Given the introduction of new variants and the current state of COVID-19 transmission rates, traveling is, well, a lot to deal with right now — especially if you’re traveling with kids under the age of 12. Of course, safety is paramount, and given the great losses we’ve seen over the course of the pandemic, a case of cabin fever is a small price to pay. Still, after a year-plus of being cooped up at home with my husband and six-year-old son, I was itching to go somewhere new.
So when the Spa City Motor Lodge in Saratoga Springs, NY offered to host us for their opening weekend this past summer, we immediately packed our bags. A short road trip to a charming kid-friendly town that we’d never explored before? Sign us up.
TAKE NOTE: The CDC recommends all eligible people get fully vaccinated before traveling. Before making vacation plans with children who cannot get vaccinated at this time, read the CDC’s latest travel recommendations for safer travel.
Why go to Saratoga Springs? Located roughly 180 miles north of New York City in the foothills of the Adirondacks, this upstate New York town has a long and storied reputation as a relaxing getaway for New Yorkers. By the late 19th century, the area was already long-known for its healing mineral springs when luxury hotels, spa resorts, jazz bars, casinos and of course the famous racing track began popping up, making it the place for New York society to see and be seen. Over the years, Saratoga Springs also became a destination for artists and creatives — in fact, Skidmore College, founded in the early 1900s, was originally chartered as a school of arts for young women.
Today, you’ll still find a beautiful and bustling small town filled with spas, bars, restaurants, sprawling parks, art galleries, museums and more, where you can explore all day or just relax. And with Saratoga Lake nearby, some of the area’s best activities are social-distance friendly: hiking, boating, fishing or simply just sitting by the water during the warmer weather months; winter is no slouch either, with snowshoeing, ice skating or cross-country skiing on offer at Saratoga Spa State Park.
This weekend trip was just what we needed to unwind. Here’s how we planned the perfect family getaway.
How we got there
We live in Westchester County, just north of New York City, so our drive took roughly three hours. (Similarly, it’s also about a three-hour drive from Boston or Montreal.) If you’re not road tripping, there is an Amtrak station in Saratoga Springs, and the Adirondack Pine Hill New York Trailways bus offers service throughout New York State, as well as from Montreal and Toronto. Those interested in flying can connect through the Albany International Airport, 30 minutes south of Saratoga Springs.
Once there, we found the downtown area to be easily walkable; everything else was within a short drive, and there was ample parking available. Our hotel also offered complimentary bikes for getting around town.
Where we stayed
We were guests of the recently opened Spa City Motor Lodge, a retro motor lodge-turned-boutique hotel that offers an affordable and casually hip experience located right at the center of Saratoga Springs’ main drag.
Launched as the first property in luxury hotelier Lark Hotels’ new Bluebird by Lark offshoot, a collection of revamped roadside motels, surf shacks and ski lodges across the Northeast, the Spa City Motor Lodge was previously the 1960s-era Saratoga Downtowner. After receiving a top-to-bottom overhaul, the newly modernized property is now a well-appointed and well-priced home base for a long weekend in Saratoga Springs. With 42 rooms starting at $119, the cozy motel perfectly blends modern and nostalgic vibes. After parking in the hotel’s front lot and checking in, we walked through the spacious and airy atrium — formerly an open-air pool deck, but now filled with lounge furniture and featuring a coffee and water bar — and made our way to our second-floor room.
The hotel offers various room sizes from a micro queen to a king deluxe, but our double queen was perfectly sized for our needs. Sparsely decorated in a retro-modern way, the room included a mini fridge, a roomy walk-in shower, a flat screen TV and two extra-plush beds. There was also a back door that opened onto a shared balcony, which, if you followed it around to the front of the lodge, led to a second-level deck outfitted with lounge furniture overlooking Broadway — a great spot to bring a bottle of wine for a DIY happy hour as the sun set.
While the hotel was at full capacity the weekend we visited, its common areas never felt crowded. Currently, all Bluebird Hotel locations are requiring all guests and visitors to wear masks in all indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status, as an added safety measure. You can read more about the brand’s COVID-19 sanitation practices and cancellation policies on their website.
What we did
Staying right on Broadway, in the heart of Saratoga’s downtown district, meant that we could walk outside and have many of the town’s best restaurants, breweries, bars, coffee shops, stores, parks and more located just a short walk from our hotel. To get a lay of the land, we spent our first night in town taking a haunted Saratoga ghost tour. While we definitely heard some spooky tales, it wasn’t anything our six-year-old couldn’t handle, and the best part of the 90-minute tour was getting a better grasp of the town’s history and learning more about all the historic landmarks. We even got the chance to taste the water from a few of the always-flowing springs around Congress Park (be warned, the water tastes very bubbly and metallic!).
The next day, we took a quick five-minute drive over to Saratoga Spa State Park, where you’ll find the famous Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Saratoga Spa State Park Golf Course, the Gideon Putnam Resort and so much more. But we were there to visit the Saratoga Automobile Museum, a must for my husband, the car nut. Housed in a former mineral water-bottling facility, we spent an hour oohing and aahing over the rare luxury cars and vintage racing cars inside. After that, we took the 15-minute drive over to Saratoga Lake, hiking down the shore and spending some time dipping our feet in the water.
While horse racing season had not yet started when we visited, if you’re visiting anytime from mid-July through early September, you’ll definitely want to put on your fanciest clothes and head over to place a bet at the Saratoga Race Course, the country’s oldest organized sporting venue. Here are a few other things that you might want to check out when visiting Saratoga Springs:
TAKE NOTE: Some popular attractions around town, like Yaddo Gardens, have temporarily closed or have adjusted hours due to COVID-19 safety regulations; you’ll want to call beforehand to confirm opening hours.
- Beekman Arts District: Stroll this charming three-block historic area to pop into artist studios, shops and cafés.
- Roosevelt Baths & Spa: Saratoga is known for its natural hot springs, and Roosevelt is one of the town’s most historic spas, opened in 1935.
- Caffe Lena: One of oldest folk bars in America, Bob Dylan used to play here.
- The Children’s Museum of Saratoga: If you’re visiting with young kids, this is an immersive and interactive outing they’ll love.
- National Museum of Dance: Saratoga has no shortage of museums, but this is the one to explore if you’re a fan of dance, from ballet to ballroom.
What we ate
The food in Saratoga Springs is top-notch — there’s certainly no shortage of places to stuff your face, no matter what kind of cuisine you’re in the mood for, from fried chicken at Hattie’s Chicken Shack to fine dining at 15 Church. Here are a few of the places we loved dining at:
- Seneca: Located next door to the Spa City Motor Lodge, this rustic bistro offers an eclectic mix wood-fired dishes — don’t miss the brick-oven swordfish or the wood-fired shrimp and pork belly.
- The Merc: An excellent spot for a long, leisurely brunch, complete with mimosas.
- Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagel: Just across the street from the Spa City Motor Lodge, this is the spot to grab your morning coffee and a bite to eat.
- Putnam Market: Pick up a bottle of wine for your hotel room, or snag some picnic supplies (there are dozens of mouthwatering sandwich combos available), then head over to Congress Park for lunch.
- Tatu Tacos & Tequila: For a cute but casual dinner, you can’t go wrong chowing down on tacos and antojitos at this cozy spot.
- Ben & Jerry’s: Fun fact: The first B&J’s store was actually meant to open in Saratoga Springs. Fate intervened, but you’ll still find this Ben & Jerry’s location — the brand’s first in New York state, opened in 1983 — slinging scoops.
We spent three days in Saratoga Springs, and found that it was the perfect amount of time to unwind and absorb the charm of the city. We visited in the summer, which is Saratoga’s peak tourism season, but you can’t really can’t go wrong visiting anytime of the year — especially if you’re looking to avoid crowds, you’ll find a calmer atmosphere in the fall, winter and spring. We’ll definitely be back!
The author was a welcomed guest at the Spa City Motor Lodge.
