The famed Saratoga Race Track
Off to the races… or not. If you’re like me, you may hail from the Northeast but perhaps never made it to Saratoga Springs. You’ve probably been to Niagra to see the falls, or Lake George for the Queen of American Lakes but you always stopped short of the city known for hot springs and all things equestrian during summer racing season. If you’re an animal lover like me, a city centered in all things racing may have never crossed your mind.
This summer, I changed that. Saratoga is a city rich in Native American and turn of the century history, rooted in rich local lore. Whether your idea of leisure is days spent lazing on wraparound porches waiting for the 1pm races with a lemonade or bourbon if it tickles your fancy, or soaking in the healing springs with plenty stories past, Saratoga immediately entranced me.
It felt like a hybrid between Savannah and a Hudson River hamlet, just with way more horse betting and grand Victorian mansions. At times, I couldn’t tell if I was in South Carolina or Saratoga. And that’s not by accident. The Saratoga Race Track opened in 1863, and became a haven for wealthy Southern aristocrats, land owners and prominent families, to escape the humid Southern heat. Beyond the healing hot springs, Saratoga became a place to see, and be seen.
Think gambling and excess meets debutante ball, where parents would parade their daughters until the wee hours of the morning, where the famed Grand Union hotel played host to many a late Friday night soireé primed for matchmaking. Summer in Saratoga was practically designed for socializing, and while times have changed - that spirit of opulence, good company, and equestrian culture - has not. Whether you align with horse racing or not (I’m not an avid supporter of the sport, nor would I regularly frequent races), it’s undeniable the charm and history of equine culture in this storied gem in the Adirondacks.
Here’s how to spend the perfect summer day in Saratoga.
Careful, you could see Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo on his way from the paddock.
Stay: Union Gables Inn, the quaintest little bed and breakfast. Insider tip: Order the shrimp n’ grits special if you get a chance.
The proprietor-chef of the Union Gables hails from the South, so order the specialty of the house!
Do: Saratoga Spa State Park for a morning hike, followed by a leisurely afternoon browsing store windows on Broadway and a Detroit style pizza and craft beer at Walt & Whitman Brewing, before you head to SPAC for an evening concert.
Pack a picnic and enjoy an open-air concert under the stars, in the middle of a Saratoga forest.
Saratoga Spa State Park is full of hidden nooks, crannies and stops to taste test Saratoga spring water, along the way.
Colarado native & Indie folk artist Gregory Alan Isakov performed at SPAC in August 2026, backed by the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Eat: Hamlet and Ghost, Walt & Whitman Brewing, Salt and Char, Brook Tavern
Experience: Saratoga Springs History Museum, A stroll around Congress Park and a morning at the Saratoga Race Track
It wouldn’t be Saratoga without horses. The practice run, before the track opens, is the most peaceful time of day in town.