Bluebird Lake Placid

Lake Placid has twice hosted the Winter Olympics and, as any local will tell you, it’s perhaps an even finer summertime destination. So it’s no surprise that Bluebird Lake Placid is oriented towards outdoor recreation. Its stylish Scandinavian-meets-Japanese minimalist aesthetic is a welcome departure from the region’s more rustic, more familiar Adirondack lodges.

Northeastern boutique-hotel fans might note the involvement of Lark Hotels, a group that specializes in exactly this blend of local tradition and stylish, up-to-date design. Their touch is evident not only in the visual environment but in the service and the subtly luxe amenities as well. The rooms and suites include some more capacious options for larger parties — with bunk beds added some sleep up to six.

And Après Only, the hotel’s restaurant and bar, is equally well suited to summer or winter, serving snacks and light bites alongside beer, wine, and cocktails in a space that’s inspired by the great American ski boom of the 1980s. Beyond the hotel’s doors you’ll find not just ski runs but the lake itself, as well as mile after mile of trails and even a museum dedicated to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games.