Nicole Broderick, left, and her caretaker Alexis Brown enjoy lunch at Jewtraw Park on July 19. (News photo — Delainey Muscato)

LAKE PLACID — What is the most quintessential summer activity? Picnicking! And what’s a picnic without a view? The Olympic Region is full of beautiful sights with many picnic spots to match. I visited a few locations to see what they had to offer.

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Lake Placid

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Starting at the center of Lake Placid, Mirror Lake beach — and the adjoining Peacock Park — can be a great place for a picnic, but it can get busy. Picnic tables are here, and benches are located around the perimeter of Mirror Lake, a 2.7-mile walk, which could make another great place for a picnic with a view.

Jewtraw Park on the Chubb River has benches and tables for a quiet lunch with beautiful views. (News photo — Delainey Muscato)

Mid’s Park splits Main Street in half. It has plenty of open space to sit and enjoy a bite to eat with a great view of Mirror Lake and the surrounding mountains. The park also holds a concert shell where the Tuesday and Wednesday night summer concert series take place. Mid’s Park is the perfect location for dinner and a show in the heart of Lake Placid.

Jewtraw Park is located on Station Street. It is named after Charles Jewtraw, a Lake Placid native who was the first Olympic athlete to win a gold medal at the first Olympic Winter Games in 1924 at Chamonix, France. Just down the street from the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society’s museum at the old train station, this park has benches and picnic tables in front of Mill Pond — which is a dammed section of the Chubb River. If the kids get antsy, there is a small playground at the park as well. Lake Placid’s trailhead for the Adirondack Rail Trail is just a short walk away.

When visiting the park myself, I met Nicole Broderick and her caretaker Alexis Brown. Brown said she brings Broderick there once a week to enjoy lunch from McDonald’s.

The John Brown Farm State Historic Site on John Brown Road near the ski jumps is not traditionally a picnic ground, but it does have beautiful views of the High Peaks and plenty of open space. Eat lunch amid the history of abolitionist John Brown or simply enjoy nature at the farm’s manmade pond.

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The Jay Covered Bridge is located over the East Branch of the AuSable River in the hamlet of Jay. (News photo — Delainey Muscato)

Wilmington

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The Wilmington Town Beach has plenty of space for picnicking activities. Along with the actual sand beach, there is some open grass with picnic tables and fire pits. There is also a pavilion with covered picnic tables and public restrooms.

The grass is where I ran into Giselle Manfrey and Reka Somodi, who competed in the Ironman race the previous day, July 21. Somodi and her family are staying in town until Friday, July 26, and said they are likely to return to the Wilmington Town Beach.

On state Route 86, Bridge Park in Wilmington offers a few picnic tables along with a view of the West Branch of the AuSable River. Grab a slice or two from Fratelli Pizza Restaurant and Bar just across the road or a sandwich at the Little Supermarket nearby and soak in the sun at a table in the park next to the dam.

Douglas Memorial Park next to Jay Covered Bridge has plenty of tables and benches to eat at. It also has basketball courts and a portable restroom. (News photo — Delainey Muscato)

Monument Falls on state Route 86 between Wilmington and Lake Placid provides a great place to picnic. There are two options in this area for a picnic. Those feeling a little more adventurous can head down to the big rocks along the river and sit right at the falls. Or for a quieter, more secluded picnic, there is a short trail through the woods that leads up to the river’s edge.

At the tollhouse on Whiteface Mountain is Lake Stevens. President of the Wilmington Historical Society, Karen Peters, said they keep the lake stocked with fish for the kids. So while you sit back and enjoy a relaxing lunch, the kids can try their hand at fishing.

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Jay

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The falls on the East Branch of the AuSable River next to the Jay Covered Bridge is a popular swimming and picnicking spot. (News photo — Delainey Muscato)

The Jay Covered Bridge is a must-see location in the area. Next to the bridge is Douglas Memorial Park, which has a portable bathroom, basketball courts, a pavilion, benches and picnic tables. Here, the large flat rocks on the East Branch of the AuSable River could also be a suitable picnic location for lunch and swimming.

The Jay Village Green provides open spaces for many activities. There are picnic tables, benches, a fountain and a bike rack on the green. The space also doubles as a concert venue for the town’s summer concerts.

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Keene

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Giselle Manfrey, left, and Reka Somodi enjoy lunch at Wilmington Town Beach on Monday, July 22. (News photo — Delainey Muscato)

Both the Upper and Lower Cascade Lakes along state Route 73 between Keene and Lake Placid have plenty of room for a picnic blanket or your own chairs. Both lakes have easy access for swimming, kayaking or fishing and have beautiful views of the mountains. There is a parking lot with an outhouse and picnic tables.

Marcy Field on Route 73, across the street from the town beach on the East Branch of the AuSable River, provides a wide open space for many activities, including picnicking. Bring your own blanket or chairs and enjoy lunch at your leisure. Or grab a bite to eat at the farmers market on Sundays.

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AuSable Forks

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Grove Street Park across the street from the Little League fields in AuSable Forks has picnic tables in the shade and in the sun along the AuSable River. There are also a few grills available to cook hot dogs and hamburgers. There is a small swingset and across the street, behind the baseball field, a playground. This is a carry-in/carry-out park.

Enjoy views of the surrounding mountains at the Cascade Lakes along state Route 73 between Lake Placid and Keene. (News photo — Delainey Muscato)

Grove Street Park in AuSable Forks has benches, tables and a few grills for public use along the AuSable River. (News photo — Delainey Muscato)