Saratoga Springs, NY, Guide and Information

People have been “taking the waters” in Saratoga Springs, New York since the early part of the nineteenth century. (Actually indigenous Native Americans indulged in therapeutic drinks and soaks there long before they were discovered by the white man.) Known for their healing benefits, the mineral-rich water still found in springs in and around Saratoga is how and why this town was put on the map.

For fun and perhaps good health, equip yourself with a jug and jog around to the various stations within town and the Saratoga Spa State Park. And enjoy some good swigs! Or not. Because it is pretty stinky. When you go, imagine the gentry standing around in their waistcoats and long full skirts sipping from the source. This was the water cooler of the day, the epicenter of activity from which a great number of sites and attractions were born.

The Dutch and British colonists squeezed out the Native Americans during the early part of the seventeenth century. (Traces of the indigenous people date back as early as the fourteenth century.) So you can see the history of Saratoga Springs is rich and storied. If you want, go as far back as 1777 and visit the Saratoga Battlefields, also known as the Saratoga National Historical Park, the sacred land where the turning point of the American Revolution occurred. If you like nature, it’s worth the fifteen-mile drive out here. It’s a great place to hike and bike or just enjoy a scenic drive around and an educational moment at the Visitor Center.

Back toward town, garden lovers enjoy docent-led tours at Yaddo, an historic property that has served as an artist’s residency since 1926. Known for their voluptuous roses in summer, the grounds of this property inspire the artist in all of us. Come fall, you can let yourself be spooked by their “ghost tours.” No worries though because there’s no such thing as a crazy artist–right?