Just over two weeks ago we packed up the car—waters, snacks, camera (of course!), and Halo in the backseat hammock—and set off for a little adventure to Lake Placid, NY. It was the lil nugget’s first time there, but this beautiful place already holds a special piece of my heart.
Years ago, my husband and I discovered Lake Placid with our soul dog, Kota. She was just six months old when we first visited—back in June of 2011 when I ran the Lake Placid Half Marathon. Kota helped me train for that half marathon and I loved having her and my husband cheering on the sidelines.
It was that trip that started our love story with the mountains, lakes, and charm of this cozy Adirondack town. I’ll never forget that day when we arrived with Kota at Art Devlin’s (Now, Devlins). Kota did a butt waggle in the parking lot to a whole pack of Harley bikers – she was a little flirt as a puppy! For dog so selective of people, she sure loved burly men covered in art 🙂
As Kota got older, she wasn’t exactly a “social butterfly”—she had a small circle of trust and was perfectly content keeping it that way. Our travels became a little bit less and we always did our best to keep adventures safe and on the quieter side.
Halo, on the other hand? She loves everyone and everything. From the moment we walked into the our dog friendly hotel, she had the desk attendant taking her photo for the wall of fame. She LOVED riding in the elevator, especially when the doors opened at our floor and she got pats from new friends.
Why Lake Placid is a perfect dog-friendly getaway
Lake Placid is exactly 4 hours and 45 minutes from where we live on Boston’s north shore. A perfect halfway point is Woodstock, VT – we did spend a night in Woodstock to break up the trip on our way to NY.
There are several hotels, inns and house rentals that are dog friendly in Lake Placid. There are great hikes and mountains to climb. Many of the shops welcome pets with open arms. The scenery is stunning!
Dog-friendly and comfortable places to stay
There are many options to choose for places to stay and I will name 3 that I’ve had the experience and pleasure of staying at. I would recommend them all:
1. The Devlin (Formerly Art Devlin’s)
The Devlin is the first place we stayed in Lake Placid with Kota when I did the half marathon. It was located right on Main St. in the Village of Lake Placid which means it’s very walkable to shops and restaurants. It has beautiful mountain views and also views of the Olympic ski jumps.
The Devlin offers an outdoor heated pool. I remember the complementary coffee and muffins in the morning.
2. The 46er’ Wilmington, NY
If you are looking for something a bit quieter, the 46er’ cabin is an adorable rental on Juniper Hill in Wilmington, NY, just a short drive from Lake Placid. We stayed here with Kota when she decided later on in life that she had a little separation anxiety and we couldn’t leave her in a hotel room haha!
It has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. There is a cute living room and small kitchen area. The deck is beautiful and there is even a hot tub. There are hiking trails right out back to walk your dog.
It’s peaceful when you want to stay in a quieter spot with your dog!
3. The Hampton Inn and Suites Lake Placid
Location AND views! This place has it! The Hampton Inn and Suites on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid.
This was where we just stayed with Halo on her first Lake Placid Adventure. We were on the 3rd floor with an outdoor patio with an amazing view of Mirror Lake:
The hotel LOVES dogs! As you saw earlier my pet wall of fame picture. They also have a dog bed ready for your pooch. Halo made herself right at home on the floor by the slider:
The hotel offers complimentary breakfast in the morning and coffee at any time. It was great to be able to grab coffee at 6 AM. There also is a great coffee shop in walking distance, Origin Coffee Co. They offered some great pastries, with their chocolate crescents being delicious!
Walks and hikes for you and your dog
If you are looking for walks and hikes right outside your hotel room, the Hampton Inn is your best bet!
1. Mirror Lake
Mirror lake is a 2.7 mile loop. There is a path the entire circle around with stunning lake views. Also, there are beautiful homes to enjoy looking at and dreaming about living in.
We did the walk early in the morning with Halo and late in the day . She loved this adventure! I loved that they had trash bins and dog waste bags throughout the walk – they cater to the pooches.
If you are looking for a more leisurely excursion, this walk is perfect. It’s very peaceful, especially at sunrise.
2. Cobble Hill
When we visited Lake Placid with Kota, we did a hike up the steep Cobble Hill:
This is a beautiful hike! After doing a bit of research, I learned that they changed the path and the end is very steep and rocky. Our pup, Halo, has a bad leg and we did make the decision that this hike might be a bit too much for her. If you have an athletic and adventurous dog, I do highly recommend Cobble Hill!
They also changed the entrance to the trailhead since we had been there, which was now in walking distance from the Hampton Inn, so we were able to enjoy some of the trail. The wooden boardwalk is great for grabbing some photos.
Yes, we did see snow in April!
The parking situation isn’t the best, so if you can walk from your hotel like we did, that is perfect!
Dining with your dog
I love to eat good food – don’t we all? I did a google search and saw that Lisa G’s got some great reviews. And I even saw that they had a dog friendly patio!
Our first night my husband and I didn’t feel like going out, so we ordered takeout from Lisa G’s. When he picked up the food he confirmed that yes, we could bring Halo with us next time! But of course they were closed the next two nights. (Make sure to check restaurants – many are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and those are days we like to travel).
I highly recommend eating there or grabbing it to go! We had their wings – lemon pepper dry rub and maple bourbon – and they were amazing! The lemon caesar salads were delicious, too! I would have grabbed a picture but they disappeared fast.
We will be back and I will be sure to update how the patio dining is with a dog!
Shopping
Many of the stores are dog-friendly. Many also have signs in the window to let you know. Halo enjoyed popping in the stores and getting some scritches. The Olympic shops have a great selection of memorabilia.
There IS a dog boutique! It’s called Man and Beast. This was Halo’s favorite shop!
We got Halo a Lake Placid dog collar, a toy that she destroyed in seconds, and some new treats that she loves from a company called Y-NOT natural dog cookies out of Mayfield, NY. Halo loves the peanut butter pumpkin flavor and they look like little french fries.
Little moments of magic
You will find magic all around you when you visit Lake Placid!
I was so glad that I brought my camera the early morning we first walked around Mirror Lake. Three deer crossed the road. And they stood and stared as Halo sat and watched:
The sunrises and sunsets are just stunning! It was worth waking up for and worth popping outside for evening walks at sunset:
There is nothing like traveling with your dog! That is magic in itself. Our dogs bring us so much joy! Here is Halo at sunrise
Start planning your dog friendly vacation to Lake Placid
Lake Placid truly has something for every pup and their person—from peaceful walks and hikes to cozy spots to refuel and recharge. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, it’s the kind of place that stays with you, as you can see how it’s stayed with me over the years.
Have you been to Lake Placid with your dog? Or do you have a favorite dog-friendly getaway? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
*** Halo IS on a leash and it was removed in post processing. I promise we didn’t let our husky have the run of the town. Safety first always.
Seems to be a great place to visit & is dog friendly. It is nice that you gave a review of places to stay, eat, and
things to do while you are visiting. The photos you have shown are always excellent especially the one of the deer.
Thank you so much! We are definitely looking forward to our next trip there – and always love to share great experiences!
This looks like a wonderful place to vacation with your pup or on your own. Although our dogs are rarely off-farm, I always like to see dog friendly businesses and people who are dog lovers. So nice that Halo was able to experience this treasured spot just as Kota did. As always, your photos are beautiful, Darlene.
Thank you so much, Wendy! I love places that are very welcoming to dogs and this is definitely on the top of my list. Kota was with us in spirit for sure!
Such a wonderful trip! Knew Halo would love it as much as Kota. Always get the chills walking by Herb Brooks Arena, special place! Go USA!
Amazing photos and memories we will cherish forever.
Such a fun trip! Halo really did have a blast! Kota I’m sure was with us 🙂 Agree – chills walking by the arena – such an amazing and magical place to visit!!! I can’t wait until we go back already!