I Love Lake Placid

July 4 falls on this coming weekend - a weekend of flags, parades, and fireworks to celebrate our nation's independence.  For the past 10 years my mother and I (and assorted guests) have made the drive north to Lake Placid to soak up the fresh air of the Adirondacks.

We aren't serious hikers or boaters and we don't camp or fish.  So why do we go?

• The I Love New York horse show runs, featuring a grand prix show jumping competition.  (As horse lovers this is a day we can't miss.)
• The downtown area has shopping for clothing and household items ranging from upscale to outlets to typical tourist stuff.  
• Food stores are scattered throughout the shops - homemade chocolates, fudge, and the best popcorn I've ever tasted!  
• I haven't even begun to discuss restaurants yet... my "can't miss" places are The Downhill Grill, Nicola's on Main, and Ere's.  There are many, many more great-tasting places.
• There are lots of easy hikes and nature trails, like the Peninsula Trails on Lake Placid.  Walkers can see great views (Whiteface is visible from this one) without strenuous climbs that take all day.
• There are so many things to do right in the region - the Olympic sites, the W!ld Center, Paul Smith's visitor interpretive centers, Whiteface, etc.  

Knowing Where to Go

We repeat certain things each year, like Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, but I still like to use TripAdvisor to plan my vacation.  The site archives past information so I can easily reference what we've done over the years.  My Droid doesn't offer an app for the site (which has contact info for most locations, in addition to user reviews) but I can access my account via the web.

Sometimes the Best Thing to Do is Nothing at All...

I love Lake Placid's calming effect.  The humidity is low relative to the rest of the state.  The pace is a little slower and you can simply relax.  Staying at a place with a view of any of the region's lakes adds to the effect.  (Bonus points for a view of the fireworks on the 4th!) 

Even though we're only going for a weekend this year, I'm really looking forward to the chance to unwind, spend some time in nature, and RELAX.  After all, doing the things I want to do when I want to do them isn't really a choice most of the time.  And... a cool parade and fireworks show is a sweet bonus!


Connect With lake Placid:

Lake Placid is on Facebook - they offer some contests and promotions there
Lake Placid on Trip Advisor - some of the cool little places and hidden gems aren't on this site; but it's useful nonetheless
Lake Placid region site - you can find out more about the region and start planning your trip here