The United States doesn't have a singular sports facility. We're too spread out, too provincial, to have one place we all call our own. With the Olympics in full swing, we need such a place, and I nominate Lake Placid.

Nestled in the picturesque Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid, N.Y., is home to the most compelling sporting event in U.S. history. But there's more to the town than just one gold medal-winning hockey team.

You can rent skates and take a few laps where Eric Heiden won five gold medals; the outdoor rink still is right in front of the high school. Just leave your stuff in the changing area -- nobody'll mess with it. A Zamboni cleans the ice between open skate sessions. On a recent Friday night, hundreds of people -- flirty teenagers, parents with young children, tourists -- strapped on the blades and worked up a sweat inside their 37 layers of fleece.

The town is proud of its heritage but doesn't overdo it. I once went to Mark Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Mo., and was appalled at how many Huck Finn pancakes and Tom Sawyer ice cream sundaes were available. Thankfully, I saw no Mike Eruzione hoagies or Jim Craig pizzas. There's no point in beating tourists over the head with the 1932 and 1980 Olympic legacies. You can walk, ski and bobsled on the places where history was made.

And, of course, there is the Miracle on Ice. You can't peek into the rink without getting goosebumps. Ask around town and it won't take you long to find somebody who was there. The very first person I asked a) was a big hockey fan, b) was 13 at the time, c) snuck into the game and d) spent a good chunk of it chasing girls. That is the greatest ever "Where were you when?" story.

So I went bobsledding ...

Zip up, strap in, and ride like the wind

What: Two-man bobsled and luge rocket rides.

Where: Verizon Sports Complex, just outside Lake Placid, N.Y.

How much: Winter bobsled rides are $40 for adults, $30 for children 12 and under. Luge and summer bobsled rides are $30. All riders must be at least 48 inches tall.

When: Depends on the weather. Call ahead at (518) 523-4436. Reservations can be made.

What to wear: In winter, layers -- and lots of them. Don't even think of going on Mount Van Hoevenberg without boots, gloves and a hat.

For more information: orda.org or (518) 523-4436.

My bobsled's name, painted on the side, inspires little confidence: Avalanche. Don't avalanches careen down mountains out of control? I am at the top of (well, halfway up) Mount Van Hoevenberg intending to get to the bottom. Can't there be a better name for this thing than Avalanche? What do they call the ice fishing shanty, Breakthrough?

As I strap on my helmet -- all worthy journalistic endeavors require a helmet -- I wonder what my pilot, David Allen, looks like. As we saddle up, all I can see is his back. If I'm going to put my life in somebody's hands, I'd like to see that somebody's face. I know he wears glasses because they rest on the nose of the sled. They look a little fogged to me. A little thicker than I'd like, too.

A light snow adds to what has been on the ground in the Adirondacks since Thanksgiving. A speaker plays "Reelin' in the Years" by Steely Dan. In the distance before me is the ominous Olympic ski jump, from which crazy people are launched.

I'm sitting much closer to my driver than I would in any other circumstance. I'm holding on to a strap -- not tightly enough, as I will find out on the way down. Before we start, Allen tells me to sit up straight. But if I sit up straight, I'll see only the back of his head. So once we get going, I lean slightly to my right, which is great because I can see where we're going and that enhances the feeling of speed. The only downside is it feels like frozen razor blades are slicing through my eyeballs. Also, leaning outside bangs me left and right, not the safest thing in the world at 60 mph. I conk my helmet a time or two on the side of Avalanche. We pull two G's, both of which push my head down into my lap. I have no idea whether the run takes 30 seconds or 2 minutes. Then, suddenly, we're at the end. Well, almost. How about another ride?

Getting there

Stop in and pay your respects

What: The 1932 & 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum

Where: Downtown Lake Placid, N.Y. Adjacent to the Olympic hockey arena and speedskating rink.

Cost: $4. Children 6 and younger: free.

Hours: Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information: (518) 523-1655, ext. 226.

In the northeastern corner of New York, Lake Placid is hard to get to. There are no major airports within an hour's drive. Most locals fly out of Albany, N.Y., or Burlington, Vt. The length of the ride to and from those places depends on the weather and traffic, but expect at least two hours. The town offers a wide range of accommodations, from mom and pop roadside inns to quaint lodges to corporate hotels. Room prices are reasonable but spike during peak travel times. For more details, check out lakeplacid.com.

Matt Crossman is an associate editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at mcrossman@sportingnews.com.

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