go — daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; breakfast and lunch all day. Why here: lunch packed for the car.
Dinner · Origin Coffee, a packed supper — buy an extra sandwich with lunch for the drive; or The View at Mirror Lake Inn from 5:30 p.m. if you stay. Why here: keep the travel evening easy.
Quick stop (other): The Wild Center — winter Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Why here: the forests and rivers of the Adirondacks, indoors and out.
Quick stop (coffee): Origin Coffee — Main Street. Why here: lunch to go before the drive.

Book The Wild Center ahead. It sells timed tickets, winter weekends sell out, and in winter it opens only Friday to Sunday.

Lake Placid → The Wild Center: about 45 minutes by car. The Wild Center → New York City: about 5 to 6 hours.

Where to stay

Check out from the village — load the car after breakfast.
A fifth night at the Mirror Lake Inn — if you would rather drive home on Monday; dinner at The View.

Dinner: on the way home, or The View if you stay.

Next: the drive home, about 5 to 6 hours to New York City.

Bad-weather plan

Snow on the road home? Check conditions before leaving Tupper Lake, and leave earlier if needed. The Wild Center is mostly indoors.

Stay: Check out · Anchor: The Wild Center · timed tickets, weekends sell out

Good to know: The Wild Center costs $28 for adults, $26 for 65 and over and $15 for youth, and is open Friday to Sunday in winter.

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Plan & pack

Pack for the trip

Warm, waterproof layers. Adirondack winter is properly cold.
Insulated boots. For the lake shore and the toboggan chute.
Hats, mitts and neck warmers. For everyone, including non-skiers on the gondola.
Hand warmers. For the Friday evening on the ice.
A card. The toboggan chute takes card only.
Ski gear or rental plans. For the Whiteface day.
Snacks and water for the car. For the drives.
Printed or saved bookings. The Wild Center and lift tickets.

Main Street in Lake Placid on a winter night, with holiday lights on the shopfronts — **The toboggan chute opens only on thick ice, so check before Friday evening.** **Main Street in winter** · the toboggan chute is at the end of the street, waiting for 12 inches of ice

Whiteface from the gondola — **The gondola summit is windy, so dress the non-skiers warmly too.** **Whiteface** · dress the non-skiers for the summit wind, as warmly as the skiers

Illustration: an overhead flat lay for Lake Placid in winter, with mittens, a toboggan, skates and a map, original illustrated plan card — **Original illustration** · mittens, skates, a toboggan and the map for five winter days

Lake Placid in one frame

The plan card gathers the trip on one table: mittens for the lake, skates for the rink and a toboggan for Friday night. The day-by-day has each stop and meal.

Olympic Center — **Olympic Lake Placid** · the museum, the sliding track and the toboggan chute on the lake

The snowy bobsled finish at Mt Van Hoevenberg — **Olympic Lake Placid** · the museum, the sliding track and the toboggan chute on the lake

Illustration: Mirror Lake, Whiteface and the forest at Tupper Lake under snow, original illustrated recap card — **Original illustration** · the lake, the mountain and the forest, five snowy days in one view

Where the trip ends

The recap card closes the five days in the snow: the lake where you started, the mountain and the forest at Tupper Lake.

Frozen Mirror Lake at dusk — **Lake, mountain and forest** · Mirror Lake, Whiteface and The Wild Center

**Lake, mountain and forest** · Mirror Lake, Whiteface and The Wild Center

Postcards

Lake Placid in winter, in frames.

Quick answers

Planning notes

Is Lake Placid good for a multigenerational winter trip?

Yes. The village is compact, and nearly every day has an easy option, like the Olympic Museum or the Whiteface gondola, alongside lively ones for children and stronger skiers.

When is the Lake Placid toboggan chute open?

On Friday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. once the lake ice is at least 12 inches thick, typically in January and February. Tickets are sold on site, card only. See Day 3.

How much is the Lake Placid Olympic Museum?

$15 for adults, $12 for ages 7 to 19 and 65 and over, and free for children 6 and under. It is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Can non-skiers enjoy Whiteface?

Yes. The Cloudsplitter Gondola sells ride tickets at the mountain for the view over the High Peaks. See Day 4.

Is The Wild Center open in winter?

Yes, Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with timed tickets. Weekends sell out, so book ahead. See Day 5.

How far is Lake Placid from New York City?

About 5 hours by car. A car is useful once there for Mt Van Hoevenberg, Whiteface and Tupper Lake.

Where should a family stay in Lake Placid?

On Mirror Lake or Main Street, so the museum, restaurants and toboggan chute are walkable. The Mirror Lake Inn and High Peaks Resort both have restaurants on site.

How old should kids be for this trip?

It suits children 7 and up, who can enjoy the coaster, the toboggan chute and ski lessons, though younger children can do much of it with adjustments.

Before you set off — the official checks

Opening days, ice conditions and prices change. Confirm current details on the sites listed under official links.

Toboggan chute — Opens only on 12 inches of lake ice; Friday evenings. Lake Placid ↗
Mt Van Hoevenberg — Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weather dependent. Legacy Sites Passport ↗
Whiteface lift tickets — Adult tickets from $79, higher on peak days. Whiteface (Lake Placid) ↗
The Wild Center — Winter Friday to Sunday; timed tickets. The Wild Center ↗
Olympic Museum — Daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lake Placid Olympic Museum ↗

Plan with confidence

Official Links

Official sites to plan and verify the details in this guide.

Lake Placid Olympic Museum ↗Hours and admission

Lake Placid Legacy Sites ↗Mt Van Hoevenberg

Whiteface lift tickets ↗Tickets and prices

Cloudsplitter Gondola ↗Winter gondola rides

The Wild Center ↗Hours and timed tickets

Lake Placid visitor information ↗Toboggan chute and events

Reviewed Oct 25, 2026How we verify

Conditions and prices can change.

References

Research behind this guide

The reporting and research that shaped this itinerary.

Lake Placid ↗Wikivoyage

Dining at High Peaks Resort ↗High Peaks Resort

The Cottage ↗Mirror Lake Inn

Photo credits

Photos via Wikimedia Commons, resized and converted to WebP. The illustrated cover, day cards, plan card and recap card are this guide’s original itinerary artwork, illustrated from the credited photos listed here.

Mirror Lake — photo by LunchboxLarry from Burlington, Vermont, CC BY 2.0
Mirror Lake — photo by LunchboxLarry from Burlington, Vermont, CC BY 2.0
Lake Placid Olympic Center — photo by LunchboxLarry from Burlington, Vermont, CC BY 2.0; it is also the basis of the Day 2 card illustration
Bobsled run, Lake Placid — photo by DanielPenfield, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Whiteface from the gondola — photo by Baombaom, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0); it is also the basis of the Day 4 card and Recap card illustrations, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Wild Center — photo by TheTurducken, CC BY 2.0; it is also the basis of the Day 5 card illustration
Main Street, Lake Placid — photo by LunchboxLarry from Burlington, Vermont, CC BY 2.0
Whiteface from the gondola — photo by Baombaom, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lake Placid Olympic Center — photo by LunchboxLarry from Burlington, Vermont, CC BY 2.0
Bobsled run, Lake Placid — photo by DanielPenfield, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Main Street, Lake Placid — photo by LunchboxLarry from Burlington, Vermont, CC BY 2.0
Mirror Lake — photo by LunchboxLarry from Burlington, Vermont, CC BY 2.0
Whiteface from the gondola — photo by Baombaom, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Wild Center — photo by TheTurducken, CC BY 2.0
Cover, Cover web, Day 1 card and Recap card illustrations — based on a photo by Annacecchini, CC BY-SA 4.0; this illustrated adaptation is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Day 3 card illustration — based on a photo by Ermentrude, Public domain
Packing card illustration — based on a photo by Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0; this illustrated adaptation is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Route map — original illustrated route artwork for this guide; stop locations from OpenStreetMap

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The trip in 60 seconds

Postcards from the trip

Five days, one snowy village, three generations.

Day-by-day summary

Five days, one base, short drives

Day 1 · Mirror Lake—The drive into the Adirondacks, a late lunch at Big Slide, the frozen shore of Mirror Lake, hot drinks on Main Street and a lakeside dinner at The Cottage.

Day 2 · Olympic Museum—Pancakes at Dancing Bears, two Winter Games in the Olympic Museum, lunch at the Lake Placid Pub, an easy afternoon and dinner at Lisa G’s.

Day 3 · Mt Van Hoevenberg—Breakfast by the lake, the Olympic sliding track and the Cliffside Coaster in the woods, lunch back in the village, then toboggans onto the frozen lake.

Day 4 · Whiteface—Breakfast over the lake, ski runs or the Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface, lunch back at The Cottage and a lakeside dinner at Generations.

Day 5 · Wild Center—A last breakfast in the village, the drive west to Tupper Lake, a morning at The Wild Center and lunch to go for the road home.

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Lake Placid in one frame

Where the trip ends

Lake Placid in winter, in frames.

Planning notes

Before you set off — the official checks

More family trips.

Lake George

Park City Skiing with the Family

The Maine coast, three generations

Breckenridge with Kids in Winter

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