Lake Placid, NY
Lake Placid has nothing to do with the movie of the same name where
a giant crocodile is on an eating spree and chomps a few people
before being captured and killed. The Lake Placid that we are talking
about here is a village in upstate New York besides a lake of the
same name. It is popular for the Adirondack Mountains that surround
the area, the Olympic venues, skiing, skating, ice hockey and many
more.
There are a variety of choices of vacation activities that Lake
Placid offers to choose from. There can hardly be a person who doesn’t
want to be in the midst of nature, sparkling clear lakes, high peak
mountains, hemlock and pine forests as well resist the temptation
to play a few outdoor sports. Lake Placid is the place that offers
these in abundance. In addition, a visitor needs not be surprised
to find sports competitions like the Iron man competition, Skating
Championship, a marathon race or any such event that’s happening
all the time. Lake Placid also has the distinction of being the
first place in the USA to host two Olympics. Los Angeles is the
other place that shares the distinction of hosting two Olympics.
This village of 2000-3000 people has produced a double gold medallist
way back in the 1932 Olympics. Sports events are scheduled round
the year in this village, which was once witness to a great sporting
event that’s etched in the annals of sporting history in golden
letters. The event is termed as ‘Miracle on Ice’ and
it’s nothing less then a miracle indeed. Miracle on Ice refers
to a game of ice hockey in the 1980 Winter Olympics, in Lake Placid NY .
In this game, an inexperienced USA ice hockey team that mostly comprised
of amateur players was pitched in the semi finals against an experienced
USSR ice hockey team that had professional players. It was the cold
war era and all attention was fixed on everything that happened
between USA and USSR. The underdogs won by a score of 4-3. Only
a few days earlier the USA team had been drubbed by the USSR team
by 10-3. And the way the USSR team had made it to the semi finals
by pummeling other teams like Japan, Netherlands and Poland meant
that a USSR win was a formality. But buoyed by the flag waving and
slogan chanting home crowd the USA ice hockey team won that match
and eventually the gold medal by defeating Finland. This glorious
event has brought Lake Placid in to prominence and it’s now
the destination of many competitions and championships.
Lake Placid is undoubtedly a top winter sports destination. There
are sports like skiing, skating, bobsledding, trekking and many
winter sports that a visitor may indulge in. Participating in a
marathon that might be happening in Lake Placid is also not a bad
idea for fun.
Lake Placid is featured as one of the top ten destinations that
present a perfect combination of dreamlike atmosphere, picture perfect
sceneries and long skiing trails. The Olympic jumps, south of the
village Lake Placid, aren’t just an ordinary vacation spot
for winter sports. The facilities are world class and many top winter
sports athletes train here. The Verizon Sports Complex has bobsled
and luge runs as well as 31 miles of cross country ski trails.
Whiteface, 9 miles away from Lake Placid, is one of the high peaks
of the Adirondack Mountains, is home to a ski area that boasts of
the greatest vertical drop (3,430feet) in the eastern USA. The spectacular
view of Ausable River as it spills over ancient granite cliffs can
be enjoyed in the Whiteface Mountains. The two lakes: Mirror and
the larger Lake Placid offer much in the way of recreational activities.
In winter, the lakes act as skating surfaces and during the summer,
sailing is the most popular sport. A Lake Placid cruise in the enclosed
and turn-of-the-century boats would last for an hour and cover 16
miles of the beautiful lake. The narration about the stately manors
that are situated on the shore is fascinating.
For those who are not much into sports and vigorous physical activities,
Lake Placid also has much to offer. Those of intellectual bent of
mind can explore the museums in Lake Placid. The Lake Placid NY Winter
Olympics Museum has many exhibits that showcase the athletes uniforms,
sporting equipment, historical information about the site and video
highlights of the games. Adirondack museum at the Blue Mountain
Lake overlooks the lake of the same name. Situated amidst the six
million acres of Adirondack park, this museum houses exhibits and
programs that tell about the lives of the people of this area from
the 1800s. Logging, boat and boating, mining, outdoor recreation,
transportation and wooden furniture are the important themes of
the exhibits in the museum.
Around 90,000 people visit Fort Ticonderoga in a year. It’s
more than a restored military fortress. The first evidence of the
presence of the Indians is found here and it dates back to 8,000
BC. How the French Governor of Canada decided to build a fort at
Ticonderoga and how it was occupied by the British only later to
be snatched away by the American revolutionaries, all these would
be narrated by costumed interpreters.
The Greystone House and Gardens is a window to 19th century grandeur.
Furnishings and furniture original to the Empire period are displayed
in the many rooms in this mansion.
A train trip from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake Union Depot and back
would allow you to take in a lot of fresh air and at the same time
wallow in the beauty of the Adirondack forests, lakes and rivers.
There are plenty of accommodations and food to suit all budgets
and palates, respectively. Fly fishing in the Ausable River or a
hike on the many treks; tobogganing in the icy slopes, Lake Placid
is definitely going to provide recreation for the sports minded
and otherwise. Who knows the young ones may be infused with a dream
of becoming an Olympian at the end of an inspiring visit to the
Olympic museum and stadiums?
|
