Twins' First Vacation

By: Driscoll R.
Syracuse, NY

In June of 1994 we were blessed with the birth of our twins, Anna and John. The pregnancy was difficult, including a three and half month bed rest for Therese. After the twins were born we immediately were overwhelmed by the constant feedings, diaper changes and sleepless nights. We desperately needed a vacation break, and briefly considered bringing our new family to one of our favorite places, the Mirror Lake Inn. Therese and I had visited Lake Placid and stayed at the Inn several times previously, and thought it would be a wonderful place for us and our new babies. We quickly realized that it would be impossible to travel with two young infants and decided that we would make the trip the next summer, and put a picture of the Inn on the mantelpiece of our bedroom. When things got completely crazy, as they frequently did during that first year, we would glance up at the picture and dream of our trip to Lake Placid.

The summer of 1995 finally arrived and we packed the car with our two one year olds and every piece of baby equipment that could be stuffed into the trunk. We arrived at the Mirror Lake Inn on a beautiful sunny day and after unpacking headed down to the small, sandy beach. As Anna and John dug in the sand together, we sat in the beach chairs and looked out over the lake and mountains. We felt like we had survived the first year and could finally relax.

We have many recollections of that first trip, as well as a return trip the next summer. Among the most memorable:

• Grabbing a cup of coffee and walking around Mirror Lake the first thing each morning with the double stroller. The brick path was still under construction, which made for some challenging steering.

• Hiking the nearby trails, each with a baby in our backpack.

• Hanging towels over the two cribs at night to block the T.V. light so that we could watch the Olympics without waking up our new “roommates.”

• Sitting on the balcony watching the moon rise and enjoying a cold beer after a long day of entertaining two babies.

• The waiter who patiently cleaned up John’s special order of shaved carrots that were spread over the entire table in the main dining room.

• Giving John a bath in the bathroom sink of our Mountainview room.


We have been back to Lake Placid and the Mirror Lake Inn many times since that first year, including winter skiing trips, and vacations with grandparents and cousins. We’ve enjoyed many tennis games out back, board games in the main lobby, canoe outings on the lake, and chocolate chip cookies just about everywhere. When it’s been too long since our last visit, our daughter Anna gets “hunger pangs” for Lake Placid. Anna and John are now almost thirteen and have taken many vacations, including a trip to Italy. Therese and I feel like nothing will ever compare to that first vacation at the Mirror Lake Inn, and the memories will stay with us forever.