The roadtrip is possibly my favourite type of trip, tied for first place with renting a vintage boat and floating off the coast of Capri (#humblebrag). Each summer, the hubbie plans a fun little long weekend and we’ll hit the open road. We have been to a lot of places via car: Montréal, Toronto, all over Ontario and Quebec cottage country, New York City, Vermont, New Hampshire, Seattle via Vancouver, Port Alberni via Nanaimo, LA, Sacramento, San Francisco, Napa Valley, Sonoma, and the list goes on. Our latest adventure? Saratoga Springs, NY.
You see, the Darling Husband (DH) is an avid music lover and when he found out that his favourite band, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, would be playing live in Saratoga Springs, he loaded me into the car for the quick trip across the border. I needed a little convincing as I want to start saving hard for a big trip next year, but he twisted my rubber arm easily especially after he showed me the concert venue online – the stunning Saratoga Performing Arts Centre, which looks more like the grounds of an ivy league college than an outdoor concert venue. I wasn’t expecting much of Saratoga Springs after a disastrous pass-through Albany, NY (skip Albany – just go straight to NYC!!!). I was expecting an industrial and somewhat boring town like Syracuse…but boy, was I wrong! Saratoga Springs is stunning and offers more than the golfer’s, horse-lover’s, vintage car lover’s, Victorian-architecture lover’s, gardener’s heart could hope for. Most major streets are “dotted” with grand old Victorian homes so beautiful and stately, we stopped several times just to take in their beauty. Complete with a beautiful racetrack, pristine parks with some of the most perfect landscaping I’ve seen, this little town is nothing short of idyllic.
Upon our arrival, we checked into The Inn at Saratoga and were immediately taken by this hotel’s Victorian charm. Totally furnished in antiques, it is a grand old dame from another time and funnily enough, was a breath of fresh air from all of the super modern hotels taking over big cities. The Inn was only a few blocks away from the historic 19th-century Adelphi Hotel, which is currently in the midst of being restored. Next door to The Adelphi is The Adirondack Trust Company Building (shown in instagram pic below), a bank built in 1916 in the Beaux Art style, and completely faced in white marble. Stunningly beautiful and highly Instagrammable.
Saratoga Springs is dripping with charm and we felt that it was due to the fact that it seems mostly devoid of garish fast food companies and large corporations. In the Broadway Historic District, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a hideous Walmart or Domino’s anywhere. Side note: we did spot a McDonald’s but it was built to look like a Victorian home. Why can’t they do that where we live???
About 15 minutes away from our hotel is the famous Saratoga Racetrack. I was sad to miss Hats Off Day (July 22, 2016) marking the beginning of the horse racing season. I desperately wanted to pop into one of the countless milliners in Saratoga Springs, buy myself a fabulous hat and outfit and hit the track!
On top of enjoying one of the best concerts we’ve ever seen, we had great food, delicious ice cream from Kilwin’s (this ice cream is worth the drive down to Saratoga alone) and a fun visit to the Saratoga Automobile Museum (fact: I am an undercover gearhead).
My husband and I promise to get back to Saratoga as soon as possible. The people were wonderful – so friendly! The city itself is stunning and I must get back to the famous Saratoga Springs Mineral Baths, known for its super effervescent, healing mineral springs (something that Theodore Roosevelt looked to preserve himself through an act put in place in 1935). Have you had the pleasure of visiting Saratoga Springs? If so, what was your favourite spot?
Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.
That was beautiful!!!
Author
Thank you! It’s truly a beautiful place!
Wow! This is such a picturesque place! Thanks for the motivational post, Dominique!
Author
Thank you!