41. Lake Placid, New York
Why go: Home to not one but two Winter Olympics (1932 and 1980), Lake Placid is an idyllic winter getaway for those in the northeast. When Mirror Lake in the center of town freezes over, you can mush right over it or slide down the 30-foot toboggan chute that’ll send you up to 1,000 feet across the lake. A free shuttle bus from the village will take you to nearby Whiteface Mountain, where you can ski Olympic Mountain. Sixty percent of the terrain is geared toward beginners and intermediate-level skiers, but experts will love the fact that they can ski the biggest vertical drop east of the Rockies. There’s also a fully enclosed gondola that’ll take you to the summit of Little Whiteface, where you can take in incredible views of the lake.
Where to stay: High Peaks Resort commands three corners of Lake Placid’s bustling Main Street with three distinct properties: the cozy, mid-century Lake House Resort, the grand Lake House, and lakefront Waterfront Collection.
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