A SUEPUR DESTINATION:
Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa, Lake Placid, New York
by
Sue Purdy
My sister Linda and
I, on our constant quest for the perfect spa experience, packed
our bags and headed up to the Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa in
Lake Placid, New York.
Instead of driving
from Long Island, we took Amtrak from Penn Station. That was a
smart move. During the six-hour ride, we relaxed, read, talked,
slept and watched the beautiful scenery along the Hudson River
roll by.
Well rested, we arrived
at the distinctive Westport train station, built in 1876 with
its bell-cast roof, exposed rafters, and protective overhanging
eaves. This station is also home to the Westport Depot Theater,
where summer stock productions offer well-known actors treading
the boards. We were met by Mike, driving a gorgeous, white stretch
limousine, sent by the Inn to pick us up. Linda and I gave each
other the raised eyebrow sign. Things were lookin’ good.
Mirror Lake Inn, open
year-round, is located just 500 feet from the old New Englandesque
town of Lake Placid, home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic
Games. Still home to training athletes and visiting travelers,
the thriving town has antique shops, wonderful book stores, and
excellent boutiques. The impressive Inn overlooks Mirror Lake,
reflecting the Adirondack Mountain wilderness charm. Originally
built as a private home in 1883, it began operating as an Inn
in 1924 and was rented in its entirety by the Norwegian team during
the 1932 Winter Olympics. Like a rabbit’s warren, the 128 rooms
are located in various added-on portions of the building and it
took Linda and I a while to navigate the twists and turns and
finally find our room with confidence.
We had signed up for
a Women’s Revitalization Weekend ($976 for two plus tax) which
included two-night’s accommodations, meals, outdoor activities
with the fabulous Carol Treadwell, spa treatments, and guest speaker,
Dr. Joseph C. Coppola. Linda and I added on another night and
several more spa treatments as the place was too good to leave
earlier, as planned.
This weekend turned
out to be one of the best we’ve ever enjoyed. We were part of
the“Revitalization group which consisted of a dozen gals from
all over, who were funny, intelligent, charming and raucous. It
took approximately 15 minutes for this gaggle of gals, many of
whom were sisters, to drop any masks of pretense and get down
to having a wonderful time.
We met for meals in
the beautiful Averil Conwell dining room, named for contemporary
local artist whose scenic paintings line the walls. And the food
was excellent. Spa meals were available, but most of us selected
from the regular menu which featured a delicious house salad with
orange and poppy seed dressing, a tender, juicy rack of lamb and
a fabulous blueberry crème brûlée for dessert. Breakfast was a
huge buffet of all things good and fattening. Yes, they did have
nutritious, low-fat selections, but who could pass up the pumpkin
pancakes and the sizzling bacon.
Lake
Placid, Page 2 and links>>
