On the last day of my ski trip I stopped in Lake Placid to do the Bobsled run at Mt. Van…read moreHoevenberg. I booked my run online a month ago to insure that I would have a slot early in the day. Located about 10 minutes outside of the town is the Olympic complex with the bobsled run and the cross-country ski area. When I got there they were doing a large youth cross-country ski competition which was cool to watch. Parking was easy and I actually got a spot fairly close to the complex. The building is outstanding with facilities for the cross-country ski area, ski shops, a cafeteria and even a climbing wall. The building if very modern and well set up. The check-in for the bobsled is upstairs at the Swik store. You are given a buzzer and they buzz you when they are ready for you to go up to the track. While waiting I checked out the skiing for a bit and then hung out at the cafe area where one large TV had the skiing on and the other showed people coming down the bobsled run, what a great way to get ready and excited. Once the buzzer when off I was escorted behind the building where we were loaded into a SUV to take us up the track. There is a small building where you are fitted with a motorcycle helmet and googles. I was able to get a helmet with an action camera mount on the top so I could video the run. The staff was great, getting us fitted and taking pictures. You then go to the bobsled run and get loaded on the sled. The driver explains the process and gets you all set. The run itself is totally awesome, like the best roller coaster ride you can imagine. You get thrown about a bit and there is plenty of chatter, but I felt completely safe the whole time. If you are looking for a unique thrill ride and are anywhere near to Lake Placid you should consider doing the bobsled run at Mount Van Hoevenberg.

This place is very big and looks to have a lot to offer! My family and I came here specifically for…read morethe cliff side mountain coaster and it was a good time! You can book your tickets in advance, but they do leave room for walk-in guests. We went on a Sunday, and while they were sold out online, we got there right at 10am and had no problem getting tickets and were riders 13+ of the day. One rider is loaded every 2 minutes, so if 20+ people were in line you'll be waiting a while. We were told they ride about 30 passengers an hour. The ride has a narrative the whole way through, on the way up and down. This is the third mountain coaster I've done and I really liked the narrative throughout! It was a fun right, but goes by quick. I thought the price of $55 per adult was steep (other mountain coasters I've done were no more than $30 each), but this one includes a picture. After your ride be sure to go back into the main building and past the ticketing center to get your free pics.

While it's a older park and mainly for younger kids, it is an amazing place. Over 75 years old with…read morelive reindeer and shows. The history is worth a visit alone.

I can't see how people were saying that this place is old and worn out. The buildings are very well…read morekept, and their rides looked like they were in great shape. Everybody that we saw was having fun. We came without kids. My partner was here as a little girl, some 65 years ago, and on that day many years ago, it was time to go, and she didn't get a chance to see the reindeer one more time. We decided to come up to see the reindeer one more time. Everybody at the park was very friendly, and we are glad to say that the reindeer are being kept very well. They look extremely healthy, friendly, and you can even feed them. Even as "old people" both myself, and my partner really really enjoyed the place, and we could feel the magic of the place. Thank you for still being there.

If you are looking for quiet, calm, and a chance to unplug (but not completely) and take a deep,…read morehealing pause, White Pine Camp is the ideal place. Our family loved the history, the cabin, the incredible scenic views, the Great Room and all the amenities WPC offers. We stayed in the larger Mrs. Coolidge's cabin, the same cabin Grace Coolidge stayed in the summer of 1926 when the camp served as the Summer White House for Calvin Coolidge. We took advantage of the huge living room fireplace and had a beautiful fire everyday for our week stay. The wood is well seasoned and burns nicely. It is charmingly rustic, clean and well appointed. The sofas are comfortable and the cabin had everything we needed. What it didn't have we asked in the office and Voila! they had it on hand. We needed a blender, a different bathtub plug and tape to fix a sled and every time they accommodated our needs. Worth noting: You can sometimes hear the next door neighbors in President's Cabin but it's only from the bedroom and it was nothing that the white noise machine that the camp provided wouldn't take care of. We didn't feel the need to use the machine since it was minimal. The beds were really comfortable and the kitchen well equipped. Complimentary toiletries greeted us in the bathroom and the cabin was always warm and toasty. Our bedroom also had a fireplace and it was quite special to fall asleep with the glow of the flames filling the room each night. The upstairs bedroom has two twin beds underneath ceiling windows that give view to the stars and tall trees above (which my twins LOVED). There is also a queen bed behind a folding screen for which my mother in law said was incredibly comfortable and a double bed behind a set of curtains which my son also slept soundly on. Both the upstairs bathroom and downstairs are full baths and have large, deep claw foot tubs with no lack of hot water for a good, long soak. The views from our cabin and from the grounds are absolutely breathtaking. This is a special spot and you can hear a pin drop almost anyplace you hike, walk or sit. We also spent time at nearby Paul Smiths College making use of the gym (passes provided by WPC allowed free access to the gym, pool, library and grounds) and also at the VIC at Paul Smiths for snowshoeing and hiking (again, free with passes) My kids enjoyed bowling in the antique bowling alley and playing pool while Mom, Dad & Grandma sat by the fire in yet another huge fireplace. They sledding everyday on the grounds behind the Great Room and had a blast. Afterwards, they went inside the Great Room and made themselves a hot cocca on the Kerig machine (overseen by Grandma), provided for guests (we bought the pods by mistake thinking they were pouches from Aldi in Saranac Lake but WPC provides coffee and tea for the Kerig for guests). We sat by yet another huge fireplace in the Great Room while reading and playing chess. Yes, there is internet but often sketchy at times since we were deep in the woods, which for us, was desirable. When my husband needed to catch up on work and needed a dependable internet connection, he just popped down the road to the Paul Smiths Library which he viewed as an adjunct office. The same as President Coolidge did in 1926 as I learned from reading a book by Howard Kirschenbaum from the cute, little gift shop just off the Great Room. This place is just pure magic. I've never been to a place more quiet and Tim, the innkeeper and the entire staff go above and beyond to maintain this sense of peace and quiet throughout the camp. Cars are parked nearby but not in the main camp and you barely can hear anyone else in camp during your stay. There was 2 foot of snow on the ground for our Thanksgiving stay week and it was delightful to be there in a winter like setting. It was cold but not windy at all and totally fine with layers. The air is clean and crisp and a perfect spots for viewing the stars. We have already booked a return stay for April 2019 for the school holiday week in the same cabin and cannot wait to return. Everything was simply perfect here.