Belmont Stakes Saratoga: Best Things to Do While You're Visiting
If you, like so many other horse racing fans, are headed to the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga, you may be looking for other things to do while you're in the Spa City. We've got you covered, with all the Saratoga hotspots and activities that horse racing enthusiasts will love.
Dark Horse Mercantile
Dark Horse Mercantile on Broadway is known for their Saratoga- and horse-themed items, and they always have high quality gifts, sportswear, and memorabilia, with top brands like Barbour. On occasion they do have unique, rare Saratoga memorabilia!
Saratoga National Historical Park & Saratoga Battlefield
The Saratoga National Historical Park in Stillwater, between 15 and 20 minutes from the race track, holds significant importance relating to the American Revolutionary War - but you don’t need to be a history buff to appreciate the beauty and meaning of the land.
The Saratoga Battlefield was the site of the crucial Battle of Saratoga, a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The grounds are free to visit and are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Also worth checking out while here: the Visitor Center, the Saratoga Monument, Victory Woods, the Saratoga Surrender Site, and the General Philip Schuyler House, which is about 7 miles north of the park.
Saratoga Spa State Park & The Mineral Springs
Saratoga Spa State Park, just 1.3 miles from the race track, is home to many of the Spa City’s famed mineral springs in addition to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), the Roosevelt Baths & Spa, the Saratoga Auto Museum, the Children’s Museum at Saratoga, a golf course, walking trails, pools, and more.
Mineral springs in the park include:
- Geyser Spring
- Polaris Spring
- Karista Spring
- Charlie Spring
- Orenda Spring
- Ferndell Spring
- Hathorn Spring No 3
- Hayes Well Spring
- State Seal Spring
- Geyser Island Spouter
- Coesa Spouter
- Big Red Spring
The Big Red Spring is located at the Saratoga Race Course itself.
Congress Park & Carousel
Congress Park is the other major must-visit park in the Spa City besides the Saratoga Spa State Park. It's home to the Canfield Casino, a vintage Carousel, three mineral springs, walking trails, fountains, and the park’s infamous ducks. (Please don’t feed the ducks.)
The 100+ year-old, hand-carved carousel features horses with real horse hair and is open May through October at only $1 per ride.
