Earning entry into the Adirondack High Peaks Forty-Sixers club has long been on my bucket list, and considering the proximity of the 46 mountain peaks, there was no good reason not to give a go. Last weekend, I finally embarked on what will likely be a very long term quest when I took on Cascade Mountain,…
If it were left up to Jenn Holderied, Golden Arrow Resort’s General Manager and second-generation proprietor, all of Lake Placid would be certified as a Green destination. As it is, the young mom and local Ice Meister has been instrumental in helping the hotel earn Audubon International’s platinum level eco-certification, the highest available honor awarded to…
The Great Maple Syrup Caper of 2012 brought worldwide attention to a little known major industry. Quebec, which produces up to 80 percent of the world’s maple syrup, was reputed to have 10 million pounds–valued at $30 million– of the golden liquid in the warehouse that was hit. The New York Maple industry isn’t yet on that…
When the Wild Center opened near Lake Placid, New York in 2006 it was hailed as “the place to go” by the The Boston Globe. A crowd of more than 5000–the largest Adirondacks gathering since the 1980 Olympics–attended the opening celebrations. By the time that I arrived with my family in 2011, the Wild Center…
Mud season comes late in the Adirondacks, and lingers past the advent of spring blossoms in New York’s milder zones. From April to about mid-June, hikers are warned to avoid the wet and muddy high elevation trails. But with the temporary loss of trail access comes another seasonal boon–spectacular New York waterfalls. On a mild April…
If a storied history and charming owners were all that were needed to produce first-rate lodging, then The Pines Inn in Lake Placid, New York would be the best hotel in the Adirondacks. Alas, other accommodations in the area offer lakefront property, heated pools, signature spa treatments, luxurious linens, and even afternoon tea service. The Pines Inn…
In the heart of downtown Lake Placid lies the Olympic Center, home to three indoor skating rinks, the outdoor speed skating oval, and the only Olympic Museum in the United States. But to anyone who watched the 1980 Winter Olympics, it’s the place where Miracles happen. No visit to Lake Placid is complete without a…
At 4,867 feet, Whiteface rounds out the top five of the highest High Peaks. The ski trails, first opened in 1956, average an annual snowfall of 200”. Close to 200,000 skiers visit Whiteface every year, home to the Alpine events in the 1980 Winter Olympics as well as a few of the Nordic trails in…
Going to visit Lake Placid? The High Peaks Resort offers accommodations within walking distance of everything in the village. My kids and I recently were invited to spend a few days as the guests of the High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid. Years ago, back when it was the Hilton, I had stayed here with…
I’m a big fan of exposing kids to local history as young as possible. They may not always fully understand it but my hope is that as my children get older they will develop an appreciation for history and cultivate a love of learning. My family made a recent day trip up to Fort Ticonderoga,…