There, one can also learn about the history of speed skating and see displays of sled evolution. Moreover, it is the setting of the 1980 United States' victory in a hockey game against the Soviet Union that went down in history as the 'Miracle on Ice.' The Lake Placid Olympic Museum covers the hotspot where the American team took that fateful shot to win the gold medal, with exhibits and artifacts celebrating the forever glory of the country.

It is also a real paradise for the water fans seeking a tranquil retreat, with activities including swimming, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and scenic relaxation on the banks.Īlong with two European towns in Switzerland and Austria, Lake Placid is one of the few locales around the world that hosted the Winter Olympics more than once. Set peacefully in the Adirondack Mountains, the town is bounded by several lakes, along with wildflower fields that bloom seasonally with creamy-white bloodroot, light-pink lady slipper, and crimson columbine. The former getaway for the rich from the hustle of New York, the area was also frequented by Humphrey Bogart from Casablanca, who grew up spending summers in a cottage on the lake's shore.įounded in the 19th century, Lake Placid is a consistently popular skiing, hiking, and biking destination for the city dwellers to immerse into a small-town atmosphere with bountiful natural pursuits. Comprising a 50-acre estate of the historic Sonnenberg Gardens or the 'Sunny hill' in German, there is a 40-room mansion built in Queen Anne-style and acres of nine distinct formal gardens that bloom from April through October. The Mansion State Historic Park comes veiled in a royal vibe for fresh-air strolls that transport one back to the Victorian era atmosphere. Translating as 'the chosen spot' from the native language of the original inhabitants, the charming townscape offers an equally chill and active getaway within natural scenery. Less than an hour south of Rochester, the quaint upstate New York town with a mystic name is perched scenically on the northern tip of the namesake Finger Lake. Canandaigua The Italian Garden at the Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park in Canandaigua, New York.

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