About Us
Health, History, Horses and the Arts
The Spirit and Essence of Saratoga Springs and County
When you’re looking for a place to get away, to feel rejuvenated as well as be inspired by all there is to see and do, Saratoga has been that special city in the country for over 200 years.
Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County are truly a one-of-a-kind travel destination, just three hours from Boston, Philadelphia, NYC and Montreal.
Health
Beginning over a century ago, known then as the Queen of the Spas, Saratoga’s naturally flowing, carbonated springs attracted visitors from around the country. This included the rich and famous, eager to ‘take the cure’ in the healing waters.
Today, visitors continue to relax and lose their cares in our historic spas, including the historic Roosevelt Baths & Spa, nestled in the Saratoga Spa State Park.
Visitors also enjoy taking self-guided or guided tours of the springs, scattered throughout downtown and the Spa State Park. Tours include taste-testing along the way and learning about the history of each spring and their specific claims to healing various ailments.
Horses
Saratoga Race Course is the oldest, continually operating horse track in the country. Every summer, from mid-July through Labor Day, visitors to Saratoga Race Course experience 40 days of world-class thoroughbred racing, including the oldest stakes race in the country for three-year-olds, the Travers.
This historic venue has attracted high rollers to Saratoga Springs since the late 1800s. Today, Saratoga Race Course still brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Spa City.
Horse enthusiasts can also immerse themselves in thoroughbred racing history at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. They also tour the backstretch at Saratoga Race Course, or watch the thoroughbreds work out in the morning at Oklahoma Training Track. There is also live harness racing at the Saratoga Casino Hotel, and the fast-paced excitement of the Saratoga Polo season.
Additionally, city shops and specialty stores offer a variety of horse-related souvenirs and memorabilia.
Shopping, Dining, Lodging & More
The cuisine in Saratoga is award-winning. With more than 150 restaurants to choose from, with menus representing local farms to world cuisine, foodies will certainly savor the experience.
Saratoga streets are lined with specialty shops, galleries and unique boutiques. And, if you crave the outdoors, your options include championship golf, hiking, biking, boating and kayaking. During the fall and winter months, winter sports activities call many to the nearby Foothills of the Adirondack Park.
And when you're done with all that fun at the end of the day, we have every type of lodging to suit your needs.
History
Saratoga County's rich and storied history is still evident in its architecture. Just a short stroll down Broadway will take you back in time, as you admire the grand historic structures with beautifully preserved ornate architectural details.
Dozens of the majestic homes and buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Landmarks. These include our Downtown in the Broadway Historic District, as well as the Canfield Casino and Congress Park that now houses the Saratoga Springs History Museum.
Saratoga is home to many national, state and local museums. A short drive out of town takes you to Grant’s Cottage, where Ulysses S. Grant wrote his dying memoirs.
Hike, bike or drive the beautiful Saratoga National Historical Park, noted as the location that produced the Turning Point of the American Revolution.
Enjoy the trails, springs and picnic areas of the 2,200 acre Saratoga Spa State Park. Visit the stunning gardens of Yaddo, part of the historic 400-acre estate turned artists’ retreat.
Entertainment & Festivals
Saratoga hosts numerous year-round music and art festivals, along with world-class entertainment.
Annually in June, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) hosts the Freihofer's Jazz Festival. This two-day music and arts extravaganza has featured a who’s who of jazz greats over the years, including Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, B.B. King, Wayne Shorter and Ray Charles. The festival draws thousands of fans from across the Northeast and throughout North America each year.
Saratoga is the summer home for the NYC Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. In addition, Live Nation books SPAC for such nationally known musical acts as Dave Mathews, Phish, James Taylor and so many more.
If you're looking to get away from the crowds, one of the best places to enjoy live music is Caffe Lena.
Along with being the oldest continuously operating folk music venue in the country, Caffe Lena now stands as a world-class venue with the best listening room in the Capital Region. Guests are literally just a few feet away from the performers, so you know you're in for a truly amazing show!
Click for more information about entertainment around Saratoga County.
