It’s hard to imagine a more perfect spot for a family getaway than Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid, NY.
The picturesque Adirondack resort features a screening room with family-friendly movie screenings throughout the day, and an ice cream parlor (and fresh-popped popcorn), where kids can fuel up before the films. There is a two-lane bowling alley and a heated indoor/outdoor pool with an open tunnel where, even in winter, you can swim back and forth. Plus, don’t miss the game room, skiing at nearby Whiteface Mountain, ice-skating on property and the 1984 Winter Olympic Bobsled run nearby. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a conservationist, from a nearby nature reserve, talking about birds of prey, while holding three live owls. I don’t know who was more riveted—the kids or their parents!
On the adult side, the romantic Kanu restaurant features huge stone fireplaces, a vaulted ceiling with skylights, a fine-dining menu with locally sourced game and a knowledgeable sommelier to help with wine pairings. The adjacent lounge, though casual, is famous for a range of organic wines, local craft beer and bespoke cocktails. The bartender will ask you 10 questions and craft a special drink that you will love. But first, relax in the duplex spa, with a full menu of fitness and wellness classes and a range of locally inspired top-notch treatments.
In season, the Canoe Club offers free kayaking and canoeing on Lake Placid. For a special treat, take a ride back in time in a handsome wooden boat from the 1930s.