Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 34 JULY 2019 CONTACT mirrorlakeinn.com resort exudes the gracious style of the Jazz Age. Since 1977, the sprawling property has been owned by Ed and Lisa Weibrecht, parents of Olympic medalist Andrew Weibrecht. Andrew took home the bronze in the men's super G at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, and won the silver medal at the same event in Sochi in 2014. Guests can admire his medals at the check-in desk, and you might just catch a glimpse of him around the resort. Olympic moments are everywhere in Lake Placid. At the Lake Placid Olympic Center, visitors can skate year-round in the same place 16-year-old figure skater Sonja Henie won an Olympic gold medal in 1932, and there are ice shows every Saturday night. A small museum commemorates Olympic history— visitors can sit in a bobsled or a skeleton sled, admire costumes, and relive the "Miracle on Ice"—when the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeated the Soviet Union on its way to the 1980 gold medal. Stop in for breakfast at The Breakfast Club. Gen Xers will especially appreciate the signed poster from the restaurant's namesake movie, but everyone will like the "BC röstis"—a choice of toppings on a bed of crispy home- fried potatoes served in a cast iron skillet. The Breakfast Club is across the street from the Palace Theater, built in 1926 and still showing first-run movies. The adventurous can explore McKenzie Mountain Wilderness, a 38,000-square-mile park that is mostly without trails and is chal- lenging to even the most seasoned hikers. Whiteface Mountain is the most famous feature of that wilderness, and is the main attraction in Lake Placid, for its skiing in the winter and hiking and biking in the sum- mer. The mountain rises an impressive 4,867 feet and can be ascended via three different hiking trails. At the summit, you can see Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains in Vermont, and, on a very clear day, as far as Montreal. If you're not an experienced hiker, you can drive to the top via the Veteran's Memorial Highway. From the parking lot, a short trail leads all the way to the summit. Perhaps more fun than driving up is taking the Cloudsplitter Gondola, which whisks visitors to the top of Little Whiteface in just 15 minutes. But you don't even have to tackle the mountian to enjoy nature here. From town, a flat brick pathway circles Mirror Lake, tak- ing in grand homes, downtown, and the sur- rounding peaks. At just 2.7 miles, it's an easy way to spend some time outside. Start and end your stroll at Mirror Lake Inn, then take advantage of complimentary paddleboards, kayaks, or paddle boats to get out on the water. Or just lounge on the private beach. After exploring, stop by The Cottage. Mir- ror Lake Inn's cozy restaurant is perched on the edge of the lake, with a deck for enjoying sunset, cocktail in hand. They don't take res- ervations, but it is well worth the wait. The vista from the Little Whiteface Suite at Mirror Lake Inn is quite literally picture- perfect. Glass doors of the suite frame the lake itself, with Whiteface Mountain, one of 46 high peaks in New York State's Adirondack Park, looming in the distance. Sit on the patio in a comfy chair and let the view wash over you, or kick off your shoes, walk in the grass to the water's edge, then dip your toes in. Motorboats are forbidden on the lake, maintaining the peaceful feeling of turning back the clock. Mirror Lake Inn opened back in 1926 in Lake Placid, New York, serving initially as a charm- ing summer escape for the wealthy. Every room sports a mountain or lake view, and the whole Nestled in the dramatic Adirondacks, Lake Placid entices with Olympic history and stunning scenery. BY JEANNE O'BRIEN COFFEY MOUNTAIN HIGH F A C E S + P L A C E S tk PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MIRROR LAKE INN