By Alex Schechter
Despite the sugar highs and romantic dinners for two of Valentine’s Day, February can be the hardest of winter months. The excitement of the first winter snow has long faded, but there's still a month to go before spring begins. This month marks the home stretch — that last slog through snow-filled sidewalks and windchill that make us want to hide under the covers.
Hotel Saranac opened in 1927 and for decades was the go-to upstate stomping grounds for wealthy Manhattan skiers. This month, the landmark property reopens after a four-year $30-million renovation that pays homage to the hotel’s “Great Gatsby” roots, with retro travel posters and a grand lobby with its original chandeliers. When you’re not skiing at Whiteface Mountain, head to Saranac Lake Winter Carnival (February 2–11), a 10-day event complete with parades, fireworks, and a life-size ice palace.