How to Plot the Perfect Couple's Weekend at Lake Placid Lodge
A weekend getaway to the Lake Placid Lodge sans kids can be a (long overdue) rejuvenation for parents. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to start dreaming: We’ve got the perfect itinerary for you.
The dividing line between those pre- and post-children days is often stark, but no more so than on the topic of travel. Those who may have gleefully hopped on a last-minute flight out of the country can find themselves squarely grounded to a 100-mile radius once children arrive.
Rest assured, however, it is possible to take a child-free couple’s weekend – and parents will return more relaxed and happy when the destination is as intimate and romantic as Lake Placid Lodge.
This place is built for reconnection. A sprawling and private retreat hand-built in the arts and crafts tradition, the lodge is a sort of adult Eden nestled onto the edge of Lake Placid. Now, you can finally experience more than 15 minutes of alone time together – snuggle up in the “bird-nest” beds custom-built by a local artisan that almost demand a lazy morning. Once you get up, the active options in the mountains and village are varied enough to help every kind of couple revisit the spontaneity of their pre-children relationship.
To make the most of your short escape from domestic life, we’ve put together the perfect itinerary for the kid-free couple, blending adventure with uninterrupted pampering.
What to Do the Month Before You Leave for Your Couple’s Weekend
You’re not the only one getting a change of scenery. This is supposed to be a relaxing getaway, not only for you as parents but also for your kids. Use this list to make sure you – and they – can rest easy.
- Find the Right Caretaker If grandparents and nannies aren’t an option, consider striking a bargain with a close friend: If they keep yours, you’ll return the favor down the road.
- Leave an Itinerary Particularly for younger kids, leave the caretaker with a typical schedule to keep them in their familiar routines. Of course, include essential phone numbers, including the main number at Lake Placid Lodge.
- Talk about the Upcoming Trip with Your Kids This will help them prepare for your departure – and even get excited, as well as ensure a smooth exit. Keeping a countdown calendar visible can be helpful for younger kids.
- Don’t Check-in Too Often Once you leave, avoid the urge to check in too frequently. This could make you, their caretaker, and your kids anxious. Once a day should suffice.
Saturday – Morning
The linens are soft and warm, the beds are deep and inviting, the fire is crackling in the stone fireplace, the lake sparkles right outside the windows – and no children are tumbling through the door at 6 a.m., begging for cartoons and breakfast. Take advantage of your chance to have a slow, serene awakening, even if that doesn’t happen until nearly noon. You have the whole weekend to yourself.
Saturday – Lunchtime
Don’t be alarmed at how strange those first few hours can be without the cacophony of kids as the soundtrack of conversation. Ease into an adults-only getaway by heading down to Maggie’s Pub to relax, grab a casual lunch, and (finally) connect over leisurely drinks by the fire.
Saturday – Afternoon
As a parent, activities are often dictated by what appeals to children. You’ve got a temporary reprieve from playing with Legos on the floor and chaperoning playdates, so make the most of it by getting outside and getting active.
- Hit the slopes on Whiteface Mountain, which has the longest vertical drop on the Eastern seaboard.
- Take a thrilling ride down America’s only Olympic bobsled track at the Olympic Center and Museum.
- Visiting in the spring? Grab one of the resort’s mountain bikes and a map of the trails that run by the lodge’s front door.
- Arrange to go horseback riding at Emerald Springs Ranch in Saranac Lake.
Saturday – Evening
Yes, every hotel wants to recommend its restaurant for your big dinner. Still, if being honest, most hoteliers in the Lake Placid region would recommend Artisans, Lake Placid Lodge’s legendary farm-to-table restaurant. This spot pioneered that style of dining experience and continues to offer a variety of fresh takes on it, from sweet breakfast options like the Lodge Pancakes to beer-pairing dinners and east coast seafood dishes.
Sunday – Morning
A couples-only weekend is a perfect chance to let someone work out those neck and shoulder knots that tighten from the tensions of everyday life. Indulge entirely with one of the lodge’s in-room massage treatments.
Sunday – Midday
If you’re staying in the summer, jump aboard the resort’s 35-foot mahogany Hacker-Craft for a quiet tour around the lake before packing up to make the journey back to the kids. For winter-goers, soak up a few final moments of the lodge’s serene ambiance in front of one of their cozy, handcrafted fireplaces.
