Hotels in Saratoga Springs, New York

A little about Saratoga Springs...

Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, USA. The population was 26,186 at the 2000 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American place name, authorities disagree on what the exact word was, and hence its meaning.

Racing:
The city is perhaps most famous for the Saratoga Race Course, the oldest continuously-operating thoroughbred track in the United States. The track holds a summer meet lasting approximately six weeks, from late July to Labor Day, every day but Tuesdays. The track season sees a dramatic influx of people into the city. Hotels fill to capacity, and many Saratogians rent out their homes.

Also located in the city is the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, a harness (Standardbred) racetrack that includes a video gaming facility, the Racino.

Culture:
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (known by its acronym "SPAC," rhymes with "track") is a covered outdoor amphitheater located on the grounds of the Saratoga Spa State Park, with a capacity of 5,000 in reserved seating and 20,000+ on its general admission lawn area. SPAC is the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York City Ballet, and has hosted a weekend-long jazz festival for several decades. It is a stop for touring national recording artists: over 20 popular bands grace the stage every summer. Steps away on State Park grounds, the Spa Little Theater hosts a chamber music festival as well as the geographically-misdescriptive Lake George Opera Festival during the summer.

There are several museums in the area, including the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and more than 20 golf courses.

The city is also notable for its vibrant night life. Caffè Lena was one of the first venues in the Eastern US at which Bob Dylan performed, in 1961. Arlo Guthrie played the Caffè early in his career and has returned for occasional benefit concerts. Singer Don McLean is said to have composed his "American Pie" sitting at a table in the Tin & Lint, a bar on Caroline Street. A plaque marks the table today. Numerous other establishments exist on Broadway, Caroline Street, and the redeveloped Putnam Street.

Recently, Beekman Street (four blocks west of Broadway) has become an art district, housing four galleries and a bistro. Artists live and work in co-ops and arrange social events. While many congratulate themselves on "revitalizing" a "deteriorating" area, others consider such declarations an insult to the generations of Saratogians of marginalized ethnicities that toiled in support the tourism economy of the city, and were traditionally segregated to this once-remote quarter.

Skidmore College is located in the north of the city. During the summer, Skidmore is one of several hosts for the Johns Hopkins' CTY program.

Saratoga Springs is also home to Yaddo, a 400 acre (1.6 km²) artists' community, founded by Spencer Trask and his wife Katrina. Since its inception in 1900, Yaddo has been home to 60 Pulitzer Prize winning authors and one Nobel Prize winner. Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, and David Sedaris have all been artists-in-residence. The Yaddo grounds are adjacent to the backstretch of the Saratoga Race Course.

It is believed that potato chips were invented in Saratoga Springs, by Native American/African American chef George Crum, at the Moon Lake Lodge on August 24, 1853.

Walt Disney World Resort has a theme resort called Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, inspired by this city.

Saratoga Springs was noted in The Hipster Handbook as one of the "college towns" where hipsters often dwell.