Twice the site of the Winter Olympics, Lake Placid offers a wonderfully quirky combination of small-town Americana and international competition center. Whiteface boasts the East's largest vertical drop, but also harbors a reputation for being cold and icy. It can be that, but there's something magical about whirling down the same slopes as Olympic racers and World Cup freestylists, and there's something welcoming about the state-owned facilities with their smoke-free environment and small-town friendliness.

But what makes this destination truly fantastic is all the other attractions at your fingertips. After you've watched world-class ski jumpers fly, tried the Olympic bobsled and luge rides for yourself, taken a turn around the speed-skating oval, and perhaps watched an international hockey match at the arena, you'll realize that there are few places in North America where all this can be experienced in one spot.

What's New: Snowmaking equipment has been added to Whiteface's Hoyt's Height, a 4,700-foot expert trail, and will begin production in January 2013.

Where: Five hours north of New York City, two and a half hours from Albany.