WATER! WATER?
In planning this trip there is one thing that has been so intriguing I couldn’t wait to see what it was all about, the allure of the Saratoga spring water. While at the farm we bought a bottle of Saratoga Springs Sparkling water and it was so bubbly and delicious I couldn’t wait to put my cup under a fountain and taste more of this deliciousness. Cups in hand on the hunt we went. Wow did we have a surprise in store, my only wish is I would’ve video taped the kids tasting their first sip of fountain water! Gags followed by spitting water across the lawn. I’m pretty sure this isn’t the way to consume this beverage for maximum health benefit. Our efforts weren’t deterred as we kept thinking one of the fountains must contain delicious bubbly water. I think we hit at least 15 fountains, some tasted like earth dirt, others like metal, surfer, poop….none were as good as that blue bottle of bubbles, but never the less, the search was super fun and we had many laughs with the anticipation of how bad the next fountain would taste. At the State Park we did find a fountain with people swarmed around it filling up jug after jug. This was a good sign and although the water here was not bubbly it was crisp and delicious. Yeah! We ended our water tour on this high note with full glasses and happy faces.
Victoria Pool
The unseasonably hot weather also resulted in a search for water to swim in and boy did we find a gem in Saratoga Springs . Victoria Pool at Saratoga Spa State Park is the oldest heated pool in the US. The heat is off now making it a very refreshing dip on a hot day, but well worth it. Swimming while surrounded by beautiful buildings with arched colonnades takes you back in time and I couldn’t help but let my mind try to envision what it would’ve been like in the 1930’s. Saratoga Spa State Park – Victoria Pool
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
My horse experience is minimal, and racing is a world I know virtually nothing about. The extent of my knowledge is the Triple Cup, Mint Juleps, and fancy hats. At my grandparents I remember betting on the Kentucky Derby once and I won, the purse was probably less than $10 but this was huge at the time and I was ecstatic. Now this museum is so incredibly amazing, I surprised myself by liking it. It is hard to fathom how much history, knowledge and expertise lies within this sport. It is fascinating and I enjoyed everything from learning about the anatomy of a horse, the history of the race, to viewing the vast collection of artwork related to horse racing. Whether you are a horse person or not this museum is worth a visit. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
Farmers Hardware
We stumbled across this gem and fell in love with the atmosphere and food. A model for hipster charm, it was as if someone walked into their grandpa’s garage, pulled everything out, waved a magic wand and all the old stuff was arranged into a magnificent space. The fast causal joint had a super friendly vibe great service and most importantly phenomenal food. The girls scarfed down entire B.L.T’s and my Dragon Bowl was delicious. Everything was super fresh and pure yum. Farmers Hardware 35 Maple Ave. Saratoga Springs, New York