Take a Gondola Ride at Whiteface, near Lake Placid, NY

by Katie Beltramo

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Looking for family fun around Lake Placid? In nearby Wilmington, a gondola ride ($19/adult, $13/kids 7 to 12, kids 6 and under free, or covered by the Olympics Passport) will take you to the top of Little Whiteface mountain.

Bring a picnic and spend some time at the summit, or try mountain biking on a variety of trails (they rent bikes, and you can go with a guide if you’re a novice). This is a great option for to please little ones and the grandparents, and of course it will just get prettier as the weather cools and the leaves turn.

If you’re an avid skier, though, it’s  likely to make you pine for the kick off to ski season, usually around Thanksgiving. With 89 trails & 11 lifts, plus ski school options that include day-long kids’ camps as well as shorter lessons for kids and adults, you’re likely to want to plan another trip soon.

© 2011, Katie Beltramo

Katie Beltramo, a mother of two, is Editor of Kids Out and About-Albany and blogs at Capital District Fun.

Photo courtesy of Olympic Regional Development Authority.