My family and I opted to take a 3 day trip this summer just to get away, but we didn’t want to travel too far and spend most of our time on the road. I started looking at cities that were 3 -4 hours away from Ottawa and stumbled upon Lake Placid, NY. My husband had visited the Olympic city way back in the 1980’s and remembered how beautiful the village was and the scenic drive by car. Well, he was right as the view of the Adirondacks mountains were breath-taking and the highway road was so picturesque as we entered villages on our way to Lake Placid. It took us exactly 3 hours, including spending only a few minutes at customs in Corwall, to arrive in the village of Lake Placid.
I searched for hotel accommodations in the village and after viewing many options online, I opted for the Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club in Lake Placid. This resort hotel is located in the middle of the village, adjacent to the Olympic Center. I booked 2 queen beds room with a view of Mirrow Lake and ended up receiving an upgrade to a 1 King and 2 double beds family suite at no additional charge! The kids had their own room with 2 beds and a TV while we took the king bedroom. Our room was on the main floor facing Mirrow Lake and the main street, so we could take advantage of just walking out of our room to walk down the hill to the stores and enjoy sitting in, of course, Adirondack chairs! We ate at the hotel’s restaurant the first evening and had a succulent meal. We also took advantage of the Hot breakfast buffet for $12.99 including beverages per adult and half price for kids under 12. The view of the main restaurant is phenomenal as it overlooks Mirrow Lake and the main street! They also offer ample free parking, an indoor swimming pool, and complimentary Wi-Fi. If you are part of the IHG Rewards Club, which is free to sign up, late check out is available at no additional cost. Everytime we stopped at the reception desk, staff were courteous and polite, and gave us directions to the different sites. They also provided us with maps to visit around the city. We really enjoyed out stay at the Crowne Plaza Resort.
The next morning, we headed out to visit the Olympic Sports Complex to enjoy a Bobsled Experience with my family. I am not much of a thriller seeker, but since I enjoy roller coaster rides, I thought this would be up my alley! The Olympic Sports Complex is home to the combined bobsled, luge and skeleton track, the only one east of the Rockies, as well as 50 km of groomed cross-country ski trails, snowshoe trails, and a biathlon shooting range. In the summer the Olympic Sports Complex offers wheeled bobsled rides on the historic 1980 Olympic track, cross-country mountain biking, and horseback riding. We reserved a time for the wheeled bobsled ride at the gift shop/museum and headed out on a sightseeing tour of the 3 tracks. We ended up at the top of the newly built track in 2010 and took the opportunity to walk it down rather than a ride back in the shuttle bus. We took many photos walking down the interior course and taking the twists and turns of the world-class bobsled, skeleton and luge racers, except they do it at 80-mph.
Afterwards, we headed to the half way run point of the 1932 bobsled track to get geared up with helmets and meet the bobsled team. A professional driver and brakeman are with you in the boblsed. We opted for the girls versus the boys in a race down to the finish line. The girls took 40 seconds to race a 1/2 mile track at 50 mph while the boys beat us by .10 of a second. We filmed my daughter and I’s run with a Go Pro camera that was attached to the top of the bobsled and also my husband and son arriving at the finish line. Many thanks to Future Shop in Orléans for lending it to us!
At first when the bobsled is rolling down the pace is relatively slow and you pick up speed and more speed, and a curve followed by a zig zag at the end not too far from the finish line. In no time you are going 5o mph! The wheeled boblsed ride is totally amazing! I totally recommend trying it at least once in your lifetime. I always enjoyed watching the bobsled runs during the Olympics and definitely have a much better understanding of the intensity these athletes put themselves through every time they hit the tracks. OMG this is fast, furious, and dangerous!
Bobsled Experience
| Adult | $75 |
| Teen | $70 |
| Junior | $65 |
| Adult: Ages 20+ | Teen: Ages 13-19 | Junior: Ages 7-12 | |
For your bravery, you will be rewarded:
- Bobsled lapel pin
- Commemorative team photo
- A team t-shirt
- Membership in the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation
- 20% off your second bobsled ride
While visiting Lake Placid, purchasing the Olympic Sites Passport at $32/person is ideal as it will give you access to the Olympic Sport Complex, Olympic Jumping Complex, the Olympic Centre, and Whiteface Mountain. You can purchase it at a ORDA Store and at all of their ticket offices. The Passport saves you time, money, and gets you into the venues at a good value. It also gives you 20% off the Bobsled Experience at the Olympic Sports Complex!
The Olympic Sites Passport Includes one time admission to:
Whiteface
A scenic ride to the top of Little Whiteface on the Cloudsplitter Gondola and a FREE round of Disc Golf
Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway—drive or bike up to the summit, enjoy the views from the castle and look-out point (summer only)
The Olympic Center
Lake Placid Olympic Museum—watch the never released historical footage of the 1980 Miracle on Ice game (summer/winter)
Olympic Sports Complex
Take a tour of our the world class combined bobsled/luge/skeleton track (summer/winter)
Olympic Jumping Complex
Tour the facility and ride the elevator to the skydeck on top of the 120m jump tower (summer/winter)
Receive the following discounts with the Passport:
- 20% off the Lake Placid Bobsled Experience at the Olympic Sports Complex
- 20% off Be a Biathlete at the Olympic Sports Complex
- 20% off Mountain Bike rentals at the Olympic Sports Complex
- 20% off Wheeled Luge at the Olympic Jumping Complex
- 20% off Extreme Tubing at the Olympic Jumping Complex
- 20% off the Behind the Scenes Tour at the Olympic Jumping Complex
- 20% off the “Ready to Fly” ski jumping movie at the Olympic Jumping Complex
- 20% off Saturday Night Ice Show at the Olympic Center
- 20% off a Zamboni Ride at the Olympic Center
- 20% off The Sports Simulator at the Olympic Center
- 20% off a Nature Trek at Whiteface
- 20% off Yoga on the Mountain
- 20% off the Airbag Jump at Whiteface
- 20% off a 4×4 Expedition at Whiteface
- 20% off the Whiteface Adventure Zone
- 20% off of photo novelties at Miracle Moments concessions (summer/winter)
- A free pin at the ORDA Store on Main St. with a $25.00 merchandise purchase (summer/winter)
Our last stop of the day was at the Olympic Jumping Complex. Unfortunately, the extreme tubing and elevator ride to the skydeck were not open on Sunday, so we could not attempt them. It seems like so much fun! See the video below! We did manage to view a team of skiers practising their jumps and landing in a pool. These kids are getting ready for the cold winter months of ski jumping!
We came back to the village feeling hungry and decided to walk down the main street with all the stores and ate our dinner at the Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood Restaurant. The meals was delicious, the service was excellent, and the decor was quite rustic. Exactly what you expect from a Steakhouse! There are no chain restaurants in Lake Placid, except for Subway, so take the opportunity to walk around to look and try the local restaurants. They also have many gifts shops to bring back souvenirs and gifts for the family and relatives.
After dinner, we walked to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, home to the Olympic Museum, national, and international figure skating competitions, USA Hockey events, Smuckers’, Stars on Ice, and other special events! In front of the building is the speed skating oval used during the 1932 and 1980 Lake Placid Olympic.
On Monday morning, we decided to drive to the Crowne Plaza Hotel private beach on Mirrow Lake. We enjoyed taking in some sun, relaxing, swimming, and paddling on the Lake. Time to pack our bags, check out, and head back home, but not before an afternoon spent at the Whiteface Mountain.
The Gondola ride to the top of the majestic Whiteface Mountain was breathtaking! All the way up 3676 feet! We stayed at the top for about an hour to take in the magnificent view and lots of photos. While we we there, a couple of men arrived in the gondolas with their dirt bikes to ride them in the trails. If you don’t like heights, you can drive instead to the top or Whiteface Mountain by taking the Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway.
I strongly recommend making Lake Placid a family destination for your next vacation or getaway. You won’t be disappointed!
This is a super family adventure and this whole bobsled experience is now on our “must try” list! Great get away idea. Thanks!
It was amazing! Thanks for commenting!
It certainly sounds like you all had a very enjoyable break in Lake Placid. I think I’d have had a heart attack going on the bob sleigh run, you were all extremely brave to do that. 🙂
lol! I thought it was similar to a roller coaster ride without the hoops! Much enjoyable:)
Wow!!!! it looks like you and your family had an awesome time, I loved the bobsled video, that would of been awesome to go on, and the tube video, wow that was fast!!!! everything looked awesome from the room, to the sites, and the food, yummmmmm. I’m going to have to save some money and take a trip to Lake Placid looks like a great place to go!! thanks for sharing your vacation
We sure did and everything was amazing! Thanks for commenting:)
We went camping there a few years ago and it was BEAUTIFUL! We wanted to visit the olympic centre but ran out of time! It looks like we really missed out on a lot of fun!
Looks like it was an amazing getaway! I am going to have to remember Lake Placid for future vacation options!
You will love it! Thanks for commenting:)
Looks like nice place to visit and get real Olympic experience under professional guidance.
Yes it it. We really enjoyed our stay and will go back.
You must have had a blast…bob sleigh run..you brave girl
I sure did! You have to try it too! Thanks for commenting:)
I remember watching the Lake Placid movie. Gruesome, lol. Looks like you had a MUCH better time than they did in the movie 🙂
I always wanted to take my family there for a vacation. Your article convinced me we should vacation there next summer.
This looks like a really great family trip. I’d love to try the bobsled!
I was an amazing experience and hope you try it some day!
This trip looks like something our family would truly enjoy! Thanks for sharing.
That looks like a lot of fun! Great photos too. Thanks so much for sharing.
Looks like you had a great time. This place looks beautiful, unfortunately way out of my budget. I’m glad you had a great time though.
Not so sure about the bobsledding but the lake and hotel look amazing!
This looks and sounds like so much fun! I’d love to try that bobsleigh experience! Thank you for sharing.
Wow, that looks like quite the adventure!
I haven’t had the chance to travel but would love to see more 🙂 These are great photos 🙂 thanks for share
This looks like it would be great.
looks like a great vacation
What a great idea for our next family vacation!
wow very beautiful what a great place to clear your mind and enjoy mother nature
It sure is Angela! It was an awesome getaway!
My kids would love this.
This looks like a lot of fun. I am a little to old for it, but I am sure my children and grandchildren would love it. Thank you for sharing. Pictures are great!!
I need a vacation. One where I can just have a good time. It has been so very long since we did this.
Looks beautiful
that is so interesting! I didnt know thats how the practiced skiing
My gosh you guys had a blast! But that is what family vacations should be all about, having fun! When I go on vacation the kids and mom and pop have fun! 😀 That is why going with the kids is important to me because I am truly a kid at heart!
what a wonderful place to visit
Looks like ya’ll had the ultimate getaway.
It sounds like you had an amazing experience. Being from Illinois, my mind usually wanders west or south when planning vacations, but your review is making me have second thought.
I don’t think I’m brave enough for bobsledding anymore, but what a trip it must be for the younger crowd! I’m going to tell me thrill-seeking nephews about this and live vicariously through them. 🙂
Looks like a great vacation 🙂
That looks like an amazing vacation. I grew up in New York and all the pictures bring back a lot of memories from my childhood.
This looks like an awesome place to visit. Putting it on my list!
WOW! What an incredible vacation. Your pictures are really enticing and definitely make me want to visit some of these places. Great post! Thanks for sharing your family fun!
I will have to tell my daughter about the bobsled ride. She is always looking for something new & exciting to do on vacation.
so beautiful! I love the pictures that you shared! Makes me want to visit(:
Looks like your family had an awesome time! Thanks for sharing with us, as well as letting us know ways to help keep the costs lower.
wow it seems you had a wonderful experience and it looks to be a great place to be in. i love adventure and travelling so this time i,m making a plan to travel Lake Placid.
Now thats what I call a vacation!! Fabulous job on this review! It looks like Yall had a blast! Its beautiful there. That would be an amazing trip. I would love to go there.
Looks like a great vacation
Such beautiful pictures! Looks like a fun time had by all.
Oh my goodness what an extreme trip! LOVE IT! Looks like the family had a adventurous time and a place any family would have a blast. Thanks for sharing the wonderful pics/videos!
Oh my that looks like an amazing vacation spot. I’d be so scared to bobsled….my kids would probably pressure me to do it though LOL.
This sounds like an incredible trip. I will definitely have to do some research and check out Lake Placid myself. Thanks
Sounds like you had an awesome trip. Love that you got upgraded. And I really loved the bobsled video. That had to be so much fun! I thought you could only do that in snow, I guess not! Looks like a place to put on my “must visit” list!
It sounds you all had a wonderful time! I went there with my family a few years back and we had a blast. We really enjoyed the village and all the Olympic sights!
It looks so beautiful!
Gorgeous pictures! Looks like you guys had so much fun!!
I would love to take a trip over there one day
bobsled experience sounds liek so much fun!!! it looks like you had a great time!
Whew! Looks like you all had a great time! I want to go now!
This looks like so much fun!
Lake placid looks like a Beautiful Place to visit. I always heard it was.. You and your family looked like you were really enjoying yourselves..I am sure this won’t be the last enjoyable vacation you will have as a family..My Husband and I don’t go on vacations anymore. Health issues have put a damper on it! But we went to Hawaii one time and it was the best time we ever had… When the kids were young we went to Florida a few times to visit Disney world they Loved it there! WE also went on Camping trips. Had a lot of fun then too!~ Memories~ Great Ones~~ :0}~~~
We haven’t been to Florida yet as a family, so hoping to go soon! Sorry to hear about your husband’s not being able to travel any more. Yes, it’s true that one of the best family memories are when we are on vacation. Thanks for commenting!
Wow !! That sure looks like a super family trip!! 🙂
Gorgeous pictures! And that bobsleighing experience sounds awesome!
This looks like it was so fun.Thanks for sharing 🙂
i always wanted to go there, to the Olympics. people dont realize that NY has beautiful country, used to go to horse shows around here.
this place look beautiful! it looks like so much fun!
I have never been here but it looks really nice and a lot of fun!
Looks like a fun time! Thank you for sharing!
This does look like an awesome spot for a vacation! Take a bit of ‘dough’ with you though!
I am really not all that into cold weather sports. I’m more of a sit in the snow lodge with a good book and hot chocolate watching the snow fall out the window while everyone else skis or snow boards and all that.
I’ve always wanted to visit NY and now this will be on my places to go when I get there!!
I want to go!
WOW! What an incredible experience! I would LOVE to visit Lake Placid one day! Need a vacation!
It def looks like ya’ll had a blast!
When my kids get a little older we’ll definitely check this out!
Lake Placid looks gorgeous. I’d love to visit someday!
That place looks like so much fun. Makes me almost wish I lived on the east coast!
This sounds great. Thank you for sharing with us.
My grandkids are into the olympics and would love a vacation like this, but perhaps when they are a little bigger.
if santa thats me is a good santa this year,maybe ill get to go to lake placid in the near future..
looks absolutly Beautiful!!! I wish I could afford to take the whole family here.
Your pictures are great, looks like a gorgeous city! All the activities and Olympic history look fun!
This looks like fun especially for children.
Looks like a lot of fun!
Wow!! What a BEAUTIFUL place!!! Would definitely love to take a trip there!
wow what a nice place to visit
Lake Placid, NY looks like a great place to visit. I love that there are so many fun outdoor activities. Thank you for sharing this post.
You are welcome!
Looks like it was a lot of fun!
Looks like a wonderful vacation destination!
Wow! What a fun weekend excursion. This looks like a lot of fun!
This is my type of vacay!!!
A trip to New York would be great in the summer
Looks like fun but definitely not for me.
Sure looks like a fun time
What an amazing trip! I didn’t know you could visit the actual track (and walk on it!) or do a wheeled bobsled run. It sounds like a blast!
Wow that is so neat! I would love to visit there as well!
Im putting this on my bucket list
This looks like an amazing place to go for a vacation filled with adventures