Lake Placid — Dining Drinking Touring 2026

[JasonN95]

May I suggest the biathlon experience: https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/todo/discover-biathlon/

I did that with the family a few years ago and enjoyed it. We were planning on spending a chunk of the day cross country skiing anyways, so it was a good deal for us.

[scoop85]

ECAC hockey tweeted that the lower bowl is almost sold out and they are now selling upper bowl seats. Could be a surprisingly large turnout this year.

As much as a like so many things about LP, the one big negative is the difficulty of finding accommodations. Immediate after we beat Harvard Sunday and my friend and I decided w'd make the trip, I began searching for a place to stay. Seemingly all the lodging of any type within the town was booked, and the few that had availability required a 3 stay minimum. I ended up finding a nice looking home on VRBO about 15 minute out of town, but it's pricey. 

[Beeeej]

As much as a like so many things about LP, the one big negative is the difficulty of finding accommodations. Immediate after we beat Harvard Sunday and my friend and I decided w'd make the trip, I began searching for a place to stay. Seemingly all the lodging of any type within the town was booked, and the few that had availability required a 3 stay minimum. I ended up finding a nice looking home on VRBO about 15 minute out of town, but it's pricey. 

T'was ever thus. When you could find a place that didn't require a three-night minimum stay, invariably they instead had a one-week cancellation deadline, which meant that you couldn't wait until the outcome of your Saturday night (or, G_d forbid, Sunday afternoon) QF game before knowing whether you had to cancel your Friday arrival. It sucks, but they're not stupid, and they're hedging their risks just as much as they are locking in their profits.

[andyw2100]

ECAC hockey tweeted that the lower bowl is almost sold out and they are now selling upper bowl seats. Could be a surprisingly large turnout this year.

As much as a like so many things about LP, the one big negative is the difficulty of finding accommodations. Immediate after we beat Harvard Sunday and my friend and I decided w'd make the trip, I began searching for a place to stay. Seemingly all the lodging of any type within the town was booked, and the few that had availability required a 3 stay minimum. I ended up finding a nice looking home on VRBO about 15 minute out of town, but it's pricey. 

Pretty sure they anticipated that a bit and put our band and presumably the Clarkson band in the upper bowl. If I'm not mistaken, the last couple of years the band was in the back rows of the lower sections, so that is a change from recent years.

As for accommodations, back in the 90s pretty much all hotels and motels either required that three night minimum and/or required cancellation a week ahead of time. Back then I would often stay in Saranac Lake, where the policies were more flexible. Now it seems plenty of hotels will take a two night reservation and/or allow a 72-hour cancellation without penalty. I made the cancellable reservation we are using this year when I left Sunday morning last year.

Edit: Was posting at the same time as Beeeej, and ignored the warning.

[imafrshmn]

The upper level seats at Herb Brooks have better sightlines because of the 7.5' gap between the side boards and the first row of seats rinkside.

[stereax]

On the bus to Binghamton 🥳

[andyw2100]

On the bus to Binghamton 🥳

You're going in the wrong direction... 

[stereax]

On the bus to Binghamton 🥳

You're going in the wrong direction... 

Haha, unfortunately no direct bus to Albany from Ithaca. This is at least better than going all the way to NYC and connecting there!

[Sperris]

I know they had to get rid of it but I miss the consolation game. Having 4 games over under 2 days with all of the associated overtimes.... made for my favorite hockey weekend of the year.

[stereax]

On the bus to Binghamton 🥳

You're going in the wrong direction... 

Haha, unfortunately no direct bus to Albany from Ithaca. This is at least better than going all the way to NYC and connecting there!

For those of you who enjoy my little travelogues, on the bus to Albany! And significantly less stressed - that was the most critical part of the trip and if God forbid the connection was missed, I'd have to book quickly and connect in NYC, getting to Albany around midnight 😭

[stereax]

On the bus to Binghamton 🥳

You're going in the wrong direction... 

Haha, unfortunately no direct bus to Albany from Ithaca. This is at least better than going all the way to NYC and connecting there!

For those of you who enjoy my little travelogues, on the bus to Albany! And significantly less stressed - that was the most critical part of the trip and if God forbid the connection was missed, I'd have to book quickly and connect in NYC, getting to Albany around midnight 😭

The bus driver to Albany is putting stuff in ORDER. Telling us everything we can't do, from illegal drugs (yikes, do people do this on buses?) to phone calls (correct).

"No profanity allowed on this bus."

Well f-

[Chris H82]

On the bus to Binghamton 🥳

You're going in the wrong direction... 

Haha, unfortunately no direct bus to Albany from Ithaca. This is at least better than going all the way to NYC and connecting there!

For those of you who enjoy my little travelogues, on the bus to Albany! And significantly less stressed - that was the most critical part of the trip and if God forbid the connection was missed, I'd have to book quickly and connect in NYC, getting to Albany around midnight 😭

The bus driver to Albany is putting stuff in ORDER. Telling us everything we can't do, from illegal drugs (yikes, do people do this on buses?) to phone calls (correct).

"No profanity allowed on this bus."

Well f-

So mind your g*d d*&n Ps and Qs there, Ma'am. 

Details - are you going to Albany today and then on to LP tomorrow,  or something else? Forgive me if you posted about this earlier - sometimes I'm lucky to remember my name.....

[stereax]

On the bus to Binghamton 🥳

You're going in the wrong direction... 

Haha, unfortunately no direct bus to Albany from Ithaca. This is at least better than going all the way to NYC and connecting there!

For those of you who enjoy my little travelogues, on the bus to Albany! And significantly less stressed - that was the most critical part of the trip and if God forbid the connection was missed, I'd have to book quickly and connect in NYC, getting to Albany around midnight 😭

The bus driver to Albany is putting stuff in ORDER. Telling us everything we can't do, from illegal drugs (yikes, do people do this on buses?) to phone calls (correct).

"No profanity allowed on this bus."

Well f-

So mind your g*d d*&n Ps and Qs there, Ma'am. 

Details - are you going to Albany today and then on to LP tomorrow,  or something else? Forgive me if you posted about this earlier - sometimes I'm lucky to remember my name.....

Hahahah!

Yeah. Overnighting in Albany, getting collected tomorrow morning (still finalizing details there). LP Fri and Sat, going back to Ithaca Sun. That was my original plan, as I couldn't land a spot in a car from Ithaca. No time for sightseeing in Albany though, I get there at 6 and need to get to my hotel which I think is mildly in the middle of nowhere, then leaving early tomorrow.

Leaving Cobleskill right now

[stereax]

Travelogue update: at my hotel in Albany! A wee bit sketchy but it'll do, for 60 bucks.

Anyone know anywhere decent to grab a bite here?

[andyw2100]

Travelogue update: at my hotel in Albany! A wee bit sketchy but it'll do, for 60 bucks.

Anyone know anywhere decent to grab a bite here?

Let's see...

You don't have a car. You're in a sketchy part of Albany in a $60 a night room. I'm thinking Ubereats.