Lake Placid's Skate into New Year 2014

-
(as seen in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise) By Diane Chase

We seem to be the family that tries to do it all, a little bit of First Night Saranac Lake ($12 for buttons purchased in advance, free for children under 13 years of age) and a tad bit of potluck with friends. The one thing we did last year that will be added to our New Year’s Eve tradition is “Skate into the New Year” at the Lake Placid Olympic Speed Skating Oval.

The eighth annual Skating into New Year will take place on Thursday, December 31 at the Lake Placid Olympic Oval from 10:30 pm – 12:30 am for those searching for a healthy non-alcoholic event. Admission is a modest $5 fee for adults (children and any student with a valid ID are free) and request of a nonperishable good all benefits the local food pantry. There is music, a bonfire, hot drinks and sweet treats all in a substance-free setting.

Over 33 easy hikes, snowshoe and XC ski trails
as well as 300 other activities
for Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Wilmington
Keene Valley, Keene, Tupper Lake
Jay and Upper Jay
Christie Sausa of Lake Placid Skate Shop conceived the idea in 2007 after she kept hearing from families that there just weren’t a lot of New Year’s Eve options for people that didn’t want to go out to a bar. The first event took place in 2008 and has continued strong ever since. The event is organized by Christie and assisted by her mother, friends and other volunteers. The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) donates ice time and local companies usually sponsor hot drinks and snacks. The event sponsors may vary slightly from year to year, but the format is always the same. Christie manages to get people to volunteer and donate to provide a safe, fun, family-friendly event at an iconic Lake Placid venue.

For my family it was a special night. It was quite snowy so some of Christie’s volunteers were out in force keeping the track clear while others policed the area for safety. When we got chilled we could warm up inside with a cup of hot chocolate or go outside around the fire pit.

We didn’t stay until midnight because we wanted to see the snowflake drop and fireworks go off over Saranac Lake’s Lake Flower. We were able to spend a few memorable hours outside enjoying the ice track at the Olympic Oval. This year we will probably do the same. That is the wonderful part about these events, we can pick and choose what we want to see or do. The costs are so minimal that I feel we can do it all. Be safe and enjoy the holidays! 

© Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Activities™ guidebook series, Adirondack Family Time™guidebooks have easy Adirondack family hikes, Adirondack swimming holes, Lake Placid Olympic activities, Adirondack trivia, Adirondack horseback rides, Adirondack snowshoe family trails and more. Look for the Adirondack family guidebook online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the next Adirondack Family Activities™ guide.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Be A Nature Detective: What Tree has Camouflage Bark?

-
Image
The American sycamore! This massive tree is often mistaken for a maple because of its leaves.  It is unique amongst all trees because of its bark pattern. Are there other names for the sycamore tree? It is also called an American planetree, buttonwood or the buttonball tree. Where does it grow? This hardy tree likes wet soil. It can be found growing in every state east of the Great Plains, except Minnesota. How big will it get? It can grow up to 90' tall. t is also North America's largest native broadleaf plant.
Read more

Crafts: Aldo Leopold Bench Plans

-
Image
Enjoy these simple plans for this simple bench that provides a perfect place to observe the natural world.  C onsidered by many as the father of wildlife management and of the United States’ wilderness system, Aldo Leopold was a conservationist, forester, philosopher, educator, writer, and outdoor enthusiast . “That land is a community is the basic concept off ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.” Though his book, The Sand County Almanac is a must read, it may be something that can wait for anyone with very young children. For everyone else, it's a wonderful example of nature writing that is a timeless connection to the land. My family first made our first  "Leopold Bench" as a group effort at the Aldo celebration at the A dirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb, NY. It remains one our most comfortable outdoor benches. It also was a project that allowed us to work together. © Diane Chase, author of A dirondac...
Read more

Adirondack Treats: Make Your Own Mirror Lake Inn Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe)

-
Image
Mirror Lake Inn Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Back by popular demand! My favorite cookie recipe!    *reprinted with permission Mirror Lake Inn Chocolate Chip Cookies , Lake Placid, N.Y. Mix until light and fluffy 2 cups butter 2 cups sugar 1 cup brown sugar Blend and add to sugar mixture:  4 eggs Add: 4 tsp. vanilla 4 cups flour 3 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking soda 4 cups chocolate chips 2 cups broken walnuts (I omit) Drop onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Yields 4 dozen. Tip: I whip up a batch and keep the dough in the refrigerator and bake a few cookies at a time! Enjoy! *if you stay at the Inn you get complimentary afternoon tea and chocolate chip cookies daily. If not, you can make your own and pretend!
Read more