June 1-4 - Lake Placid Lollapalooza

Wow - we just thought we'd seen Lake Placid last year. You ain't seen nothin' 'til you've toured this place with a local. And what better local than friend Beth who was born and raised here.

Liz and Beth at Adirondack Mountain Club Wilderness Campground

Beth owns a beautiful timber frame camp that she affectionately refers to as "the Cabin." Her father was "The" doctor in Lake Placid for years. Her 99 years young mom could easily become the next mayor of Lake Placid. The family still owns a beautiful farm on the outskirts of Lake Placid proper. We've spent the last two days visiting many of the sights as well as lots of her old haunts.

The Wilderness Campground in the photo above not only offers traditional campsites, but highly popular, open-air, three-sided structures called lean-tos. Beth says these are almost impossible to book without advanced reservations. While they're really cool campsites, Liz assures me we'll not be enjoying one any time soon. Seems the bugs, bears and open air are just a bit too rustic for her tastes. Even so, we enjoyed hiking around the area and visiting many of them with our experienced guide, Beth.

 Lean-to anyone??

Bring your bedrolls, bug spray and burger fixins and spend the night in the woods with the bears.

 The path to the lean-tos 

There's lots of outdoor things to do in Lake Placid year round. Since the lake freezes each winter, folks can skate, cross country ski, snow mobile, ski the slopes, ride toboggans - you name it. All that's required is to be able to handle the sub-freezing temps.

In the summer (if you can call it that - today's high was in the low 50's) one can hike, bike, motorcyke, run, swim, or horse around. We spent much of our first morning here hiking in and around the area.

 Liz and Beth pause to take in the view of Big Field on the Heaven Hill hike

Today's activities included a chilly morning boat tour of Lake Placid. It was a fascinating way to begin to understand some of the history and allure of this amazing Adirondack area. Some fun facts:

• Lake Placid is spring fed and boasts amazingly clean, pure water. 
• The lake completely turns over (replenishes itself from the underground springs) once every three (3) years.
• The lake has three islands, all of which have beautiful, lakeside homes called "camps."
• Very few of the camps are occupied year round because of the extreme temps and transportation to and from the camps across the frozen lake.
• Many famous and wealthy folk own camps on Lake Placid
• Perhaps, one of the most famous and creepy tales of Lake Placid is The Lady of the Lake. It involves a widow having experienced a particularly challenging period in her life including losing her husband and son. She disappeared after setting out across the lake in a row boat. Many years later divers found her preserved body at the bottom of the lake with and anchor tied around her neck. Her death was ruled accidental. Hmmm...

 Liz and Beth await the boat tour. Temperature was about 49 deg.

Just chillin' - literally!

One of the many, lakeside camps that dot the shoreline of Lake Placid

My Lady of the Lake

After the boat tour we were treated to lunch at Top of the Park restaurant by Beth's spry, ninety-nine year young mom. She has lived most of her life in Lake Placid, so for her 99th birthday she wrote a letter to the editor of the Lake Placid news paper inviting her life long friends and neighbors too join her for coffee and cake at the Crown Plaza down town. One hundred seventy-five residents took her up on her offer.

Lake Placid Lodge as seen from the lake

This evening we visited Maggie's Pub located within the Lake Placid Lodge pictured above. The lodge didn't allow children, even the children of guest Bill Gates (much to his chagrin). Rooms start in the $700's. We had a lovely time enjoying the sights, smells and libations therein. Besides Liz, Beth and me, we were joined by a couple of Beth's dearest childhood friends, Peggy and Nancy. It was a lovely evening in every way.

High rolling inside Maggie's Pub

 The patio outside Maggie's Pub

 View of Lake Placid from Maggie's Pub

 More of the grounds of Lake Placid Lodge

Warm welcome upon entering the Lodge

As stated before, lolly-gagging around Like Placid with a local like Beth ain't no bad deal. She knows all the spots and is a superlative hostess, tour guide and historian. Can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store!

Stay tuned...