As a couple married during the height of the pandemic, my husband and I made a pact to celebrate our anniversaries by traveling to new places together instead of exchanging gifts. The pandemic taught us the value of not postponing adventures, of prioritizing experiences and time together over material things.
To mark this year, we chose Lake Placid, New York. Neither of us had visited before, and the area promised the calm of lakeside scenery. We wanted a road trip rather than flying, so a drivable destination in the Adirondacks fit perfectly. We loved many aspects of the trip — speeding down an Olympic bobsled run, hiking a summit, taking scenic drives and discovering quiet ponds for fishing — but the highlight was finding Mirror Lake Inn. Approaching its elegant facade on Mirror Lake immediately made us relax and exclaim, “Ahhh.”
I’ll get to the spa in a moment, but even without that experience, Mirror Lake Inn offers plenty to enjoy. All accommodations feature lakefront views and combine historic charm with modern comforts. The grounds were especially lovely in August, with wildflowers and verdant foliage. We ate at both The Cottage and The View; each restaurant offered a distinct atmosphere but equal quality, with menus and lake vistas that complemented one another. The inn sits just off Lake Placid’s Main Street within easy walking distance, and guests can use amenities like tennis courts and a private beach with complimentary boats and watercraft. More than 6,000 square feet of event space also makes the property ideal for corporate retreats and family gatherings.
© Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa
One more reason we loved the resort: it has been family-owned since 1924, which helps explain the warm, welcoming atmosphere. In 1976, Ed Weibrecht left a corporate career to manage the inn for the previous owner, Mrs. Wikoff; within a year he became the owner. Since then, Mirror Lake Inn has maintained a high standard and has been AAA Four Diamond-rated for more than three decades.
The on-site, award-winning spa is a major draw. Beyond the lakefront location, manicured grounds and refined rooms, the spa provides a true sense of calm with a full-service salon, salt therapy and a Salt Room, a Dry Float European Soft Pack, a 60-foot indoor lap pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, fitness center, private yoga and personal training, plus an extensive treatment menu.
The spa menu includes distinctive local treatments such as an Adirondack Maple Sugar Body Scrub using regional maple sugar, a CBD Healing Pedicure, the Pure Placid Cleansing Ritual with custom-blended scents inspired by the Adirondacks, a Vichy Shower Scrub, a Seaweed Body Wrap incorporating the European Soft Pack, a Thai Herbal Ball Massage, Reiki and Bamboo-Fusion Massage. These options highlight regional ingredients and holistic techniques.
On our final morning we booked a 50-minute Swedish Couples Massage — the ideal finish to our Lake Placid stay after a vigorous hike the day before. We changed separately in well-appointed locker rooms, met our therapists and settled into the treatment room. Each of us prefers different pressure levels, and our therapists tailored the session to our needs, focusing on extra-sore spots. At one point I heard my husband yelp as his therapist worked out a stubborn calf knot; later he said his muscles felt noticeably better. The massage left us relaxed and ready for the drive home.
© Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa
Leaving the spa was bittersweet because it marked the end of our stay, but we departed happy and smiling. While scrolling through Facebook during the trip, I saw a photo that matched one I’d taken and discovered a former coworker had visited the inn the day before we arrived. I’ve since recommended Mirror Lake Inn to others, and a colleague later enjoyed lunch at The Cottage with friends. I’m sharing our experience here because the inn truly deserves the praise and word of mouth it receives. Even though others now know about it, Mirror Lake Inn still felt like our private little haven.