Choosing a place to stay in the Adirondacks often means deciding between two options: a centrally located spot near a bustling downtown or a rustic wilderness lodge set in an idyllic but remote forested glen. Eastwind Lake Placid offers the best of both worlds. The boutique hotel is located just a short drive from Lake Placid’s downtown, but many of its tasteful rooms and luxury cabins look out on the bucolic Chubb River. It’s an excellent place to stay on your Adirondacks vacation no matter which direction you’re hoping your trip will take you: outdoor adventure or small town exploration.
Eastwind Lake Placid is the newest outpost of Eastwind Hotels, a hospitality company formed in 2018, which has two other properties in the Catskills mountains (Oliverea Valley and Windham.) A specific aesthetic can be found in all of these properties that is a winning combination of Scandinavian motifs and mid-century vintage design. As soon as I stepped into the property’s cozy lobby, it was evident that the rustic chic vibes are present at the Lake Placid location as well. A crackling fireplace was surrounded by white walls, light wood and vintage furniture next to shelves full of precisely curated books and items. (Those personalized touches can also be found in the rooms—no two spaces are alike.)
Eastwind is well known for its luxury cabins which offer an immersive (and very Instagrammable!) experience in nature. Eight of those can be found at this property as well but there are far more (21, in fact) traditional guest rooms located in historic wooden buildings surrounding a small clearing. We stayed in King Suite Colden, a fantastic, top-floor alcove that boasted a gorgeous, free-standing tub, Pendleton robes and Frette linens. A tiny vintage fridge was also a welcome addition for storing pre-adventure snacks and food items. The space felt up-to-date while vintage accents gave it a personalized charm.
One of the loveliest amenities you can take advantage of at Eastwind Lake Placid is pre-ordering a breakfast basket that magically shows up at your door in the morning full of hot coffee, pastries and other requested items. There is also a small bar located in the main lobby, with hot coffee and tea, and a sauna that looks out on a beautiful valley. In the summer, you can enjoy an on-site pool, hammocks and bicycle rentals. Weekly programming ranges from live music (we caught a fun guitar performance the night we were there) to yoga and art workshops.
The town of Lake Placid has pretty much everything you might want for an upstate getaway from historic sites like the Olympic Center to quirky boutique shopping, fun restaurants and lively bars. It’s located within Adirondack Park which boasts six-million acres of mountains, lakes and trails. In the winter, you’ll want to hit up the nearby Whiteface Mountain (owned by New York State) which is one of the best skiing destinations on the East Coast. (Just a word of warning: it’s chilling temps and high elevation does mean it sometimes earns its nickname of “Ice-face Mountain.”) In the summer, spend a day exploring the Adirondack Rail Trail which provides miles of scenic paths for walking or biking.
Nearby
White Bear Restaurant
A friendly-family restaurant with a welcoming vibe and solid food
Luna Restaurant
A cozy spot serving up excellent steak and pasta
High Falls Gorge
A scenic, 30-minute walk past four stunning waterfalls
Time Out Tip: Be sure to make a reservation for the sauna in advance when you check in to the hotel.