I would also recommend this area, as there are many (or a few at least) nice-looking (never stayed in one though) B&B's in Keene Valley. For an actual hotel, you might have to go as far as Elizabethtown, not sure.
The hike into the Ausable Club land is very nice, you have to park outside the club grounds and walk up the road to the club, then past the tennis courts to the trail entrance where the gate is. The great unwashed (read: you and me and other non-members) can't drive past the gate. I have seen taxis drop hikers off there though, but the taxi companies might have an understanding with the club, I think they frown upon the commoners driving up there to make drop offs. Once you see the place, you'll understand all this talk of the high-brow looking down on everyone else, but I admit I admire them for letting the public in, they don't have to. To gain more understanding, this club used to own half of the top of Mt Marcy and a large chunk of land around the area. They have obviously reduced their land holdings greatly, but still own two of the nicest lakes in the mountains.
Anyway, my usual route once you've hiked up from the parking lot, is to walk in the trail along the river, passing many nice waterfalls and other things to look at, depending on your hiking ability and time. Cathedral Rocks and Bear Run are nice to see, as is Lost Lookout. But those require a bit more elevation gain. If you stay on the river trail, you'll go past
Beaver Meadow Falls and
Wedge Brook Falls, plus the river itself. Once at the dam, you'll get nice views down the lake and of Indian Head and the surrounding mountains. From there, it's a short walk up to
Rainbow Falls, a must see. Once I'm done with that, I usually walk out the road, remembering to make way for the private cars of the members driving to the lake for lunch. They also run a shuttle bus which you'll see more often. They used to allow hikers to ride this bus for a small fee, but they had to stop that when it would fill up with hikers and leave no room for members. So, just wave politely as it drives by.
On the way out the road, it's a pretty easy skip over to
Gill Brook Flume and Artists Falls from the road. The rest of the hike out the road is pretty uneventful, but you may see a deer or two if you're lucky. Round trip is just a bit over 10 miles as I recall, but mostly small hills and flat.
The second day you can spend in the Keene Valley area, as
Roaring Brook falls is a short hike, it's parking lot is right across from the one you use to get to the club road. Chapel Pond is right there, and the
Beer Walls is a short but fairly steep hike over from the road, nice views there and a waterfall when the water is running enough. The
flume on the Bouquet is right off the road, and
Split Rock is just down route 9 a little ways.
There are several fairly decent restaurants in Keene Valley and further up the road in Keene itself, and Lake Placid is about a 20-30 minute drive away.