A few weekends ago, R. and I had the opportunity to take a quick weekend trip up to Lake Placid. Some of you may recall that we moved into our first home in August, so this was exactly the getaway we needed after all that stress! Neither of us had ever been to any Olympic host cities before either, and getting to visit one right in our home state was an unforgettable experience. I’ve got a few more posts planned revolving around this fabulous destination in the Adirondack Mountains, but today I want to share with you guys all about where to stay in Lake Placid. Because when it comes to Lake Placid hotels, y’all have got to get the lowdown on the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort…
Before we get into this post, I want to take a moment to thank the Golden Arrow Lake Placid for hosting me during this trip. The hospitality of properties like the Golden Arrow is what allows me to share these amazing destinations with you and inspire your travels on a frequent basis. So thank you for supporting the brands, properties, and destinations that allow me to do what I do! Also — please know that however grateful I am towards my partners, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Lake Placid Hotels: Our Stay at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort
Check In
Due to some late meetings and a five hour drive to Lake Placid, we didn’t actually check in at the Golden Arrow until about 10 p.m. Friday night. I called ahead of time to notify the front desk that we’d be arriving late, just to make sure this wouldn’t be a problem.
When we finally did check in, the process was a smooth as could be. One employee even gave us some recommendations for a late dinner, which was great since we were absolutely starving!
Breakfast at Generations
After a much needed night’s rest, R. and I headed over on Saturday morning to the Golden Arrow’s on-site restaurant, Generations, for breakfast. We were lucky enough to get seated by the windows looking out over the lake, so the view was a treat in and of itself! The food was really delicious, too.
One thing I love about the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, is that it is actually situated right on Mirror Lake. It’s the only resort on this lake with its own beachfront, making it the best of all the Lake Placid hotels in my opinion! After all, there’s nothing like waking up and being able to look right out at the lake from your balcony.
It’s also great that the Golden Arrow is located on Mirror Lake, as this small lake doesn’t allow any motorized vehicles. You’re extremely close to Lake Placid and right in the heart of the downtown area, without the bustle or noise of being on a big lake.
A Family Owned Operation
After breakfast at Generations, Rich and I had the opportunity to tour the resort and really learn about what makes this property unique. I was enthralled to learn that, in addition to being a beautiful lakeside resort, the Golden Arrow Lake Placid also has a rich, intriguing history.
The Golden Arrow is a pretty big resort (over 150 rooms, with 26 different room types!), so you might be surprised to learn that it’s actually a family owned business. Wini and Stefanie Holeried traveled all the way from Germany to establish a life in America. It was Lake Placid though that they made their permanent home, purchasing the Golden Arrow Motor Inn in 1974. At the time, it was just a 36-room property.
Over the years though, Wini and Stefanie made the resort their own. Not only is the business still family owned and operated, with nine family members still working at the resort in some capacity, but you can find personal touches and remnants of the resort’s long history all throughout the property.
Lake Placid: One of the Olympic Host Cities
Like I mentioned above, Lake Placid is special in that it is one of the Olympic host cities! There’s so many cool things to do here related to the city’s Olympic history, but one of my favorite factoids about the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort is that it was used during the 1980 Winter Olympic Games as the ABC headquarters. Since they spoke German, the Holeried family acted as hosts for both the German and Austrian ski teams and diplomats.
The hotel was booked solid for three weeks!
Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m a huge history buff, so any property with a unique past instantly has my heart.
Dog Sightings!
After the tour of the hotel, R. and I made a quick stop back at the room to grab some waters for the day. We hung out on the balcony for a few minutes, and we spotted some of the most adorable pups playing outside on the lawn. The Golden Arrow is a pet friendly resort, so it was awesome seeing people spending quality time with their pups in this beautiful setting.
Green Initiatives
In addition to being dog friendly, another thing that I love about the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort is that they instill lots of green initiatives in an attempt to make the resort more environmentally friendly. I was especially impressed by their green roof nearby Generations Restaurant. The green roof acts as a super insulator and as a storm water management system. It’s also just beautiful to look at!
Our Second Breakfast at Generations
We admittedly didn’t get to spend a ton of time at the Golden Arrow on Saturday, as we were off busy exploring all that Lake Placid has to offer! That being said, we were more than happy to hangout and have our second breakfast at Generations on Sunday morning. I got a mouthwatering bacon waffle that was to die for.
P.S. Please tell me I’m not the only one drooling over these food pics? If any of y’all want to try Generations for yourself, the Golden Arrow is running a super cool “B&B Deal” promotion right now. Just call the resort at (844) 898-0924 and book a midweek stay between Sept. 4 – Dec. 20, to get breakfast for two people each day of your stay! It is SO good guys.
In fact, I might come back just so I can order another bacon waffle.
Exploring the Beachfront
After our amazing, incredibly filling breakfast, we ventured on over to the beach Sunday morning. I really wish we had had more time at the Golden Arrow, because this area was so nice! At the beach, guests have access to complimentary canoes, rowboats, paddleboats, and standup paddleboards. The sandbar is also equipped with snacks, drinks, and cold beer, plus there is a fire pit to enjoy, too!
Checkout
I was honestly so sad to leave Sunday! Checkout was easy as could be, but I really didn’t want to say goodbye to this beautiful resort or one of the bustling Olympic host cities.
My Favorite Things About the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort
Though our time at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort was limited, it truly was the perfect getaway. I really felt at home here as soon as we arrived. I love the unique history of this resort and it was fun to learn how it has grown over the years into what it is today.
Lake Placid is definitely on my list of trips to redo in the future!
Have you ever visited Lake Placid or the Adirondack Mountains? What was your stay like?
