The visitor center in Lake Placid greets tourists with a mountain of “magical snow” (conveniently farmed from the local ice rink Zamboni). The two main rinks in town are currently under construction (come back in 2023 when the $100M project is done!) but there is still public skating every day at the one remaining open rink in town – we may have to check it out later this week…

Our main outing of the day was focused on the summer pleasures of hiking in the Adirondacks. Because this is a multigenerational trip, we chose Mt. Jo, a supposedly friendly hike with big views — only to discover that it was quite a bit steeper, rockier, and slipperier than expected. Only a few parts were easily traversed with clear footing, and (we found out later) according to the info center at the base, the conditions of the day were “wet and muddy” – indeed! But the views surpassed the guide book description (the glorious weather didn’t hurt), providing breathtaking views of many surrounding high peaks and Heart Lake below. What a great way to experience Adirondack beauty.

Returning from hiking, we took to Main Street in Lake Placid to experience the bustle and shopping on a sunny day. The setting alongside Mirror Lake is so striking, and the stores and parks are well situated to provide views for all comers. We continued the water theme at dinner ourselves, eating al fresco at “Lisa G’s” with a waterfall and fountain as backdrop – a delightful way to end a scenic day.