The Perfect Weekend in Saratoga Springs, NY
Upstate New York has so many beautiful small towns to visit, but my personal favorite is Saratoga Springs. Saratoga loves visitors and is an incredible place to spend a few days. The town has so much personality! It’s famous for the natural springs that gave the town it’s name & is the state capital for thoroughbred racing. Their streets were developed with tourists in mind with lots of places within walking distance of the cutest downtown. The shopping and dining is non-stop with plenty of small boutiques and larger outlets within the historical shops along Broadway Street. My family’s been visiting upstate New York for years! It is one of our all time favorite traditions! Over the last few summers, I’ve had the chance to dive into the history and culture of the Saratoga area! There are so many fantastic places to visit, things to do and the food is delicious!
What to Do & Where to Eat
Start the weekend along Broadway & shop at Saratoga Marketplace and Celtic Treasures, before grabbing lunch at The Local Pub & Teahouse, Olde Bryan Inn, Sweet Mimi’s, or Boca Bistro, and finish the day with a cone from our favorite ice cream place, Humpty Dumpty.
The Local Pub & Teahouse was our first stop for a belated Father’s Day celebration/ birthday dinner for my dad! The place was busy and had a great upbeat vibe. We sat at the bar and had a round while waiting for our table. The food and drinks were great, especially their hand-cut french fries and the grilled salmon. The next day we did a little shopping along Broadway Street and had drinks at Boca Bistro on the patio.
The top 2 things to do in Saratoga Springs are to visit the springs themselves and to attend a race at the Saratoga horse-track!
There are 21 public mineral springs in the Saratoga Spa State Park and no two are the same. Enjoy the park and your very own taste test of the historic springs that this town was built around! The Geyser Island Spouter was the most beautiful spring! An incredible sight to see and a natural wonder right in the center of the park. There’s a half mile loop trail just to the right of the geyser that is a picturesque nature walk along the creek that feeds the springs. The natural carbonation of the springs is fueled by the minerals in the water and many corporations in Saratoga County are built upon them. From the health spas, like The Gideon Putnam, that offer rejuvenating mineral baths of hydrotherapy to the Saratoga Spring Water company that’s been bottling sparkling and still waters since 1872. Many business ideas sprouted from these natural springs & they even gave the town it’s name!
After our trip to the state park, we grabbed a slice from a local pizza parlor before heading back to the hotel. The next day, we stopped by Sweet Mimi’s for brunch. This place was the cutest little cafe, emphasis on little. The tables were packed in together inside and outside, but the food was worth the wait and the cramped space! They have a whole pastry counter full of delicious treats and a brunch menu filled with everybody’s favorites!
The Saratoga horse-track is another stone in the foundation of this town. Unfortunately while we were there in June, the race season hadn’t begun. Lucky for me I had a trip scheduled to come back to NY in September and was able to attend the Travers Day race, also known as Saratoga’s Midsummer Derby. This was such a fun day! The track has so much to offer with a restaurants, a huge gift shop, vendors set up outside, the track museum with there very own hall of fame, and live music! We walked through the museum, placed our bets and watched the first race of the day! On Travers Day, there are 14 races which makes for a long day but so exciting with a huge crowd and the pot over a million dollars!
Saratoga Race Track on Travers Day—267 Union Ave
Saratoga Race Track on Travers Day—267 Union Ave
Saratoga Race Track on Travers Day—267 Union Ave
The next night we ate at the Olde Bryan Inn, a Saratoga staple! The penne alla vodka on the specials menu was absolutely delicious and the Inn’s history is fascinating! Dating all the way back to 1773, their dining room offers a warm hearth for good conversation and even better food! One of our favorite places to bring family when we’re in the area!
With a great central location to many other Adirondack bucket list spots nearby, Saratoga could not be a more convenient place to spend a weekend. Not too far from Saratoga is Lake George, one of the many incredible lakes in the Adirondack mountains. We rented a boat and spent the day admiring the incredible lakefront properties and beautiful water. The final stop on our trip upstate!
Where to Stay
The Adelphi Hotel is the perfect location to explore downtown Saratoga! It is a stunning hotel with lots of character and history. The rooms are so charming and comfortable with a bar & restaurant, Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro, right downstairs.
Adelphi Hotel — 365 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Have you ever been to Saratoga? What was your favorite part of the visit?
Planning a trip? Grab my full itinerary below!
