When I arrived in Lake Placid, New York, after a five-plus-hour drive in August, I was very excited to see Lake Placid itself. I was so excited that I erroneously assumed that the lovely lake in the town of Lake Placid (of which I had a great view from the High Peaks Resort) was Lake Placid. But no, it was Mirror Lake. I didn’t see Lake Placid until I went to the famous ski resort of Whiteface and rode the Cloudsplitter Gondola. This gondola ride, which is included in the Olympic Sites Passport, takes you to the top of Little Whiteface at 3,676 feet high. The views of Lake Placid from the viewing platform are spectacular! These were the beautiful Adirondack vistas that we had driven so many hours to experience.
More views from the top of Little Whiteface. We enjoyed walking around after taking the Cloudsplitter Gondola.
We also enjoyed walking around the top of Little Whiteface and saw more great views in other directions. I’m sure that skiing around there would have been even more fun (although much colder as we were enjoying gorgeous weather in 70s.) Whiteface was the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics and it is the greatest vertical drop in the East at 3,430 feet. As we had our toddler in tow, we were just as happy to take the gondola back to the base (base elevation is 1220 feet) as opposed to skiing down the notoriously steep trails. And we had a lot of other Lake Placid adventures in store for us that day!
One of my favorite views during the Cloudsplitter Gondola ride at Whiteface? This floral ode to New York!
Comped but Never Compromised: This trip was hosted by ORDA (Olympic Regional Development Authority of New York), but I am free to write whatever I want.
Beautiful! I’m from Pennsylvania, but have never been to Lake Placid.
Jennifer recently posted..10 Must See Gardens in Europe
I always say it’s important to see a destination from the highest point – this is exactly why!
Pretty pictures. I always wonder what happens to Olympics sites after the Olympics are over.
Kate @30Traveler recently posted..Koh Samui – Great Beaches + Convenience
so beautiful!
wanderingeducators recently posted..China’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity
This looks like a beautiful place to visit!!
Val-This Way To Paradise recently posted..Where Is Home?
I love Lake Placid and Whiteface… skied there as a teen… great memories of walking around that lake in the dark with a young lover… 🙂
Jennifer Miller recently posted..Silly shots: Photo essay in funny
This is my parents favorite spot to go on long weekends. It’s about 6 hours from my parents house and they just love it there. I haven’t been there yet, cause they moved to this house after I moved out – figures 🙂 So have to find time when visiting them to go here.
Marina K. Villatoro recently posted..Eco Vacations in Guatemala – Parks and Reserves #1
Beautiful! Gondola rides are always such a fun trip.
Micki recently posted..Great Places To Go With Children In Madrid
I went to college in the Adirondacks, which isn’t EXACTLY Lake Placid adjacent, but kinda sorta is? Anyway, I sure do love it up there.
Jennifer recently posted..Family Fun beyond the Ski Slopes
LOVE that first photo! Heavenly.
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