Saratoga, NY - Anyone Been There?

[Daxx]

For summer reading, DS is reading "Drums at Saratoga". Since it's a driveable distance, I was thinking of taking DS up there one weekend to see the battlegrounds where the book is set.

Has anyone been to Saratoga, NY before? Is it worth the trip!? Do they have the battlefields to tour or any museums related to the Revolutionary War?

Any advice/info. would be much appreciated!!! TIA! ~Daxx's Wife

 

[tw1nsmom]

I live within a 25 minute drive to saratoga and grew up in the Lake George area. I've never been to the battle field. There must be someone on here that has some information about it. I'm pretty sure it's considered a national park and should be pretty nice.

A lot of the historical sites in the area are intermingled with tourist attractions. In Lake George village (just another 1/2 hour north, mostly very touristy), there's Fort William Henry. I believe they have people dressed up in period costume and do some reinactments. Still further north is Fort Ticonderoga.

In the City of Saratoga Springs (the battlefield is in Saratoga County, not the city), there is less emphasis on the revolutionary war, and more on the history of the town as a resort for wealthy people as far back as the civil war. It's a fun place to walk around, especially during track season. You can still get a mineral bath (used to be considered to have restorative elements) at Roosevelt Baths, and you can still drink mineral water out of many springs (Bleck ). There's a very small museum in Congress Park over the old Canfield Casino.

It really is a fun area to visit in the summer. We often play "tourist" in our own backyard.

 

[DVC-Don]

There is a national park out at the battlefield. We usually go over in the fall as that is when most of the battle was fought and the fall colors are spectacular there then.

http://www.nps.gov/sara/index.htm

In Saratoga Springs there is the NY State Military Museum.

http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/mil-hist.htm