Best things to do in Lake Placid

See how Olympians soar to new heights at Olympic Ski Jump Complex, a year-round training and competition site for many of the country's top athletes. Originally built in 1917, this complex contains the state-of-the-art 90 m (295 ft) and 120 m (393 ft) ski jump towers erected for the 1980 Winter Olympics. Just a short drive from Lake Placid, the complex also features a popular sky deck, offering unobstructed views of the surrounding Adirondack High Peaks. You can watch ski jumpers train and get a bird's-eye view of what they see as they speed down the ramp. Stop by the athletes' preparation room to see how participants warm up before each jump.

Known as one of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains, Whiteface Mountain is home to the esteemed White Face Ski Resort. The site that hosted all six skiing events in the 1980 Winter Olympics, this resort boasts 87 different ski trails accessible by nine chairlifts, one gondola, and one conveyor lift. Get your adrenaline rush from the highest continuous vertical drop in eastern North America, at 1,045 m (3,430 ft). Drive to the summit via the Whiteface Veteran's Memorial Highway and admire 360-degree views of the surrounding Adirondacks. You may even catch a glimpse of Vermont or Montreal in the distance on a clear day. During summertime, the mountain offers scenic gondola rides and is also a haven for mountain biking and hiking.

Enjoy a bike ride with mountain views along the Lake Champlain shoreline when you ride on Burlington Bike Path. Bike along the lake to the Winooski River, with views of the Adirondack Mountains to your west. Pass by connections to beaches, parks, and six major waterfronts as you make your way along the well-marked and relatively flat path. You can find food and public restrooms near Waterfront Park, as well as benches and places to stop throughout the journey. Head to the causeway for the best views of the lake and mountains.

A 3 km (2 mi) long gorge with a river and waterfalls, Ausable Chasm features numerous adventure activities, such as rafting, tubing, rock climbing, and cable traversing. Take a scenic tour to view odd rock formations and walk along natural stone walkways, or conquer rapids and whirlpools with the help of professional guides. You also can explore on your own. For a longer visit, check out the camping facilities. You can also play an 18-hole disc golf game, rent mountain bikes, and climb typically nonaccessible areas with help of a guide.

At Fort Ticonderoga, discover the history of the Seven Years War and the American Revolution. Built between 1855 and 1857, the fort's construction on Lake Champlain was a strategic coup by the French against British forces during the American Revolution. Housed in the old soldiers' barracks, the museum exhibits weapons used in battles during this era and provides information about health and injury on the battlefield. You'll also learn about food within the fort in the 1700s. You can witness reconstructions of battles here, complete with costumes and cannon-fire. Also visit the fort's extensive formal gardens, which were created in 1921 and are filled with colorful old-fashioned and modern flowers set against a backdrop of red brick walls.