Destination: Saratoga Springs, NY

My Trip:

Saratoga Springs Travelogue

For my 33rd birthday (May 16th) I rented a car and headed up to Saratoga Springs and I am glad I did. I had an invitation from Bill Oboyle who just happens to be the General Manager of The Saratoga Hotel and Conference Center.  Going into the trip, all I knew was that Saratoga had a racetrack and I was visiting when the ponies weren’t running.

Well, much to my surprise, Saratoga is not a one horse town! The downtown district, the nightlife the spas and the museums all make up this diverse getaway. My adventure started at The Saratoga Hotel where I checked and found a very warm and pleasant greeting from EVERY employee of the hotel. I spent a good half hour sitting in the lobby watching the staff interact with other guest and it’s safe to say they were friendly and helpful with every guest, not just me. The room itself was spacious, clean with all the usual amenities you would expect to find at a luxury property.

I have never been to this racetrack so I can’t tell you how it compares. But I did take a personalized tour of the property (including the stables) and I got the distinct impression this race course is a very special place to a lot of people. I definitely felt “the spirit” of the competition even though this wasn’t race season. I am really looking forward to returning to sit in that legendary grandstand and take in the atmosphere. One of the things that makes this race course unique is how close you can get to the horses after their race. According to aficionados this is a very cool thing. The race season for 2007 is July 25h through September 3rd.

Whether you are planning a trip during race season or another part of the year, be sure to include a stop at the National Museum of Racing. I consider myself a passive racing enthusiast and I found this museum fascinating. The layout was just right, the exhibits were interesting and the overall experience was well worth the hour I spent there. Be sure to ride the race horse simulator! What a memorable attraction! I also particularly enjoyed the outdoor performing arts venue. This is where they have summer concerts and theatrical performances and it is pretty amazing. I wish we had time to sit out under the stars and take in a show, but alas, time just didn’t permit on this trip.

For golf on this trip, I headed to Saratoga Springs National Golf Club. This course is beautiful! I spent a good deal of time exploring the woods on both sides of the fairways (looking for my ball) but the greens were well kept and the course was a great way to spend the afternoon. By the way, not all turkey clubs are the same, so make time to have lunch in the clubhouse after your round. The prices were very reasonable and the food was superb. There's also Airway Meadows Golf Course. Located in Gansevoort, Airway Meadows was included in the Top 11 "Fly-In Golf Destinations" in the nation by Aviator's Guide Magazine.

Oh, did I mention food? The two culinary highlights of my trip were: One Caroline Street Bistro and Chez Sophie. Both establishments were amazing. They both understood the meaning of the phrase “fresh ingredients”. Chez Sophie is a little more upscale with an incredible wine list but both are moderately priced and I am very happy I included them on this trip.

Finally, no trip to Saratoga Springs would be complete without a visit to the Roosevelt Baths. This is where I had a legendary mineral bath. I am at a loss for words on how to describe this experience other than “MUST-DO”. The soak was decedent and extremely relaxing.

Saratoga Springs is one of those places you might miss if you weren’t a race horse fanatic. But I am here to say it’s quaint, charming and very welcoming to race and non-race fans alike.

Erik Hastings

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