By Bob Williams
Photos courtesy of ORDA

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Looking to spend your winter – or even spring -- vacation at a ski resort? This quaint Olympic village here in the Adirondack Mountains offers more winter snowsports activity than just about any ski resort in the country.

Site of the Winter Olympic Games of 1932 and 1980, Lake Placid offers world-class skiing, of course, at the mammoth Whiteface Mountain ski area. But what many singles and families don’t realize, however, is that the Lake Placid area also offers a host of other outdoor activity: a bobsled run, Olympic-size ice-skating rink, toboggan chute, dog sled rides on the lake, cross country ski trails -- and even an Olympic ski jump. Activities that exist nowhere else in the country!

“It takes a few days just to get a feel for what’s here because there’s so much to do,” explains Sandy Caligiore, director of communications for the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), the New York State division that owns and operates Olympic venues here at Lake Placid.

In addition to traditional skiing and snowboarding, Lake Placid offers a number of winter attractions guaranteed to keep youngsters – and their parents – occupied during any weekday or week-long vacation stay.

For instance, the world-famous Olympic bobsled run at nearby Mt. Van Hoevenberg allows participants to experience the thrill of a half-mile high speed run down the chute. But no need to worry about danger – a professional driver and brakeman operate each sled.

And what better way to prove to the gang back home that you indeed ran the bob run? Photographers snap photos as the sled whizzes by, and souvenir pictures are available to you at the end.

Wait, there’s more.

“Lake Placid has more than 50 kilometers of cross-country skiing trails,” Sandy adds. “And if ice appeals to you, drop by our Olympic Center here on Main Street anytime, and you are bound to find a hockey game in progress, or an ice show or something going on.”

This Olympic Center ice was the site on that cold Sunday morning in 1980 when the United States Olympic Hockey Team beat the Soviet Union in a stunning, hard-fought battle.

And there’s still more.

“You can take a few laps on the speedskating ovel outside the high school,” Sandy says. “Or walk to Mirror Lake and ride the toboggan chute. We rigged up an old ski-jump so you come down the chute and go right out on the frozen lake.”
Mirror Lake here on Main Street is home, too, of popular dog sled rides – a winter novelty rarely seen in other parts of the country. Riders are bundled up in heavy blankets, then it’s off to the “mush, mush” calls of a driver for a few exciting turns around the frozen picturesque lake.

“Our Olympic ski jump is still a popular attraction,” Sandy says of another outdoor activity. “Visitors can watch kids train or see an actual competition.”

The Olympic authority, in fact, teaches a learn-to-ski jump class on the smaller 15-meter jump, according to Sandy. The site also houses 90-meter and 120-meter jumps that Olympic hopefuls use for practice throughout the year.

“We put an observation deck at the top of the 120-meter jump, which is about 26 stories high,” Sandy says. “It’s a quick elevator ride to the top, and it’s a great way to experience the surrounding Adirondack Mountain scenery.”

Before your vacation’s over, head for the ORDA shop here on Main Street to stock up on official Olympic apparel and souvenirs. You can also buy Whiteface Mt. next-day lift tickets, and even be measured for rental ski and snowboard equipment. No need to waste time on line at the mountain.

For more information about Lake Placid, call Heather Sackett at the Lake Placid Visitor’s Bureau, toll free at 800-44Placid, ext. 111, or visit the website at www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.