Located in the northeast of New York, Whiteface Mountain - Lake Placid ski resort stands majestically over a vast valley of forests and frozen lakes, and possesses some spectacular views. One-time host of the Winter Olympics, Whiteface boasts a huge vertical drop and can be a challenge to ski if conditions are poor.
Wilmington is the closest town to the resort, but Lake Placid, built around two Adirondack lakes, offers more in the way of facilities and services, including the famed ice arena and even its own private airport. The resort’s Main street is a bustling thoroughfare boasting ski shops and retail shops.
There are about 2,000 rooms available within a 15-kilometre radius of Whiteface Mountain. Lake Placid has the bulk of the accommodation and offers bed-and-breakfasts to four-star luxury hotels. Most of the après-ski action is in the base lodge at Whiteface; however, there are plenty of eateries, bars and nightclubs in Lake Placid. Childcare is also available.
Whiteface Mountain has 73 trails, with a host of intermediate to expert runs from the top of the mountain, and there is also an array of beginner slopes accessible by high-speed quad. Eleven lifts have an uplift capacity of over 13,000 people per hour and provide access to all slopes, the longest of which is four kilometres. Snowboarders have the terrain park and a 140-metre super-pipe, and can slide all pistes.
Away from the slopes, the Olympic Museum details the legacy of the 1932 and 1980 Lake Placid Winter Games in many great exhibits. Alternatively, the city of Burlington, on the eastern shore up Lake Chamberlain, is a one of the hippest arts towns in America. Church street is lined with boutiques, sidewalk cafés, street entertainers and historic architecture.
The ski season at Whiteface Mountain runs from November to April. Children under six and seniors over 70 ski for free, while teens and those between 64 and 69 years also receive discounts. The most convenient means for getting to Whiteface is to fly to nearby Adirondack Airport and transfer by shuttle or taxi to Lake Placid or the resort.
