Lake Placid

Lake Placid is one of the few places to have held the Winter Olympics twice, and the 1980 games produced the ice hockey result generally called the Miracle on Ice, when a college-age American team beat the Soviet side that had won four consecutive golds. The rink is still in use and can be visited. The bobsled and skeleton track on Mount Van Hoevenberg runs public rides in season. The ski jumps at the complex outside town have a lift to the top of the 120-metre tower with a view over the High Peaks. The village sits between two lakes - confusingly, most of it is on Mirror Lake, not Lake Placid - inside the six-million-acre Adirondack Park.

The main sights

• Two Olympics, 1932 and 1980 - one of the few places to host twice.
• The 1980 hockey rink - still in use, and visitable.
• The bobsled track - with public rides in season.
• Ski jump towers - with a lift and a view over the High Peaks.

When to go

December to March for winter sport; June to October for hiking. A full day.

Good to know

The village fronts Mirror Lake, not Lake Placid - a common confusion. Olympic sites are spread out and each is ticketed. High Peaks trailhead parking fills very early in summer. Winter is severely cold.

Nearby

The High Peaks trailheads are south; Whiteface is north-east.