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Lake Placid is one of the most serene places in the United States. Known for excellent skiing in the winter months and fun watersports during the summer, this beautiful area has gorgeous views the year round. Visitors have easy access to all that the Adirondacks have to offer, from world-class shopping to some of the best restaurants on the East Coast. Travelers looking for the most relaxing experience possible can choose from the following three luxury hotels built right along the lake:

1.     Lake Placid Lodge

This Arts and Crafts-inspired hotel offers 13 rooms and 17 luxury cabins on the shore of Lake Placid. Each room features a central fireplace and diamond-paned windows that look out into the surrounding wilderness. Over the years, the hotel has won a number of awards, including the Conde Nast Traveler 2014 Gold List for Best Hotels in the United States, and inclusion on the Best Ski Resorts list on two separate occasions. The lodge is close to Whiteface Mountain, a resort that boasts the longest vertical drop of any ski mountain on the East Coast at 3,430 feet. While the resort has plenty of wild terrain and challenging runs, families will also find plenty of gentler slopes for beginners.

- Image by Mark Goebel | Flickr

Guests at Lake Placid Lodge have access to local boats and can book a tour of the lake at the hotel. A golf course is located adjacent to the lodge, and guests can easily explore the thousands of miles of hiking trails through the Adirondacks, including the Jackrabbit Trail, a 125-mile trek that passes right by the hotel entrance. Guests can ask for trail maps or even arrange for a guided hike to see all the best vantage points. Fans of horseback riding have a range of opportunities at the nearby Emerald Springs Ranch, which is happy to work with riders of any skill level.

When it comes to fine dining, there are two restaurants on site that offer very different experiences. Both Artisans Restaurant and Maggie’s Pub have indoor and outdoor seating.

2.     The Whiteface Lodge Resort and Spa

This hotel strives to recall the Great Camp era when prominent families throughout New England would pack up their belongings for leisurely retreats in the Adirondacks. There, individuals will find excellent service and modern amenities blended with a rustic, charming atmosphere. Each room is decorated in the Great Camp era style in order to inspire relaxation and repose. Guests rooms boast hardwood furnishings and a number of hand-crafted details in addition to Jacuzzi tubs, gas fireplaces, and large, LCD televisions.

Families with young children can entertain them in a 56-seat movie theater, entrust them to the Kid’s Club, or let them explore the game room, which features air hockey, pool, shuffleboard, and more. In the evening, families can meet up for the Experience the Lodge bonfire to feast on s’mores. Whiteface Lodge also maintains an indoor-outdoor heated swimming pool that is available all year round and an on-property ice-skating rink that is open even in the summer. Guest can also enjoy 24-hour spa suites. In fact, the hotel continues to operate the only around-the-clock spa on the East Coast.

Whiteface also boasts Kanu, an elegant restaurant with an innovative take on traditional American cuisine, as well as the more casual Kanu Bistro. Guests are welcome to enroll at cooking classes at Kanu to pick up some new techniques.

3.     Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa

Located in Lake Placid’s Olympic Village, this hotel provides a very traditional lakeshore vacation experience with contemporary amenities. Guests are transported to another time when they see the polished walnut floors, ornate marble fireplaces, and mahogany-paneled walls, complemented by grand chandeliers and charming antiques. Individuals can choose from a wide range of different accommodations, from the Placid Suites to the more homey Colonial Bedrooms.

The high-end spa services at Mirror Lake allow people to truly relax. Individuals can enjoy stone massages, custom facials, warm mud wraps, and more in spacious treatment rooms. Before or after receiving spa services, guests can unwind in steam rooms, whirlpool tubs, or marble and mahogany sanctuaries complete with fireplaces.

Guests can enjoy a number of other amenities, including an exclusive outdoor ice-skating rink, a private beach along the lake, and an indoor pool and sauna. The 60-foot lap pool, complete with waterfall, features views of the lake and mountains. Mirror Lake also has several fine-dining establishments on site, including The Cottage, The View, and Taste Bistro and Bar. Excellent skiing and golfing are both only short trips down the road.