Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid: A Family Friendly Place to Stay

Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort is a perfect, family friendly destination in the Lake Placid, NY. It's all about location, location, location (well, and a whole lot more).Click To TweetWe found ourselves arriving later than we had planned, which wouldn’t be a problem in the summer months. But this wasn’t the summer. This was a mere week before the winter solstice—you know, the shortest day of the year. So, leaving just an hour or two later could mean driving through the Adirondacks in upstate New York in the dark. In winter. In snow. With a minivan. Anyone with a minivan knows that those beasts of a machine are perfectly designed for road trips heading south, but they’re not quite ideal for those road trips heading north in December, like the one we had planned to Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, NY.

In the dark of night, far enough north that the rain had turned first to slush and then ice and snow, we made our way along the unlit highway. Knowing we were less than an hour away from our stay, we exited the road and started meandering over a mountain, the ground growing whiter below our tires and our vision obscured by the blizzard in our high beams. As we spotted our resort, glowing along the shore of the lake, my muscles unclenched and I realized I had been holding my breath because snow and, you know, van. Pulling up the car, we all found our voices, and the little ones started to scramble out into the welcoming glow of Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort.

To say we were greeted with warmth and hospitality is an understatement. The lobby was filled with golden light and flanked by a crackling fireplace reflecting off of the bamboo floors. Shimmering Christmas trees were spread through the room, and my children found a million comfortable places to soak it all in. But what made this particularly special is that the staff never batted an eye at my little ones’ excitement at escaping the van and discovering the holiday spirit spread through the space. Any family that travels knows that feeling of belonging when your overly exuberant children are welcomed in a public space, and we found it here. But what else is it about Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort that will have us coming back in any season?

Location of Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort

It was dark upon our arrival, so, though we knew the hotel was located on the shore of Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, I don’t think we realized just how close that lake really was. It felt like that crystal water was nearly lapping at the edge of the balcony of the lakefront rooms. I could imagine hours just sitting in a rocking chair and watching the sky reflect on the lake (still trying to think of ways to convince my kids to let me do this though). But if you’re keen on getting out of that chair and shopping, eating, imbibing, wandering, meeting, greeting, relaxing, or anything else that requires you head into town, well, you’re in luck because Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort is located on Main Street with just steps between its front door and the sidewalk that leads you on your journeys.

Not only is the resort conveniently located in relation to the town, it is in an area of New York that is surrounded by things to do. Lake Placid itself is best known for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games and many of the facilities are still there and ready to be experienced and toured, from bobsleds to speed skates, ski jumps to luges. The hotel is also a great starting point for anyone wanting to head out and snow shoe, cross country ski, golf, hike, mountain bike, and explore the nearby Whiteface Mountain, among other activities. You pick your activity and you’ll probably find it an easy distance away.

Accommodations

The rooms at Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort are comfortable and cozy. While they are thoroughly modern, they have a nod to the rustic in their decor, which made the little people always feel appreciative of their moments in the mountains of NY. It didn’t feel like we were in just an average hotel; it felt different, and that felt inspiring.

For those families a little larger, the resort has suites, which is where we stayed. There was enough space for us all to feel like we could find peace from each other, and we grownups didn’t have to commit to going to bed at the same time as the little ones (the sharing-a-room-struggle is real). The suite had two private bedrooms as well as a large living area complete with dining table, couch, and two double beds. But it doesn’t end there. We had two full bathrooms and a full kitchen. It was the perfect spot to make home base for an extended stay. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly suite, a pet friendly room, or a romantic getaway, the resort has what you need with a number of specialty rooms available.

On-Site Amenities

Gym

Imagine working out in gym with giant windows overlooking a beautiful lake? Sounds pretty inspirational, no? Well, the gym at Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort is exactly that. The gym is big enough that there’s not much threat of not having equipment to work out on and it’s bright and energizing—no basement gym here.

To add to the experience, the gym floor is made of recycled tires and the ceiling fans are energy efficient. So, not only does a trip to the gym feel good for your body, it kind of feels good for the soul too. There’s also a racquet ball court for those who prefer. A separate key is needed for the gym, but we easily picked ours up at the front desk (and don’t forget to return your keys as there is a fee for lost key cards).

Pool

The hotel has an indoor heated pool that is surrounded by glass on one side. It manages to both feel like you’re partially outside under the open sky and tucked deep into a grotto. The pool is big enough to give the little ones somewhere to play, yet small enough that their grown up can pretty much see at all times from the comfort of one of the many lounge chairs surrounding the pool.

In addition to the pool, there is a sauna, a steam bath, and two whirlpool tubs. It’s an inviting area that our littles begged to be at nearly our entire stay. And the bonus here? The pool was redone in 2007 to include more energy and water efficient plumbing and heating.

Activities

The hotel offers far more than just a pool and a gym though. Once the lake freezes over, you can grab your skates and head out onto the ice. Cross-country skier? Then you should book a first floor room, which in the winter months becomes ski-in/ski-out lodging. Additionally, you can take a dog sled out onto the lake (this is operated by an independent operator though).

This family-friendly resort isn’t just for those who like winter sports. It has enough to offer during the warm-weather months to keep the entire family happily busy as well. It is, after all, located on a private beach, which, of course, means sand castles. Lots of them. And because motorized crafts are not permitted in the lake, the water is clean and clear enough to swim in when all that sand castle-building starts to get a little sweaty.

If getting out onto the water is what you’re looking for though, there’s still plenty of ways to get out there, so don’t worry. Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort offers complimentary rowboats, canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, hydro-bikes, and stand up paddle boards to help you get out on that crystal clear water.

Now, this is all to say these are the things you can find happening if there isn’t anything else happening. We were lucky enough to be at the resort during the annual Lake Placid Holiday Stroll, which meant there was a ton of things happening both around town and in the hotel. One of the activities that my little people loved the most was building gingerbread houses at the hotel’s Generations Restaurant. (Although let’s face it; there was more candy eating than there really was building, but we all know as a parent you can only pick so many battles to fight.)

 Alpine Mall

One of the things that our little people found completely fascinating about Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort was discovering how to get from one place to another. I mean, I feel pretty certain that most kids find secret doors and passageways exciting. And, while the resort doesn’t really have any secret doors or passageways, when you’re little ones are small enough that they can’t read, it feels that way. One of the exits out of the hotel that my kids (even the ones who did read) loved the most was the exit to the Alpine Mall. The Alpine Mall connects with Main Street. Along the covered strip there are stores and restaurants, so if you need something, you don’t even have to set foot outside.

Generations Restaurant

The restaurant at Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, Generations Restaurant, is also a welcoming space. It is family friendly and filled with a vibrancy and life that draws patrons in. The food itself was excellent and our little ones found no trouble finding at least four million things they’d be glad to eat (even the middle one who pretty much sustaining himself on chicken fingers, ketchup, and orange juice these days).

The philosophy of the restaurant mirrors the environmental awareness of the hotel as the food is sourced locally as much as possible. And fun fact? In the summer months, the restaurant overlooks the resort’s “green roof,” which is where many of the herbs used in the restaurant’s dishes are harvested. (The little ones also thought it was pretty amazing that we could get to the restaurant through a “secret” back door of the hotel. Just follow the signs. Complete magic.)

Eco-Friendly Commitment of Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort

Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort’s commitment to being green goes beyond Generations Restaurant and is a part of the hotel’s philosophy as a whole. Since 2007, the hotel has had an in-room recycling program. While we often see hotels with tiny, questionably labeled recycle bins that are sharing the same space as the general trash, we all noted that this resort was different. Here there are well-labeled paper bags that make it impossible to mistake your trash for recyclables or vice versa. It also explains how to properly recycle, cleaning and all.

Additionally, the hotel has in-room energy management systems which automatically turn down the heat or A/C if the room isn’t occupied. One thing we all noted and loved about our room is that each of the rooms, bathrooms included, all had their own thermostats, so we never needed to heat any space that wasn’t occupied. And our room, along with a number of the rooms on property, had a wood burning fireplace, so we could opt for a fire rather than cranking up the dial on the heater. In the rooms are eco-friendly products in eco-friendly packaging, the staff uses eco-friendly cleaning products, a sheet/towel reuse program, energy efficient vacuums, smart light bulbs, and a myriad of other things thoughtfully chosen to reduce environmental impact.

Outside of the room, you’ll find the beach is made of crushed limestone, which helps keep the lake clean by countering the effects of acid rain. The hotel has also integrated a system that keeps runoff from the hotel and the parking lot from entering the lake, helping to keep it pristine. Of course, that also means that the hotel chooses a road salt (a total winter necessity) that is eco-friendly. To find out more about their environmental initiatives (yes, there are more!) click here.

Having such young children, we have a fondness for a hotel that thinks about the future of the planet, which Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort undoubtably does. But their commitment to families doesn’t stop there. The spaces they create are cozy and inviting. They’re welcoming, and not just towards those grown ups who behave themselves, but also to those little people who may talk a little too loud or act at little too giddy at the awe-inspiring views of the lake.

We truly felt like we belonged here. So much so, in fact, we walked away from Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort already thinking about the next time we’d be back. (We’re thinking we may try warm weather though so we can, you know, skip that whole driving in snow thing.)

If you’re thinking about where you should be booking your next family holiday, put Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort on your list. And don’t forget to pin this post so you can easily make your way back.