It’s been two years since we traveled somewhere new for a family vacation and it feels good to get out and explore again! This summer’s destination is Lake Placid, chosen for its scenery, range of outdoor activities, and location within driving distance. Somehow, our hockey travels never took us up here in the winter, so we thought we’d check it out in the summer – and during Olympic season, for an added twist!

Today was mostly a travel day, though we fit in a few scenic detours for good measure. The North Chatham train station is adorable (thanks for the detour, Google!), the Main Street in Lake George has lots of merch shops but no gas station, and Saratoga Springs is worth a stop for gelato and a water bottle refill from the city fountains. Note to the wise: the mineral levels in the water vary depending on the source so choose carefully or you’ll end up with sulfur-flavored bottles!

Despite the clouds and rain for the last half of our journey, we could tell that the surroundings were stunning, with high peaks and lakes around every turn. And it turns out that the view from our lodging is in fact as good as claimed in the pictures online – and the location is indeed easy walking distance to downtown.

Lake Placid itself is a bustling village – between the tourists and the lacrosse tournament families here this week, one has to be savvy about dinner reservations, or risk waiting several hours for a table! While we waited for ours to be ready, we explored the downtown a little, making notes of places to return to on subsequent days. Every once in a while between the Main St shops we caught a glimpse of Mirror Lake, and from the park by the public bandshell, we could see the view in its entirety.

Dinner was worth the wait: lakeside dining, brewpub food, excellent stout, and cornhole under the tent. (Kids beat parents 17-6 but the soggy bean bags didn’t slide so it was a different game – really!)