Saratoga Springs – Where healing spas meet high-stakes horse racing
Saratoga Springs
Where luxury spas and competitive horse racing collide Saratoga Springs, which is three hours away from Boston, Montreal, and New York City, offers an unexpected collection of top-notch attractions set against a quaint, picturesque, and historic background. Enjoy everything from horse racing and entertainment to casinos, museums, award-winning golf courses, National Battlefield, Victorian architecture, fantastic shopping, an abundance of outdoor activities, and much more.
Motorsports and Leisure Despite being dubbed the Spa City, Saratoga’s history in horse racing is as old as its springs. With more than 150 years of experience in thoroughbred racing, Saratoga Race Course has played host to numerous outstanding horses and jockeys, including the USA’s oldest stakes race, the Travers Stakes. Take the kids to one of the many family-friendly events offered by the venue, or catch a race. Visit the National Museum of Racing to learn more about the equestrian heritage of Saratoga Springs. There, exhibitions, tours, artwork, and memorabilia bring equestrian culture to life. Take a trip to the Saratoga Casino Hotel to shake up your race routine. This interesting hotel not only has a beautiful track but also live harness racing almost all year round.
Pleasurable Parks
If you came for the springs, head straight to the source: Saratoga Spa State Park, an 890-hectare National Historic Landmark rich with natural springs. Experience the healing waters and spas, and a resort hotel. Visit museums, amble down walking trails, play tennis, or cross-country ski and ice-skate in winter. History meets outdoor recreation at Saratoga National Historical Park, site of the Battles of Saratoga. A visitor’s center and various historic landmarks commemorate this major moment in the American Revolutionary War. Enjoy the simple pleasures of a stroll, picnic or a ride on the historic carousel at pretty Congress Park. While there, discover the 19th century Canfield Casino, now home to the Saratoga Springs History Museum, or set up camp for one of the park’s outdoor concerts or theater performances.
Downtown Delights & More
Enjoy Victorian architecture, gourmet restaurants to suit any taste, fine shopping at boutiques and galleries sure to delight, all while staying in charming inns, bed and breakfasts and hotels. Downtown Saratoga Springs is fun day and night, when live entertainment entices music-lovers into unique cafes and bars. Check out Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) located in Saratoga Spa State Park and host to New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra’s summer residencies. Find everything from pop concerts and classical events to a jazz festival on the schedule there.
Don’t leave without playing one of 14 affordable, high-quality golf courses, among them the Saratoga National Golf Club. Noted by Golf Digest as one of the Top 100 public courses in the U.S., the club’s dining and events are definitely on par with the course itself.