A lot of us may be sitting at home waiting for omicron to pass while envisioning better days ahead filled with adventure and escaping the responsibilities of every day life. If you’re like me, you enjoy pondering and planning your next trip. Whether that’s abroad in a far off country, or closer to home, we all deserve some time to kick back, relax, and and explore.
Growing up in the Northeast, I’ve been to Upstate New York quite a few times in my life. I usually stay in some sort of cabin rental, whether it’s a large house shared with others or a tiny home in the middle of the woods. Most recently, I had an itch to revisit Lake Placid, but from a different vantage point. I decided to stay in an Adirondack lodge in the heart of Downtown Lake Placid.
I know Lake Placid fairly well and have been downtown many times. I’m very familiar with the geography, so I already knew where I wanted to stay. The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort is in the perfect location being walking distance to everywhere you’d want to go with spectacular views of the lake.
Adirondack Lodge Review: Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort
The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort is a beautiful lakeside Adirondack lodge situated on Mirror Lake in Downtown Lake Placid and steps away from the Olympic Village. When you walk into the lobby, you’re greeted by enormous floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of the lake. Make use of this spectacular location by taking advantage of their direct access to the lake with complimentary activities depending on the season.
Things to Do at the Lodge
In the winter when the lake is frozen, the lake is transformed into an ice skating rink. You can also go cross country skiing directly from your room, go dog sledding, or take a toboggan chute ride.
The resort also has a pool, hot tub, gym, and outdoor fire pit, which give you plenty of things to do after you’re done exploring the Adirondacks during the day.
Conveniently located adjacent to the resort is their restaurant, Generations. You can access the restaurant from inside the hotel, so there’s no need to go outside to get a bite to eat if the weather isn’t cooperating. While the food here was mediocre at best, I really appreciated the convenience, especially with a small child in tow.
Things to Do in Lake Placid
Skiing or snowboarding at White Face Mountain is a must if its winter. There’s also cross country skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating, snow tubing, toboggan riding, bobsledding, dogsledding, and even sleigh riding.
Where to Eat
For breakfast, I highly recommend The Breakfast Club, Etc. The Rostis really hit the spot, and I’ve been inspired to cook my own at home ever since.
For lunch, we usually wanted something quick and not too elaborate after our big breakfast and before a hearty dinner. Wyatt’s was just that. A local Tex Mex establishment with burritos, tacos, and quesadillas.
Our 2 favorite dinner restaurants downtown are Smoke Signals and the Great Adirondack Brewing Company. The BBQ at Smoke Signals was mouth watering, and the portions did not disappoint. The vibe at the Great Adirondack Brewing Company is exactly what you’re looking for apres ski if you enjoy a pub as much as I do.
What to Pack
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to stay somewhere convenient to Downtown Lake Placid, I highly recommend the Golden Arrow Lakeside Lodge. It’s a kid friendly resort that will make your vacation that much easier, with quick access to all the places you need to go.
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