I was looking forward to this leg of the trip as I am a big fan of the winter Olympics and have always wanted to visit Lake Placid and the Adirondacks. As we made our way east across upstate New York we amassed over fifty dollars in tolls to drive on their expressways. Little did we know, the route that lay before us would be worth every penny. Leaving Utica up route 28 we started our climb in elevation from the western side of the Adirondacks. A recently paved, two lane road offered a smooth ride. With each passing mile Mother nature’s display of colors became more abundant. Colorful trees erupted across the landscape like a Fourth of July fireworks finale exploding in the sky. With each dip and turn we would discover a view more beautiful than the last. It became apparent that we lucked into perfect timing to experience falls display of color.

As we pushed further into the Adirondacks we started looking for a campground. State Parks are first on the list but most of them were already closed for the season. The first private campground we came across was booked solid for the Columbus Day Weekend. For good reason as every site was picturesque, set under colorful trees and green pines. With darkness approaching we continued on to Eighth Lake State Park.

As usual we arrived late to find they had already closed down one section of the campground. However we were in luck as we scored the last available site. The campground has several loops and we were on the first loop closest to the bath house and entrance. While we were close to these facilities our site was private and extremely quiet.

Click on the photo to enlarge.

Blanketed under large trees, with leaves proudly showing their colorful display, we settled into our site.

Once night falls, it’s dark up here. Without the bright lights of any big city nearby, it’s “Can’t see your hand in front of your face” dark.  We started a fire and I prepared a dinner to remember in a cast iron skillet over the open flames. With temps in the forties at night it was cool but not too cold.

Did I mention it’s dark up here? Not only is it dark, it’s quiet too. The only other sounds that night were a few other campers chatting near their fires. There is no electricity, hook ups for water or sewer or cable tv at any of the campsites. You need to be self-contained. The focus here is on nature.

Since we were in bit of a rush to find a campground the night before we decided to wake up early and drive back to where we first noticed the leaves really starting to change color to get a better look. We didn’t know when we would get to experience such natural beauty again. The drive was longer then we remembered coming in but worth the extra time as we were able to stop and drink in every view point that we seemed to wiz by the previous afternoon.

The kids grew tired of us stopping frequently for photo opportunities. We off set their boredom by taking a train ride through the Adirondacks. It was a treat to get off the road and see a bit of the forest from a different perspective.

Night fell quickly and the darkness beckoned a campfire so we could once again prepare dinner in a cast iron skillet over the open flames. One of our best meals to date.

With our late start to the trip we have been closing down campgrounds with nearly every stop. This was no different. It was a holiday weekend and we felt fortunate to have a campsite. We stayed for one more night until their last day of operation for the season and headed out early in the morning for Lake Placid. The early morning light offered glorious views of some the most colorful landscapes I have ever witnessed. The natural beauty was overwhelming literally taking my breath away. I again stopped many times that morning making the trip into Lake Placid take much longer than it should have.

Lake Placid

This would be the start of the budget breaking campgrounds as all of the New York state parks have closed for the season in this area. The only campground open was a KOA “Kampgrounds of America” which offer all of the amenities anyone could ask for which is exactly what we are trying to avoid. However with no other options available we decided to stay here so we could check out the area the following day. The area offers an abundance of hiking options and of course the Olympic venues which many are currently used by our Olympic teams for training. Rain in the immediate forecast offered incentive to get homework done and take advantage of the windows in the weather to get outside to hike around.

Since the holiday weekend had come to a close over one hundred twenty campers had checked out of the KOA that day so we had the campground nearly to ourselves.

The facilities cover over eighty acres and front a beautiful river. Not letting the wet weather dictate our day we went for a short hike along the river in the rain. Again the views were beautiful and we were the only ones on the trail. Charlie had free run the whole way.

An hour and a half later we got back to dry out. The rain was moving out so we headed into Lake Placid but not before we venturing off on another short hike along another river and a visit to White Mountain Ski resort.

I’m such a ski bum I even have to visit the ski resorts when there is no snow.

Forever a fan of the Olympics, especially the winter Olympics I looked forward to again experiencing that familiar Olympic pride. In the late nineties I lived in North Lake Tahoe and spent my winter days at Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics. I always felt and still feel privileged every time I pass the Olympic torch entering that valley. Lake Placid was no different, that first glimpse of the ski jump towers hovering over the fall landscape brought on a wave of nostalgia and Olympic pride.

We rolled up on the ice rink where in 1980 the greatest hockey game in Olympic History was played.

The doors were open and we strolled in like we owned the place. Found seats behind the goal and watched local college girls run drills. While it would have been beyond great to watch that 1980 game in person it was pretty cool sitting next to the ice and checking out all the tribute banners lining the arena. We must have sat there for nearly an hour with no one ever bothering us. With evening approaching we checked out the rest of the town then headed back to KOA for dinner and a couple games of giant chess.

Mirror Pond

Kinda obvious

Pictures of people taking pictures

I would have like to stayed another day but we have to keep moving east to stay ahead of old man winter. Next stop Vermont and the Ben and Jerry’s factory tour.