Sometimes in travel it all goes a bit sideways... When I was feeling a bit blah, I still found quiet, cozy things to do in Lake PlacidIf you've ever woke up feeling like you have a horrible hangover, yet you had nothing to drink the night before, then you know exactly how I felt on day two of my trip to the Adirondacks. There was the headache (without the fun of any red wine the previous day), there was the sore stomach (was this the universe getting back at me for eating both pasta carbonara AND tiramisu?) and then there was the unmistakable shake and sweat of a low grade fever. I was SICK. Sick in the land of outdoor adventure and Olympic legacies and super healthy people. SICK. There was no way I could join in the fun as my friends toured wineries and set out on epic hikes. Time for a change in plans! Fortunately by the time I arrived in Lake Placid, I was feeling a tiny bit better and was able to make the best of a queasy situation. Here's how I spent my lazy visit finding things to do in Lake Placid that were lowkey. A snug Lake Placid hotel made all the differenceWhen you're under the weather, you just want to be in bed. And just about any bed will do! I would have happily collapsed into a bear's den when I first arrived in Lake Placid, so finding myself instead at Hotel North Woods was heavenly. The hotel had been recently renovated and I loved that they embraced an Adirondacks decor theme without descending into anything too silly or kitschy. Some of my favourite features at Hotel North Woods included a king sized bed with a great view of the lake and a charming snug reading nook with a couch, coffee table, side bar, and a coffee bar. It was the perfect spot for a bit of rest and relaxation and I felt a little less sad for myself as I snuggled in bed, gazed over at the lake, and read for a bit. One of the most special things about Hotel North Woods is that it has been a pioneer in bringing diverse live music acts to Lake Placid. Live music in Lake Placid is not nearly as widespread as it could be and I think it's fantastic that they are supporting independent musicians and that they are bringing something new to Lake Placid beyond sports. Had I been on my game, I would have absolutely loved hearing their live band on a Tuesday night. Alas, sick-Vanessa wasn't in a musical mood! The band did stop promptly at midnight but if you like to go to bed early, I'd suggest asking the staff for a quiet room. Speaking of reading... Books set in Lake PlacidTo really get a sense of Lake Placid's history, pick up a copy of George Ortloff's short book A Lady In The Lake. It's a compelling account of Lake Placid's most famous mystery. A fascinating story in and of itself, it's also very interesting to read about Lake Placid from a non-sporting point of view. Time for beer! Um, hang on there...Lake Placid and the Adirondacks are really famous for their craft beers and trusted friends (who are experienced beer consumers) tell me this fame is well justified. But I'm not a beer drinker even when I'm in the best of health so this was a major no-no for me. However, if you're laid up for reasons that are less viral and more mechanical in nature (say, like a sprained ankle), some beer tasting might be the way to go. Much more my style were the gourmet offerings from the Adirondack Popcorn Company. Their "Moose Crunch" is a delicious blend of popcorn, chocolate, peanut butter, peanuts, and pretzels and the salty sweet flavor was ideal for tempting my appetite after a few days of a self-imposed fast. Coaxing my appetiteIt's miserable to be in a foodie destination and not have much of an appetite. Eating a great meal with friends is one of the best things to do in Lake Placid and I was feeling a bit sad to be missing out. However buoyed by the success of eating some Moose Crunch, I felt confident in joining my friends for dinner at the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery. This is another great destination for beer lovers and the pub menu is fantastic - or so I'm told! I was a bit jealous as I watched everyone tuck into deep fried pickles and heaving burgers. I opted for a less greasy, more sensible option of Cajun salmon with rice and veggies. The good news is that my stomach held onto the meal with no protest. The bad news is that I should have known better than to order fish, vegetables, and rice at a spot famous for burgers, pizzas, and pub grub. The salmon was a bit overcooked and a touch fishy. The rice was dry, but the veggies were on the soggy side. It wasn't a bad meal but it wasn't great either and I would have been disappointed had my appetite been at a full roar. I'd still recommend the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery based on how happy my friends were - just stick with the classics. Breakfast the next morning at Hotel North Woods went over much better. My French toast and scrambled eggs were just what my stomach needed and they were delicious - seems like I was on the mend! Finally, smoother sailing I was lucky. My illness wasn't dangerous, just your garden variety, annoying-as-heck virus that had me down and out for a couple of days. Of course, for more serious health problems you should always seek medial attention but for more moderate maladies, I learned that there's nothing wrong with laying low. I may have missed out on some of Lake Placid's best experiences but I don't look back on my time with any regret. I got a taste for what the city has to offer and I was well rested for the next leg of our adventure. I also have a wonderful excuse to head back - not that an excuse would be needed!
Have you ever been under the weather during a trip? What did you do to make yourself feel better? If you liked this post, you'll also enjoy: The Anti-Adventurist Guide to the Adirondacks Kim Rielly Shares Her Adirondacks Passion The Best Things To Do In Concord New Hampshire On A Budget: A $200 ChallengeWhat the Adirondacks Taught Me About Sustainable Travel My time in the Adirondacks was facilitated by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism and I thank them for their support.
22 Comments
11/9/2015 12:52:42 pm
Yes, and it's the worst! I usually permit myself a night in to watch a movie and eat some food that's more familiar to my home cooking (if I am out of the country). One night in Bangkok, I stayed in and watched Pulp Fiction with steamed rice and Coca Cola. Did the trick!
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Vanessa
12/9/2015 09:16:29 am
YES to the restorative powers of rice! For me, I find ginger ale to be somewhat of a miracle cure, but flat soda like Coca Cola does the trick as well.
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12/9/2015 11:26:01 am
That room looks lovely and comfortable, just what you need when you are feeling under the weather. I had an awful ear infection when I was in Rome, it really ruined the experience for me. I dosed myself up on painkillers and ended up needing antibiotics.
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Vanessa
12/9/2015 12:52:09 pm
I felt a pang of fear just imaging an ear infection on the road. I used to have horrible ear infections when I was younger, thanks to being on the swim team, and they were the absolute worst.
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12/9/2015 11:31:46 am
My bf got very sick while we were in the Galapagos. We couldn't leave the hotel room the entire first day because he had to stay close to the bathroom. It through off our plans a bit, but it ended up alright.
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Vanessa
12/9/2015 12:53:11 pm
That's the one good thing about being sick on the road - you are so happy and overjoyed with it's over, it feels like everything else on the trip is absolutely wonderful.
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Ugh! That stinks you were sick! Knock on wood, I've been lucky while traveling, but I can't say the same for my husband. He was sick with the flu for nearly our entire Swiss Alps vacation. I set him up with fluids and nourishment for the day and skied solo. I felt so bad, but he didn't want me to just watch him sweat out his fever! The good thing is now we need a Zermatt redo! You should consider a Lake Placid redo!
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Vanessa
12/9/2015 12:54:38 pm
Tell him not to feel too bad - most people need a Zermatt redo because they go there just to see the Matterhorn and it's usually covered in clouds!
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12/9/2015 01:12:33 pm
Getting sick while you're travelling is THE WORST. Scrambled eggs and french toast sounds like the perfect recovery breakfast!
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Vanessa
12/9/2015 01:40:58 pm
They were! Carbs, protein, comfort, all in one.
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12/9/2015 01:52:34 pm
There's nothing better than staying in a comfortable place when you are sick while travelling. Glad you found one!
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Vanessa
12/9/2015 02:02:40 pm
That's what I was thinking the entire time - a little bit of comfort goes a long, long way.
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13/9/2015 01:10:49 am
getting sick on the road is the absolute worst, last time I had food poisoning was on the night but from Bogota to Salento Colombia and I thought it was over for sure! What I would have done for a private hotel room like that
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Vanessa
14/9/2015 10:01:17 am
Food poisoning is the WORST. Ugh. And it can be so scary too. I can't imagine dealing with it on a bus.
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I've been unfortunately to be sick in many great places, like Istanbul and Amsterdam, and it's hard to get yourself to go out instead of just lay in bed miserable, but having a quieter, easier itinerary is a good way to still see something while not overdoing it.
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Vanessa
14/9/2015 10:02:19 am
Why can't we be sick someplace boring? I would hate to miss out on Amsterdam or Istanbul but there's not much you can do when misery calls.
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13/9/2015 07:30:04 pm
So sad you were sick in such a beautiful place. Sadder still that you don't like craft beer! Glad the moose tracks helped though :)
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Vanessa
14/9/2015 10:02:56 am
At least my friends got to benefit by enjoying my portion of the beer samples!
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Urgh, being ill and not in your own home is no fun. I hoped it past quickly. Your hotel looks comfy though and French toast is always a winner! Touch wood, I've only had one bout of sickness, it was black which is distressing but I put it down to large quantities of RUM!
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Vanessa
14/9/2015 10:03:41 am
Rum is behind many a wild story - and miserable morning!
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Vanessa
14/9/2015 03:32:39 pm
There are definitely worst places to relax.
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