Saratoga Springs, New York

Next up on our Summer 2018 road trip was a week-long stay in Saratoga Springs, another city in New York, and the point at which we started heading south. Positioned in striking distance to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Albany (capital of New York), Saratoga Springs was ranked 10^th in the list of top 10 places to live in New York State in 2014. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made the city a popular resort destination for over 200 years. Saratoga Spa State Park is a 2,379-acre park that contains mineral springs, classical baths and spa houses, a performing arts center, as well as hiking trails and picnic areas for outdoor activities. We spent an afternoon there exploring the park, enjoying the well-kept grounds, abundant wildlife, and hiking trails that wound through a lovely forest.

The city is also a hub for thoroughbred horse racing, home to the Saratoga Race Course, and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. We saw evidence of the racing culture everywhere we went, most notably with the life-size ceramic horses spread throughout the city, and the ceramic lawn jockeys that seemed to be everywhere. Some say the lawn jockeys date back to George Washington’s time; others say they were part of the signaling system used in the Underground Railroad. In the more recent past, the summer residents of Saratoga Springs would place lawn jockeys in their yard to signify that they were in town. Today they are synonymous with Saratoga and horse racing. The bright colors and unique designs are a beautiful addition many race fans’ yards.

We did a lot of walking in Saratoga Springs, there was so much to see, so much to explore. This is the first of several posts that will cover the highlights of this beautiful city.  

 

Lake Placid, New York

Our next stop after Forestport was Lake Placid, a short 125-mile drive north and east, situated in upstate New York near the border of Vermont. Located in the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is a small village near the lake of the same name, known to most as a Winter Olympics venue, having hosted both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games. During our week-long stay we hiked both in town on the paved trail that surrounds Mirror Lake, and outside town on the Peninsula Trails and McKenzie Pond Trail. We also spent an afternoon at the High Falls Gorge, a privately owned nature park that showcases 22 acres of Adirondack forests and waterfalls, and we visited the historical farm of antislavery abolitionist John Brown. This charming village was filled with natural beauty everywhere you looked!

Cobbled Stone Castle

Sometimes the most interesting things are the unexpected, the unlooked for, the enigmatic creation on the side of the road with no explanation whatsoever. This is exactly what we came upon while driving through the countryside near Forestport, New York. Just a few feet off the road, I couldn’t help but notice the Cobbled Stone Castle, but just exactly what it was, I never did find out. It wasn’t tucked away in some hidden spot, au contraire, the Castle seemed to be inviting passersby to stop and look, and so we did. We walked around the miniature castle surrounded by eclectic yard décor, discussed possible themes, reasons, and inspirations, and took this handful of pictures. My curiosity was piqued, but never satisfied, and even a search on the internet didn’t turn anything up. I probably could have pursued it with the town locals, but sometimes it is better to just let the mystery be.