From Wikitravel

Saratoga Springs is located just south of the Adirondacks in upstate New York. Long a vacation destination for New Yorkers, Saratoga Springs is a pleasant town filled with swanky shops, spas and horse racing. A key battle in the Revolution War happened nearby. Saratoga Springs is home to Skidmore College.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By air 1.2 By car 1.3 By train 1.4 By Bus 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 4.1 Horse Racing 4.2 Golf 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out

Get in

By air

Albany County International Airport (ALB)[1] in Albany.

By car

Saratoga Springs is just off Interstate 87 about 45 minutes north of Albany and 4 hours from New York City and 3 1/2 hours south of the Canadian border.

By train

Amtrak [2] has a station on the aptly named Station Lane about a mile from downtown. Service between New York City and Montreal.

By Bus

Greyhound, in conjunction with other bus carriers, offers service to Saratoga from both the north and south. Buses that orginate in New York City, Albany, and Montreal stop here several times a day.

Get around

The downtown walking area is centered on Broadway, but you will need a car to reach the racing tracks, casino, and other sites.

• Saratoga Springs Urban Cultural Park Visitor Center, 297 Broadway, Phone: +1 518 587-3241. Daily 9AM-4PM (Closed Su Dec-Mar).

See

• Saratoga Spa State Park, Interstate 87 to exit 13N. Take Route 9 north for 3 miles to park, Phone: +1 518 584-2535, [3]. Year round. Dubbed "The Public's Resort", this park has mineral baths, eighteen hole and nine hole golf courses[4], free hardtop and clay tennis courts, and several pool areas with showers, locker rooms, rest rooms and food concessions. Hiking (and cross country/snowshoe) trails and picnic areas complete with grills are available as well. The park encompasses and protects the mineral springs in use at least as far back as the 14th century. This "Queen of Spas" was a 19th century vacation retreat for the rich and famous.
• Saratoga Springs History Museum, Canfield Casino Bldg, Congress Park, Phone: +1 518 584-6920, [5]. Summer 10AM-4PM. Other seasons W-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. Housed an an 1870 casino. Adults $5, ages 12-17 $3.
• The Children's Museum at Saratoga, 69 Caroline Street, Phone: +1 518 584-5540, Fax: +1 518 584-6059, [6]. Summer: 9:30AM-4:30PM. Winter Hours (Labor Day through June): Tu-Sa 9:30AM-4:30PM, Su noon-4:30PM. $5, under age 1 free.
• New York State Military Museum, 61 Lake Avenue, Phone: +1 518 226-0991, [7]. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. Free will donation.
• Yaddo Gardens, Route 9P, Phone: +1 518 584-0746, [8]. Artist community on four hundred acre site.
• National Museum of Dance, 99 South Broadway, Phone: +1 518 584-2225, [9]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Adults $6.50, Students and seniors $5, under 12 $3.
• National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, Phone: +1 518 584-0400, Union and Ludlow Sts.,[10]. M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 12PM-4PM (Closed M,Tu in Jan. and Feb.). Adults $7, Seniors, students $5, under 6 free.
• Roosevelt Mineral Baths, 37-39 Roosevelt Drive, Phone: +1 518 226-4790. Daily 9AM-7PM.
• Saratoga Automobile Museum, 110 Avenue of the Pines, Phone: +1 518 587-1935.
• Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, 815 North Broadway, Phone: +1 518 580-8080, [11]. Tu-Th 10AM-5PM; F 10AM-7PM; Sa,Su 12PM-5PM.

Do

• Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 108 Avenue of the Pines, Phone: +1 518 584-9330, [12]. Summer home of the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra.

Horse Racing

The time to come to Saratoga is during the Throughrbred season, which is five or so weeks in July, August and September. The premier race here is the Travers, but every day in the season thousands flock from around New York and points behind to the see the ponies. That said, if you find yourself in town during other times of the year, check out some of the smaller tracks. Indoor gambling places are available for those who have a gambling urge during the winter months.

• Saratoga Race Course, 267 Union Avenue, Phone: +1 518 584-6200, [13]. Horse racing from late July to early September.
• Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Nelson Avenue, +1 518 584-2110, [14]. Harness racing and video gaming.
• Oklahoma Training Track

Golf

• Saratoga Spa Golf Course, 60 Roosevelt Drive, Phone: +1 518 584-2008, [15]. Towering pines surround this 7,100 yard course.
• Saratoga Lake Golf Club, 35 Grace Moore Road, Phone: +1 518 581-6616, [16]. Eighteen holes with lots of up/down.
• Saratoga National Golf Club, 458 Union Avenue, Phone: +1 518 583-4653, ext. 615, [17]. Named 2005 "Golf Course of the Year" by National Golf Course Owners Association. Named "One of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses 2005-2006" by Golf Digest.

Buy

Saratoga isn't Manhattan, but it does have plenty of boutiques and shops that caters to that crowd. Start on Broadway and find local crafts, haute fashion and other merchandise for that platnium card.

Eat

Saratoga has some of the best dining in upstate New York. Chéfs from New York City have emigrated northward to ensure that there's food for every palette. Most of the finest restaurants can be found on or near Broadway. Keep in mind that some places aren't open outside of the tourist season.

There's also plenty of choice for those less discriminating taste buds or smaller budgets. Pub grub, American specials and small diners abound. And if you're hungry at 2AM, be sure to ask a local where you can get a doughboy. They're great.

• Wheatfields Restaurant and Bar, 440 Broadway, Phone: +1 518 587-0534, [18]. Pasta, Steak and more.
• Lillian's Restaurant, 408 Broadway, Phone: +1 518 587-7766, [19]. Warm rustic steak and seafood place right on the strip. Private parties and banquets upstairs in Diamond Jim's.
• Compton's, 457 Broadway, Phone: +1 518 584-9632. Early morning breakfast..fast! Opens when the bars close.
• Putnam Market, 435 Broadway, Phone: +1 518 587-3663, [20]. Specialty food store and deli. Missing home, look here for a taste.
• One Caroline Street Bistro, 1 Caroline St., Phone: +1 518 587-2026, [21]. Jazz with dinner, reservations or wait required but worth it.
• Gaffney's Restaurant, 16 Caroline Street, Phone: +1 518 587-7359, [22]. Great courtyard dinning during track season, indoor and pub dinning available. A Must!
• Saratoga City Tavern, 21 Caroline Street, Phone: +1 518 581-3230, [23]. Pub Fare.
• Esperanto, 6 1/2 Caroline Street, Phone: +1 518 587-4236. Pizza and a doughboy and your ready for anything. Take them out for a stoll.
• Saratoga Pickle Barrel Deli, 7 Caroline Street, Phone: +1 518 581-3236, [24]. Deli.
• 43 Phila Bistro, 43 Phila Street, Phone: +1 518 584-2720, [25]. Premiere dining and wine list.
• Sushi Thai Garden, 44 Phila Street, Phone: +1 518 580-0900. Looking for something lighter this is it.
• Docs Steakhouse, 63 Putnam Street, Phone: +1 518 581-7011, [26]. If you sing "eat steak, eat steak... eat a big ole' steer", go here.
• Mare Ristorante, 17 Maple Avenue, Phone: +1 518 583-6955, [27]. Trendy Italian restaurant, amazing lounge, seafood pasta and vino. Per morire per!
• Mexican Connection, 41 Nelson Avenue, Phone: +1 518 584-4466, [28]. Viva De Mexico, best mex going! Away from downtown but near the track.

Drink

Saratoga has no lack of choices if what you desire is a hop-or-two. Fine Irish Pubs to trendy ultra-light-serving watering holes abound. If wine is what makes you feel fine, you will. Mare, 43 Phila, Doc's and, of course, The Wine Bar will be more than happy to help you. Even if they have to run across town to get exactly what you want, literally!

The wineries from New York's Fingerlakes region have been maturing very well and can be found on most lists. The pages of more established varieties from California, Austrailia, France and Italy sometimes make your head spin before you sip. If you get the chance attend one of the many wine tastings. They are available both for the novice and the Guru of the Grape.

• Caffè Lena, 47 Phila Street, Phone: 518-583-0022, [29]. This place introduced a young Bob Dylan to the world. Claims to be America's oldest continuously operating folk coffeehouse.
• Tin 'n' Lint, 2 Caroline Street, Phone: 518-587-5897. Singer Don McLean is said to have composed his American Pie while sitting at a table in this bar. A plaque marks the table today. A 1930s era saloon.

Sleep

Saratoga has a number of different accommodation options including budget chain motels, quaint (and often historic) B&Bs, and spa resort hotels.

• The Westchester House Bed and Breakfast Inn, 102 Lincoln Avenue, Phone: +1 518 587-7613, [30]. 7 rooms. $110-$170.
• Best Western Park Inn, 3291 South Broadway, +1 518 584-2350, Fax: +1 518 584-2480, [31].
• Courtyard Saratoga Springs, 11 Excelsior Av., +1 518 226-0538, Toll-free: +1 866 426-8789, Fax: +1 518 226-0542, [32].
• Holiday Inn, 232 Broadway, +1 518 584-4550, [33].
• Residence Inn Saratoga Springs, 295 Excelsior Av., +1 518 584-9600, Fax: +1 518 584-9692, [34].

• Gideon Putnam Hotel & Conference Center, 24 Gideon Putnam Road, Toll free: 800-732-1560 or Phone: +1 518 584-3000, Fax: +1 518 584-1354, [35]. Rates variable according to season.

Get out

• Lake George and the Adirondacks

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