Lake Placid has been fortunate enough to host both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Unlike most cities and venues that collect dust or are abandoned after these events, Lake Placid has repurposed and reinvested in these Olympic sites making them hot spots for everyone from adrenaline seeking adventurers to families traveling with children!

Ever been curious about what it feels like to speed down the mountain on a bobsled? Well at Mt Van Hoevenberg’s Cliffside Coaster you can take in breathtaking views while racing family and friends down the track, in a course that mimics the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Bobsled track. This coaster is not only the largest mountain coaster in America but boy oh boy is it fast!

To continue on with your adventure through the Olympic Sites, I’d recommend visiting the Olympic Jumping Complex! For those seeking an adrenaline rush check out the ziplines that are set up right near the 90-meter jump. Most of us “regular” people aren’t willing to actually launch ourselves 90-120 meters down a vertical drop and into the air, however if you’re curious as to what these incredible athletes experience, this zipline gives you a similar rush going speeds up to 30 mph (while safely strapped into a harness)!

For a more relaxed, but still very exciting day, take a scenic ride up to the top of little Whiteface via the Cloudsplitter Gondola. I’d recommend grabbing a bite to eat at the base lodge or packing a cooler with drinks and sandwiches and enjoying lunch at one of the tables at the observation deck up on top! Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes so you can explore the trails and enjoy some light to moderate hiking!

These are just a few of the many things the Lake Placid Olympic Sites have to offer and there are different activities to experience depending on the seasons. Placid Bay Hotel is a great place to have as your “base lodge” as you can easily access these venues from our location and know that at the end of the day you’ll be relaxing in luxury and well taken care of.