As snowflakes dust the ground in Albany, New York, I begin to feel giddy. My husband and I are off for some winter fun in Lake Placid, the host city of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, and a little bit of snow is a necessity for our plans. And since we’re headed up I-87 in a Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve, I know we can handle whatever Mother Nature throws our way.
While the interior of the Jeep is nice and toasty, we’re well aware that we’ll need protection against the elements for our outdoor adventures. So we make a pit stop in the resort town of Saratoga Springs, ducking into Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company to stock up on handwarmers and Smartwool.
About an hour and a half later, our stomachs start grumbling, so we veer off on State Route 73, toward the hamlet of Keene Valley, nestled within the mountains in Adirondack Park. Lunch is at Old Mountain Coffee Company, where we have tempeh reubens and extra-spicy chai lattes.
It’s just a few more minutes to Lake Placid, and our first stop is the Olympic Jumping Complex. We take the Skyride gondola and then a glass elevator to reach the observation deck, where we watch jumpers launch themselves more than 300 feet off the ramps.
From here, we make like 1980 alpine skiing gold medalist Annemarie Moser-Pröll and zip down the slopes of Whiteface Mountain. It takes only a few runs before we’re out of breath, so we finish our afternoon with a ride up the Cloudsplitter Gondola to take in the delightful views of the Olympic Village, Lake Placid, and Lake Champlain.
It’s après-ski time, and we’re excited to try the creative cuisine at Salt of the Earth Bistro. Cauliflower pakoras, Lebanese red lentil soup, and Gambian peanut stew make for a menu that’s as international as an Olympic Opening Ceremony.
After an eventful day, we head off to our respite for the night, Lake Placid Lodge. Settling into our private waterfront cabin, we get a fire burning while we watch the snow fall over the lake. We may not have medals around our necks, but we sure do feel like winners.
The Car
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve
There’s no better vehicle for exploring the Adirondacks in the winter than a Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve. The SUV’s four-wheel drive and Selec-Terrain Traction Management System ensure that it stays steady on snowy roads, and its 357-horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 engine makes sure you don’t lose any momentum when climbing the mountains. The temperature may dip into the teens outside, but the heated leather seats and steering wheel keep you warm. Plus, there’s plenty of room for ski gear, with as much as 84.6 cubic feet of storage space when you fold down the second and third rows of seats.
From $68,395, jeep.com
Next Up: Missed the Winter Ski Season? Hit the Summer Slopes Instead
