Travelling to Lake Placid in July, suggestions on lodging and roads in the area.

[Terry Weller]

I have planned a trip through Ontario crossing into New York at Ogdensburg along SR 30 to Lake Placid then back along SR 3 towards the Finger Lakes. Can anyone suggest a biker friendly place to stay and eat around Lake Placid or an alternate route for my travels. I am limited to 4 days in total to get back home (outside Toronto, Ontario) and the mileage so far is about 1,400 km (about 900 miles so far). Thanks.

[Teresa J]

HI Terry! We did this trip last summer as we live 1 hour west of Toronto. We went over at the Rainbow Bridge and followed along the southern part of Lake Ontario (which wasn't as scenic and exciting as I had hoped-but the roads were nice) and connected with 3 going across through Watertown. 3 is a beautiful road, with come nice curves and towns along the way. We stopped at Saranac lake for the night which is a small town just west of Lake Placid and stayed at an old renovated hotel downtown (sorry canot remember the name but its pretty much the only one right in town). Its a nice smaller town right on the lake. There are a few other motels just east of there as I remember but we liked where we stayed. There are many places to stay in Lake Placid too and that is a great town for tourists. Make sure you ride up the big mountain with tons of switch backs. We were in the clouds by the time we reached the peak and the temp. dropped 10 degrees but its a cool view. After Lake Placid we went back west on 3 and then took 28 south which again is a really nice road and stopped at Old Forge. Again lots of motels to choose from but cannot remember any names. We then travelled back west on 90 as we had to make it back home but if we had the time, to take the roads south of 90 to the Finger Lakes would have been my choice. All in all the roads are perfect, drivers are not crazy (like here) and everywhere you stop the people are really nice. Sorry I couldn't offer anymore advice!

[Terry Weller]

Thanks Therese. We ended up going out last weekend, leaving Sunday. I live in Pickering so went accross at the Ivy Lea Bridge, Followed pretty much the same route as you did, travelling down to Watertown and accross 3 into Lake Placid. Stayed at the Crowne Plaza there on the hillside overlooking Mirror Lake. We headed back down 28 and then onto 12. The roads there were better than 3 I felt. We carried on accross 5/20, the road south of I-90 through the Finger Lakes and hung out in Skaneateles. Very nice area with lots of little shops, etc. Came back to around Darien Lake area when the rains came down. Up onto I-90 and for the third time that day, changed into our rain gear. As we were changing a trucker stopped and told us to be careful as there were funnel clouds up ahead on I-90. We saw them, scary enough but were able to get around them.

Thanks for your info, it was a great trip.