#19: Lake Placid

Lake Placid is another American ski resort soaked in history. Like Timberline, it has a few movies to its credit. Lake Placid is the setting for an extremely cheesy creature film, and it also hosted the legendary "Miracle on Ice" hockey game in 1980.



The Olympic Regional Development Authority preserves Lake Placid as a national landmark because the 1932 Olympic Games played out here. But that means more than just visiting a pretty historic site. Because the Olympic venues are all preserved, Lake Placid also offers bobsledding, luge, ski jumping, skating and hockey facilities, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing.



If you're a purist who's just looking to ski, Lake Placid has you covered, too. Whiteface Mountain is nearby. Fully a third of its trails are aimed at beginners, so don't panic if you're a new skier. But if you're really in the mood to show off, Whiteface Mountain features treeless, sheer stretches on the East's longest plummet into space. If you're up for a challenge, you'll find it here.



Lake Placid is located in New York State. It's nearly hidden in the northeast, and New York City this isn't. What you will find, though, is a wild collection of winter sports and activities you can't try anywhere else. If you're the adventurous sort, Lake Placid might be the resort for you – and yes, you can check out New York City on the way if you absolutely must!