Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

Saratoga has one of New York's best-organized tourism information offices. The Urban Heritage Area Visitors Center, 297 Broadway (tel. 518/587-3241), has a wealth of helpful information, on not only Saratoga Springs but much of upstate New York. It also has regional displays, videos, and memorabilia, and offers walking tours in season. From April to November, it's open daily from 9am to 4pm; from December to March, it's open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 4pm. The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce also operates an Information Booth (tel. 518/584-3255), Broadway at Congress Park, open July and August from 9am to 5pm daily. You can also visit the chamber's website at www.saratoga.org. Free area maps are available at both the visitor center and the information booth.

City Layout

Saratoga Springs is relatively small and very easy to navigate. Everything revolves around the main axis, Broadway, which is the name for Route 9 once you come into town. Most restaurants and shops are located on the small streets off Broadway (though there are plenty on Broadway, too), such as Phila, Caroline, and Spring streets. Saratoga Spa State Park is just a mile southwest of downtown on Broadway, while Union Avenue, site of grand Victorian homes and the Saratoga Race Course, is a couple of blocks due west of Broadway. Skidmore College is a couple of miles straight up North Broadway.

Getting Around

By Public Transportation -- Most of Saratoga is easily walked, but in summer (late June to Labor Day) a Saratoga Springs Visitor Trolley (tel. 518/584-3255) operates a Broadway loop ($1 round-trip).

By Car -- Car-rental agencies in and around Saratoga Springs include Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 180 S. Broadway (tel. 518/587-0687); New Country Saratoga Auto Park, Route 50 (tel. 518/584-7272); and Saratoga Car Rental, Inc., 360 Maple Ave. (tel. 518/583-4448).

By Taxi -- Taxi services include Saratoga Taxi, 15 W. Harrison St. (tel. 518/584-2700); A Destiny Limousine, 80 Church Ave., Ballston Spa (tel. 518/587-5221); and Saratoga Capitaland Taxi, 285 Broadway (tel. 518/583-3131).