In and Around Lake Placid, NY

Lake Placid is mostly known for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics but it is also one of the most charming towns you'll ever visit--winter or summer. Right in town is The Olympic Center and Lake Placid Olympic Museum and on the outskirts are the Olympic Jumping Complex and the Olympic Sports Center. About 15 minutes away in the town of Wilmington is Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge.

Main Street where hanging baskets adorn the fronts of shops . . .

. . . and planters surround sidewalk cafes.

 

The Lake Placid Olympic Museum is located in the Olympic Center where the U.S. beat Russia in ice hockey in 1980. 

Thought I'd sneak in a photo from last winter of the speed skating oval where public skating sessions are offered.    

The ski jumps come into view along River Road.

During the summer months, young athletes practice their jumping skills landing in a pool of water at the base of the jumps.

 

The Olympic Sports Complex is home to the biathlon shooting range, cross country ski trails, and the bobsled, luge, and skeleton track.  

 The track is one mile long with sixteen curves . . .

 

. . . and the best thing of all is that for a nominal fee ($8) you can go on a 20-minute tour with the option of walking on the inside of the entire track on the way back down!

This is Curve 4. Imagine going around this at high speed.

 

A gondola takes visitors to the top of Whiteface Mountain with its spectacular views. 

Not far from Whiteface Mountain is the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge and Rehabilitation Center which is open every day from 10 to 4. This handsome Timber Wolf's name is "Cree." He gets walked daily on a leash just like a dog.

 

An Osprey recovering from an injury. 

Not to be missed is this Arctic Fox whose coat turns completely white during the winter months. It was lunchtime when we were there and he was patiently waiting to be fed.

Oops! Looks like he wasn't hungry after all. He's burying his food and will eat it later.