2009 Saratoga Story Ideas
Saratoga Race Course
The excitement of Thoroughbred horse racing at the nation’s oldest continually operating track returns from July 29 through September 7. The venue, known for its ambiance, was named one of the Top 10 sporting venues in the world by Sports Illustrated. Visitors can come early and have breakfast in the dining room or bring their own and watch the horses’ morning workouts. They can also take the backstretch tour for a behind the scenes look at the day in the life of a race horse. Highlights of the 2009 race meet include Hats Off Weekend (July 31–August 2), the Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing (August 8–August 9), the 14th Annual Travers Festival (August 22–30), The Shadwell Travers Stakes (August 30) and the Final Stretch Weekend (September 4–7).
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Dreamed up in early 1961 and made a reality in 1966, this unique, 5,000 seat, outdoor amphitheater is set in the 2,000 plus acre Saratoga Spa State Park and known to the locals as SPAC. The recently completed renovations and improvements help make for an unforgettable experience when visitors attend a performance by The New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, a pop concert, the annual Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, or any special event. Whether it is a seat in the amphitheater, or a picnic under the stars on the lawn, visitors will understand why this venue has been a special attraction in Saratoga for years. New additions for the 2009 Saratoga Performing Arts Center season are performances by the Paul Taylor Dance Company (June 11) and the Mark Morris Dance Group (July 20-21). Highlights of the 2009 season are the Jazz Festival (June 27-28), The New York City Ballet (July 7-18), The Philadelphia Orchestra (August 5-22) and the Saratoga Wine and Food Festival (September 10-12).
Saratoga Gaming and Raceway
Visitors can find horses, gaming, live entertainment and great food all in the one place, all year long at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway. This newly renovated and expanded facility offers over 1700 state-of-the-art video gaming machines. Saratoga Gaming and Raceway features live harness racing 11 months out of the year and simulcast races to wager on 365 days a year. Visitors won’t go hungry with Fortunes Restaurant overlooking the harness track, the Garden Buffet with all types of cuisine and a food court with everything from gourmet coffee to pizza. Vapor Night Club is the facility’s most recent addition, which boasts a two-story layout with live entertainment or special events every night of the week.
Swing Away In Saratoga
Saratoga County is a golf lover's dream and a great golf getaway. With over a dozen courses to choose from, visitors can play a different set of links each day of their stay. From the challenging and impeccable fairways at Saratoga National Golf Club, which was recently named the number two public course in New York State behind Bethpage Black and is one of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses”, to the 9-hole, par 3 Executive Course in the Spa State Park, Saratoga has a course for everyone. Plus, there are excellent Golf Packages or the Ultimate Golf Package to help make trip planning easier.
Quadricentennial Celebrations
Saratoga County is taking part in the Hudson Valley and Lake Champlain Region’s celebration of the 400th Anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage and Samuel de Champlain discovery, as well as the 200th Anniversary of Robert Fulton’s voyage. The Hudson River (and Champlain Canal to the east) border Saratoga’s eastern and northern borders. Highlighting Saratoga County’s events is Tales from the Trails at Saratoga National Historical Park on June 6th, featuring guides history, bird and wildflower hikes and numerous events along the canal in Waterford.
Vacation Packages
Visitors can find value in visiting Saratoga’s world-class attractions via a number of packages offered by the destination. The Ultimate Experience Packages immerse visitors in thematic trips around horse racing, gaming, history, the ballet, orchestra and more. Saratoga’s major events each have their own unique packages, allowing visitors to extend their trip. Saratoga also offers several golf packages to take advantage of the fourteen area courses. Seasonal getaway packages are also available for visitors on www.saratoga.org.
Saratoga - An Arts Destination
Artists come from near and far to experience the inspiring sights and sounds of Saratoga. Whether the interest is music, dance, writing, fine arts, or theater, visitors can find it celebrated in Saratoga. Saratoga is a host and home to the NYC Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra, SaratogaArtsFest, Dance Flurry Festival, Spa Little Theater, Yaddo Artists’ Retreat, Beekman Street Art District, First Friday’s in Ballston Spa, summer concerts, vibrant nightlife, art galleries and exhibits and museums dedicated to the arts. The prominent Skidmore College also calls Saratoga home.
Saratoga’s Springs And History
As early as 1767, Sir William Johnson, a British soldier, was brought to Saratoga by Native Americans to treat an injury with the healing powers of what is today called High Rock spring. High Rock Spring can still be visited today, along with numerous other springs. From healing springs to a spa resort, from casino gambling to Thoroughbred horse racing, from the Turning Point of the American Revolution to the Great American Getaway, Saratoga Springs’ history is rich and continues to grow.
Saratoga County Is An Outdoor Playground
Nestled in the Foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, Saratoga has year-round outdoor fun and activities for the outdoor adventurer and enthusiast. With rolling hills and a number of lakes to choose from, visitors can go hiking, biking, golfing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, walking, running, kayaking, canoeing, camping, or fishing. Saratoga County is also home to Moreau Lake State Park and Saratoga Spa State Park, providing ample opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Saratoga Springs…An All-American City
Saratoga Springs is a quaint, Victorian city that can offer all the advantages of a big city, while maintaining the charm of a small town. Visitors will find a main street lined with unique boutiques, shops and specialty stores, mixed in with mouth-watering, delectable fare at fine restaurants and cafes of all cuisines. Visitors can admire the Victorian architecture amidst flowers and trees on beautifully landscaped streets. One can take in the culture of art galleries, museums, theater, opera, and lounges with jazz music. Visitors can choose a quintessential bed & breakfast, a historic inn or a modern hotel to spend their stay.
Polo Tradition Continues
Saratoga Polo’s Whitney Field carries on a tradition of polo in Saratoga since 1898, and is one of the four oldest polo fields in the United States. Visitors can enjoy the matches from the bleachers or a blanket alongside the fields, or from the clubhouse or terrace. The polo meet begins July 10 and matches are held on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Highlighting the summer match schedule is the annual Whitney Cup, set for Sunday August 9.
Architecture
Saratoga is home to a number of historic districts named on the National Register of Historic places, representing many periods of architecture. Visitors can embark on guided or self-guided tours of Saratoga’s historic streets and avenues, and marvel at the impressive and timeless structures. Whether it is a single dwelling, bed and breakfast, hotel or commercial property, most likely it has a rich past. Visitors will find an eclectic collection of architectural styles, including Late Victorian, Greek Revival, Classical Revival, Gothic and more, all of which define the unique character that is Saratoga.
Preserving History
Health, History and Horses…is what made and makes Saratoga, today. So, preserving history is an important part in Saratoga life. With a number of museums, including the Saratoga National Historical Park, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Saratoga Springs History Museum, National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame, and New York State Military Museum and Research Center and more, visitors will not only enjoy the shopping and restaurants downtown, but have fun while the entire family learns about local, state and national treasures. History is so important to Saratogians that an organization, The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, was established to ensure that the integrity of historical structures will be preserved for years to come.
And There Is More...
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