4 Best Hotels in Lake Placid, The Adirondacks and Thousand Islands

Accommodations at this posh lakefront retreat, a member of the Relais & Châteaux group, have stone fireplaces, featherbeds, twig-and-bark furniture—including many one-of-a-kind pieces created by local artisans—and views of either the woods or Lake Placid. Some rooms have balconies. Lodge suites include a sitting room, often with a fireplace of its own; an extra-spacious bathroom with a large soaking tub; and either a private balcony or patio. A stay is pricey, but includes breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, turndown service, and all activities on the property. Most of the cabins are one-room units with sitting areas and huge windows. The restaurant, Artisans, is a draw on its own and prepares new American fare.

The lodge, 5 mi south of Lake Placid, was built in 1927 on the shore of Heart Lake. It's run by the nonprofit Adirondack Mountain Club, which also runs the High Peaks Information Center here. The lodge has private rooms, family bunk rooms that sleep four to six, and a coed sleeping area with 18 beds. The main room has a stone fireplace, and the dining room serves homemade breads and soups. You may also order trail lunches here. There's a small beach on the property, and trailheads are steps away. The lodge has canoes and kayaks, and snowshoe and cross-country-ski rentals are available at the information center. Also on the grounds are two cabins, three canvas cabins, 36 campsites, and 36 lean-tos. A Modified American Plan for dining is available to lodge guests staying for three or five nights.

The family-owned hotel, named for the famous ski jumper, sits on 2 acres three blocks from the Olympic Center. Every year, the owners renovate a new bit of the property. All but two rooms have been renovated since 2000, and many are now larger, have bigger flat-screen televisions and refrigerators and feature granite countertops and wood ceilings.

The 7-acre waterfront property that once was the Hilton has now become the newly renovated High Peaks. The property has accommodations in two buildings, one on Main Street in the center of town and another on the water. The entire property has been redone, so everything is new, including the lobby, the rooms, and three new restaurants—the casual Dancing Bears; the fine-dining venue Reflections; and PRs, a warm, elegant bar with a double fireplace. The breakfast plan, which includes a morning nosh at the Dancing Bears, costs extra. Rooms throughout the updated property are attractive, with tasteful wooden furniture and furnishings. Rooms in waterfront buildings have either a balcony or a patio for views of the lake. Complimentary rowboats and paddleboats are offered to guests for use at the resort's access to Mirror Lake.