Lake Placid is best-known for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. But long before the picturesque town tucked into the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Mountains became world-famous for hosting the Olympic games, it earned notoriety amongst the East Coast elite as the place to ski in the summer, swim in the summer, and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the mountains and lakes in the months in between. Everyone from the Rockefellers, to Vanderbilts, and Carnegies all built summer homes nearby.

The allure of tranquil Lake Placid has only increased over the years, and today there’s no better place to enjoy the stunning landscapes than the grand Whiteface Lodge Resort & Spa — named for towering Whiteface Mountain. Boasting upscale classic Adirondack decor, generously-sized rooms and suites, a huge array of amenities, delicious upscale dining options, and an award-winning spa, it offers everything you could need for a perfect Lake Placid getaway any time of year.

Location

Whiteface Lodge is located in Lake Placid, which is a two-hour drive from Albany, N.Y., Burlington, Vt., and Montreal, and a five-and-a-half-hour drive from New York City and Boston.

While it’s not in the town of Lake Placid or on the lake, the sprawling wooded retreat is just a few minutes drive from both, and there’s complimentary shuttle service to the Lodge’s exclusive Canoe Club at Lake Placid during summer months.

Suites

The Lodge boasts 96 luxe one- to three-bedroom suites ranging from 700 to 2,300 square feet. It’s actually the only all-suite hotel in the entire Adirondack region.

All suites are generously sized: in fact, my three-bedroom, two-level suite with a kitchen, dining area, living room, three large bathrooms, gas fireplaces, and a covered balcony with mountain views felt more like a private, well-appointed townhome or ski chalet than a hotel.

The decór is upscale Adirondack, with plush upholstered and leather furniture, handmade wood furniture, stained glass lamps, chandeliers crafted from antlers and brass, and cozy textiles that stay true to the classic rustic Adirondack style, but feel modern and elegant too.

Dining

The lodge’s premier restaurant, Kanu, serves up upscale Adirondack-inspired American cuisine in a gorgeous dining room with soaring ceilings, roaring granite fireplaces, hand-hewn beams, and glowing wrought iron and antler chandeliers. The open kitchen format allows diners to watch as the culinary team plates up osso bucco, lobster garganelli with bisque cream sauce, and scallops with serrano-tomato risotto.

Peak 47 and the Canoe Club offer more casual, family-friendly dining options.

Activities for Every Season

Winter skiing and snowshoeing and lake swims in summer months may be the most popular activities. But every season has so much to offer in Lake Placid. Spring and Fall are ideal times to hike, and the Adirondacks are a truly spectacular place to see fall foliage.

Notable Amenities

• 24-hour in-room dining

• In summer month, shuttle service and complimentary water sports Canoe Club at Lake Placid

• Kamp Kanu kid’s program

• Award-winning spa

• Fitness center and classes

• Indoor/outdoor heated pool and hot tubs

• 56-seat surround sound movie theater

• Game room complete with billiard, shuffleboard, foosball, and two-lane bowling alley

• Basketball, tennis, pickleball and paddle tennis courts

• Snowshoe and cross-country ski trails

• Ice skating

• Fishing in catch-and-release pond with all equipment provided

• Nightly campfires and s’mores – a signature Whiteface Lodge tradition

To book your Lake Placid getaway, visit Whiteface Lodge Resort & Spa.