Burlington VT, Lake Placid, Luge in that order.

March 9, 2017 7:48 AM

I am going to Luge Fantasy Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid at the end of this month. I'll be flying into Burlington VT late Thurs evening, and then don't have to be anywhere until 1 pm on Friday. I've never been in that area of the country before, so could use some recommendations of where to stay/what to eat.

My plan is to stay 1 night in Burlington, then get up fairly early, eat a good breakfast/brunch, maybe get some shopping/sightseeing in, and drive to Lake Placid. I'm willing to change that up and drive to Lake Placid and hang out there if it's more compelling than Burlington. So, I am looking for:

- Hotel in Burlington VT, for one night
- Breakfast/Brunch spot in Burlington
- Shopping/Attractions in Burlington, Lake Placid (other than anything Olympic-related), or points in between
- Alternatively, lunch / cafe in Lake Placid or between the two

And, if anyone has done luging and has any pointers on how not to get injured/dead, I am very interested in that. If anyone has done the Luge Fantasy Camp and has tips/an overview on how to get the most enjoyment out of that please let me know what to expect, extra special bonus points if luger is at the extreme non-athlete side of the continuum.

posted by Fig to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total)

I have no luge advice but I do live an hour or so outside of Burlington. Some of this depends on what you like. You really can't go wrong with the Penny Kluse Cafe. It's busy on weekends but a little more reasonable on weekdays. I'm partial to the Parkway Diner in South Burlington (i.e. near the airport) but that's mostly because I really like old railcar diners.

For hotels you've got a really wide range from the newly redone Hotel Vermont which is fancy and has prices to match to something closer in to the airport that is dull but functional like the Smart Suites. There are also a lot of AirBnB options in the area.

Depending on the weather, the thing I would do is get some food and then just walk down to the lake. Church Street is the pedestrian mall area where things are going on (Penny Kluse is right there) and it's a walk down to the lake and back (or you can drive, parking is a little tight down there) You wont have a ton of time so I won't suggest a ferry ride but they sure are nice.
posted by jessamyn at 8:10 AM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]

I have been on the Olympic toboggan course. They offer rides to the public. Great thrill. I think you will really enjoy the luge fantasy camp. Lake Placid is really neat this time of the year. They also have a biathalon course experience which me and my kids did. Skiing hard then trying to calm yourself down enough to shoot a .22 at a target is very hard. Also highly recommend visiting the ice arena next to the Lake Placid High School. It is where the miracle 1980 team won it all and there is some great memorabilia. The town itself has many small shops and a few decent restaurant/bars. If you have time, Saranac Lake has some cute shops and restaurants and has their ice castle (huge) sculptures still up at this time of year. (I have a cabin in the Adirondacks and it was -10F overnight one night last week, so while I think it will be reasonable during the day, it will still get very cold at night.)

As for advice on how to not get hurt on the luge course, the only advice is to not go. You should go and not worry. Enjoy!
posted by AugustWest at 8:57 AM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

A really neat place to stop for lunch would be SubAlpine Coffee in Keene Valley, which could be on your way to Lake Plastic.
posted by Dashy at 9:02 AM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

Seconding Jessamyn's recommendation of Penny Cluse Cafe for breakfast. A fallback might be Mirabel's on Main Street, especially if you favor baked goods for, or with, your breakfast. Possibly The Skinny Pancake (near the waterfront) for its assortment of sweet and savory crepes. Caveat: I too live an hour or so outside of Burlington, so my knowledge of the local offerings (despite working here 4 days a week) is probably limited. If you have time, there is a nice path along the lake for walking, running, etc.
posted by baseballpajamas at 9:51 AM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]

Seconding Penny Cluse in Burlington and SubAlpine in Keene Valley. It's a 2-hour drive from Burlington to Lake Placid which doesn't leave a lot of time for sightseeing or shopping in Burlington if you need to be in LP by 1 p.m.

Lake Placid is tiny and very tourist-oriented. While there are a number of shops and places to eat, Main St. is only 3-4 blocks long. I liked the sandwich I had at the Big Mountain Deli (they have a huge sandwich menu). The Olympic museum is small but interesting.
posted by plastic_animals at 10:52 AM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]