Mom's time out at Roosevelt Baths and Spa in Saratoga

Located adjacent to Saratoga Spa State Park and SPAC, the Roosevelt Baths and Spa was renovated and reopened in 2004, restoring the 1935 bathhouse’s facilities with upgrades to meet today’s spa going tastes.  The subway tiled rooms, re-glazed bathtubs and porcelain drinking fountains (think back to elementary school) feels a bit “institutional” to me, but it doesn’t take away from the water at all.

Extremely lucky to make an appointment only two days prior, I arrived early for my bath and was shown to the very small locker room.  It was an awkward set up at best.  The locker room worked on a quiet Sunday morning, but with one or two more guests it would be frustrating.  As it was I had to wait for the shower and do a little locker dancing with another guest.

Walking across the hall to the steam room and sauna was okay, but with the layout of the doors and hooks, I felt like it was a potential peepshow.  The steam room & sauna were not coed but the hallway was.  I think just changing the hinges on the hallway door would be vast improvement.

The waiting/relaxation room was standard for a high end spa with lounge chairs, cucumber water and herbal teas, reading materials, and a soothing water feature.  It almost succeeded in creating a relaxing environment.  Two things made it an almost.  First, the only magazines were business and golf related.  I don’t know if that reflects the main clientele’s interest or the main clientele swipe everything but the golf and business mags. (Is it wrong to expect a Vogue, Coastal Living or Travel & Leisure to be lying around?) I am leaning to the latter due to the second relaxation breaker of two guests who thought the relaxation room was a perfect place to have cell phone conversations.

The relaxing bath at Roosevelt Baths and Spa in Saratoga Springs.

But, my visit was all about the bath and that is where I looked to find relaxation and quiet.  An attendant picked me up in the waiting room and showed me to the treatment room which included a massage table and deep porcelain glazed tub.  He explained the bath to me: how the water would feel, how to change the temperature, location of the towels, and gave me a heads up on when he would check on me.

The bath was wonderful.  It took about two minutes to get used to the rust colored water’s mild sulfur smell and not long after the attendant was in to make sure I had enough towels to pillow my head. Drifting in the bath, the minerals left a soothing film on my skin that was continuously assailed by the effervescence of the water.  Think taking a bath in champagne.  That’s what I was imagining and it certainly felt that luxe.  I was forewarned that I may not make it through the full 30 minutes of bath time. Sure enough, I was ready to get out after 25, right as the attendant came for last call.

Red, red bath, I love you right from the start, right from the start with all of my heart! (photo by caprijuliet)

I drifted out of the treatment room and am not sure my feet touched the ground for a least an hour after my bath.  Aside from thirst which I quenched from the mineral water fountains, nothing could bother me.  My husband and Mirielle spent time at the historic Victoria Pool while I took my bath, so Mirielle was falling asleep by the time they picked me up giving me two more peaceful hours.

A full menu of services is available including massages, facials, and body treatments, but Saratoga’s water is what sets this spa apart.  Be sure to make reservations in advance.

Roosevelt Baths & Spa, 39 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs, New York, (800) 452-7275

Pillows Menu at Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs

Rooms are recently renovated with very comfortable beds including a “pillow menu.”  Not all rooms have a refrigerator so be sure to confirm if your room type does when making a reservation.  We made due with my own version.  The room was clean, comfortable and quiet even though it overlooked the parking lot.  Connecting rooms are available.

A comfortable and quiet room at the Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs where dogs are welcome.

Family friendly hotel amenities include both an indoor and outdoor pool and kids eat free.  The pools were a big hit with long hours and the novelty of switching between the two.

Mirielle and I had breakfast one morning at Bookmakers, the onsite restaurant, while Jack slept in.  The buffet cost as much as an entree and coffee so we tried it.  Frankly it wasn’t very good, but Mirielle was able to have her bacon and fruit and I was able to get my yogurt, granola and fruit.  The coffee wasn’t bad and I LOVE that not only do they leave the thermal pot on the table while you eat, but they drop off a “to go” cup with the check! (HINT => great idea to secure a great tip.)

While we didn’t take our dog, the Holiday Inn is also pet friendly

Hampton Inn & Suites: A new hotel on the north end of the downtown area, across from High Rock Park and Scallions.  Indoor pool and studio suites.  It’s always sold out when we are visiting.

The Inn at Saratoga: A bed and breakfast feel in a historic hotel across the street from the Holiday Inn.

Saratoga Arms: Another favorite historic property on the north end of Broadway.

The Saratoga Hilton:  Across from the Saratoga Arms with an indoor pool.

With any lodging in Saratoga, I recommend booking in advance.  Hotels frequently sell out, especially during racing season.  We scored one of the last rooms available three weeks in advance.

Putnam Market
A gourmet grocery that professed to be “the best food and wine store between Manhattan and Montreal” is our first stop in Saratoga to pick up a picnic before heading to SPAC.  This small grocery packs a variety of provisions including a deli counter, olive bar, bakery and lots of packaged eats including fresh bread, cheese, crackers, chocolate, cold drinks and more.   (The wine shop is next door.)  Sandwiches are creative but popular so expect a wait.  SPAC picnic boxes are available if you order in advance, but we ended up putting together our own picnic basket from the deli menu and cheese case.  It is a little pricey for a deli, but the great food is worth it to me.  Most importantly, don’t leave without a cupcake (or 4.)  Very limited seating is available in front of the market.
Putnam Market 435 Broadway, Putnam Wine 431 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY, http://www.putnammarket.com/

Cupcakes from the Putnam Market's bakery in Saratoga Springs, NY

Scallions
By no means a family restaurant, on both of our trips to Scallions we saw multiple generations enjoying a meal of fresh, seasonal and tasty food in a casual setting.  There is something on the menu for everyone.  If the specials don’t entice you, I highly recommend the Citrus Duck Salad, Maui Pork or Giant Wild Mushroom Crostini.  While generally, I discourage feeding kids from the children’s menu, we ordered the yogurt with fruit and granola off the kids menu for Mirielle.  (Probably the first time we ever ordered anything off a children’s menu, but healthy non fried food?!  Amen.)  After dinner, stop by the adjacent gallery which has some really funky handmade items for sale.
44 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY, http://www.scallionssaratoga.com/

Ravenous on Phila Street in Saratoga Springs

Ravenous
I love great crepes and frites.  Seriously, grown up pancakes and french fries?  Kinda like a kids menu for everyone.  Jinny warned me this small restaurant fills up quickly, so we made sure to be at the door at 10am when it opened for Saturday brunch (check the website for hours.)  Seating is cozy, but our family has a system of sharing one savory and one sweet crepe so a small table worked for us.  For “research” purposes I ordered a small frites cone with garlic aioli.  The coffee was great, the staff were kind to Mirielle, and the reasonably priced food satisfied our cravings for at least a few days.
21 Phila Street Saratoga Springs, NY, http://www.ravenouscrepes.com/

Enjoying sweet crepes and frites at Ravenous in Saratoga Springs.

Uncommon Grounds
I am sure there is a hotel out there with great in-room or in-lobby complementary coffee, but I am still looking for it.  In Saratoga Springs, don’t bother chancing it and head to Uncommon Grounds.  The coffee is roasted in house and on all of our visits, there was a choice of at least six different brews for your morning cup.  Bagels baked in house can be configured into lots of sandwich and spread combinations.  With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, Uncommon Grounds is a easy place for families to hang out while mom and dad get their pick me up. (We enjoyed a cuppa while waiting for Ravenous, right around the corner, to open.)
402 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY, http://uncommongrounds.com/

There is always a line for Uncommon Grounds fresh coffee and bagels.

Cantina
Living in a Mexican food wasteland, I jump at every opportunity for good Mexican food.  Walking by Cantina, we stopped in for dinner and were not disappointed.  While crowed at 6:30pm on a Saturday in July, we were seated immediately.  Normally I hate the high tin ceiling, noisy restaurants, but with Mirielle in a cranky mood it was great not to have to hear her whining or share it with other patrons.  The innovative Mexican food includes dishes like Baja and Yucatan style fish tacos, duck taquitios and wild mushroom quesadillas.  I had the coconut-chili Mahi Mahi with cilantro rice.  The pumpkin seed coating on the fish gave it an unusual look, but with the creamy coconut and plenty of spicy chili flavor, I was impressed.  Everything on the children’s menu is $4 with a portion of the proceeds donated to a local hospital.  How cool is that?  Mirielle had the children’s chicken burrito which was probably enough food to feed all of us.  How big was the adult burrito?
430 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY, http://www.cantinasaratoga.com/

Cantina's innovated Mexican food, Coconut-Chili Mahi Mahi

Lawn seating at SPAC.

Anyway you define it, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is the most family friendly place to indulge mom introduce children to the performing arts. A couple of years ago, SPAC introduced themed nights like Family Night, American Girl Night, Junior Ballerina Night, et cetera, to attract more children and families to classical performances.

Free Stewart's ice cream at SPAC's Family Night.

What does family friendly mean at SPAC? Family nights are full of activities for children which this year included free Stewart’s ice cream, balloon animals (more like sculptures, they were so complex and innovative), photo magnets, a magician, a chalk art contest, and my personal favorite the children’s workshop on the lawn.

Mirielle learning from NYCB principal dancer Daniel Ulbricht.

I can now say that my daughter has danced with the New York City Ballet! After an informal question and answer session, principal dancers Daniel Ulbricht and Abi Stafford led a ballet lesson that culminated in a choreographed performance. “Performers” ranged from three to about twelve years old and anyone could join in. For those who worry about boys and the ballet, a handful of boys participated in the lesson. In fact, a four year old boy with a fantastic leap even managed to work Star Wars into the workshop, multiple times.

Rehearsing spectacular leaps with NYCB dancers Daniel Ulbricht and Abi Stafford during the children's workshop at SPAC's Family Night.

If the preshow activities aren’t enough, watching the performance from the lawn (children under 12 free) takes the stress out of squirmy, thirsty and I have to pee in the middle of act one kids. Lawn patrons are far more forgiving about talking during the performance, though this is a great time to teach good theater etiquette. (I must warn you about one usher who was so mean to kids, my husband suggested that she was trying to drive them over to her gingerbread house.  Avoid in earshot of her.)  If you’re brave, there is also standard reserved seating in the amphitheater.

A laid back picnic on the lawn at SPAC before the performance.

The real treat at SPAC is enjoying world class performances rather than the watered down, silly-ed up versions that are usually available to kids or the annual we’ll let kids come because these performances are a cash cow, Nutcracker.  I learned my classical music from Loony Toons (How can you not think of Bugs, Elmer and “Kill da Wabbit” when you hear Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries?), took only one ballet/tap class, and really know little about the world of classical arts. Yeah, I even had to google “kill da rabbit” to find out who wrote the music.

NYCB dancers and their students en point at the children's workshop at SPAC.

I do, however, enjoy watching live performances.  After multiple performances at SPAC, my  three year old daughter now loves going to the ballet and the orchestra if she can dance.  She may not grow up to be a prima ballerina (or corps de ballet) but it looks like she will grow up to be a patron and every prima ballerina needs a few thousand of those to pay her way.

Two years of FotoMagic photo magnet memories from SPAC.

Details:
Tickets: Can be purchased online or at the box office. Lawn seats are usually available before the show. Check SPAC’s website for special events or performances. If you can make it, try the August 12 Family Night with the Philadelphia Orchestra’s “Cirque de la Symphonie.” A circus set to classical music.

Food: Picnics on the lawn are encouraged. While vendors sell a variety of food and drink including beer and wine, avoid lines by bringing your own food and drink from town. Putnam Deli has boxed picnics for SPAC (and an adjacent wine store) or try the farmers market.

Other things to bring: Blankets or chairs (the center lawn is reserved for blankets and very short chairs), bug spray and an umbrella.

Blueberries at Saratoga Farmers Market

For a taste of the real Saratoga Springs, you don’t want to miss the outdoor Saratoga Farmers Market held in High Rock Park, just north of downtown.  You can definitely get a taste of the local community who come to shop on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons.  On Saturday mornings in July the market is crowded and lines snake around popular vendors.

High Rock Park in Saratoga Springs

The taste from the local producer only vendors is the real treat.  The Hudson Valley is filled with a growing number of small farms committed to sustainable and heirloom agriculture.  The result is some of the tastiest food in the nation (in the opinion of this farmers market shopping, food snob loving, Northern California expatriate.)  I especially appreciate the diversity of food available considering the long, harsh winter in the region.

July produce at the Saturday market.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, milk in glass bottles, pasture raised meat, apple cider, locally roasted coffee, regional cheeses, fresh flowers, salsas, sauces, maple, preserves, and baked goods can all be found.  If it’s still available when you arrive, I highly recommend treating yourself to a quart of chocolate milk, drinking right out of the glass bottle.  There are also a number of local non profit groups and crafts vendors with stalls under and around the dedicated market pavilion.

Farmers market pavillion in High Rock Park.

You can buy breakfast or lunch and picnic right there in the park.  (Brewed coffee is available if you want to make it your first stop of the day.) It is a great place to provision for a picnic on the SPAC lawn before a performance.  This year, I’m putting a cooler in our car so I can stock up on meats and cheeses plus buy my produce for the week.

Heirloom cauliflower.

(If this rave, groupie-like review doesn’t give enough love to the Saratoga Farmers Market, I give them super bonus love for welcoming well behaved dogs!)

Saratoga Springs Summer Farmers Market: May – October, Wednesday, 3:00pm-6:00pm, Saturday, 9:00am-1:00pm, High Rock Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

A family of ducks along one of Congress Park's ponds.

There is limited auto traffic so it is safe for kids to run wild around with minimum supervision.  The ponds and the War Memorial, a gazebo set on one of the ponds, do not have railings or fences so I was watchful of Mirielle around them.  Otherwise, both my husband and I had time to stroll through the park reading historical markers with stories of the springs or history of the park.  At each spring with a fountain, all three of us tasted the waters.

Namesake, Congress Spring.

The historic wooden carousel, of course, is a magnet for kids’ attention but it is situated fairly discretely.  That means we could spend quite a lot of time wandering around the park before the “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, can I ride the carousel, PLLLLLEEEEEAAASE?” began.  At only $0.50 per ride (2010 price) we spoiled Mirielle with a few rides.  Possibly better than the carousel were the children congregated on the adjacent lawn.  Par for the friendliness of the Saratoga Springs community, Mirielle was invited to join them playing tag and ball.  Somewhere along the way, I was roped into the games too and was playing ball with a stranger’s child while my daughter was running around with his brother.

She was much quieter after the carousel ride.

Congress Park is stroller friendly.  Free events such as concerts and art shows are often held in the park. There are no public bathrooms in the park, so we ran across the street to the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center.

The Saratoga Spring still flows in downtown Saratoga Springs, NY.

Returning decades later with my family, Saratoga Springs has only gotten better.  It still speaks to me as an old town full of activity and energy that lets me relax.  It is also a town where I can enjoy “adult” activities while parenting. This is definitely a place to go with the kids, not for the kids.

World class performing arts are enjoyed beneath the stars wearing shorts, drinking wine or lemonade, and paying very little for tickets.  Delicious food is readily available and separate kids menus aren’t needed.  History is everywhere.  People are friendly.  A town full of amusement parks, hot dog stands and mini golf courses set on a spectacular Adirondack lake is less than 30 minutes away.  And of course, healing waters bubble up all over town including into a spa (because some adult activities are best without the kids.)

A weekend in Saratoga Springs is now an annual trip anchored on catching performances of the New York City Ballet‘s summer program at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.  We make sure to visit the Saturday morning farmer’s market, take a ride on the carousel at Congress Park and I sneak in a bath at Roosevelt Spa while my husband and daughter go swimming.

Learn more about what we see and do in Saratoga Springs: (Coming in July)
Saratoga Springs: Congress Park
Saratoga Springs: Saratoga Spa National Park
Saratoga Springs: Saratoga Center for the Performing Arts (SPAC)
Saratoga Springs: Farmers Market
Saratoga Springs: Great Food
Saratoga Springs: Roosevelt Baths and Spa
Saratoga Springs: Hotels

Basics:

• Located halfway between New York City and Montreal (about 3.5 hours from each) off of I-87.  Close to Lake George, Albany Airport and Adirondack Park.
• During the summer, there is always enough going on that popular hotels sell out and traffic is slow on Broadway Ave. but the racing season and Skidmore College events are particularly busy.
• Visit Saratoga! at saratoga.com is a comprehensive visitors guide including deals and events.

5. Medical Tourism
I have to get political here because there is health care rationing in the U.S. unless you think having to wait 4-6 months to see a dermatologist for a skin check is okay.  As someone with skin cancer I need check-ups every 3-6 months, so I found a phenomenal practice in Boston where I could book an appointment within three weeks.  Now, I make day trips to Boston working in a couple hours of shopping, sightseeing and a Niçoise salad while keeping tabs on my sun scorched skin.

Mirielle on the beach in Kennebunkport, ME.

4. Kennebunkport, Maine
Best known for the summer house of the Bush family, something about this quiet coastal town captured my heart.  Maybe it was the Northern Californian style cold beaches, a poolside filled with people wearing sun hats and reading books at least 2 inches thick, being significantly below the average age, or the pleasant walks and bike rides around town.  I can’t wait to return.

Boiling Maple Sap

3. Maple syrup (and cream and almost anything with maple in it.)
When lots of sweeteners are marketed as “all natural,” maple syrup is one of the least processed of them all.  Basically step 1, let sap drip naturally from trees; then step 2, reduce to a syrup via boiling.   In addition to finding lots of new ways to cook with maple syrup, I am learning that each sugar shack produces a very different flavor of syrup.  We have been applying our California-honed wine tasting skills across New England’s maple producers.

2. Connecticut’s own Neapolitan pizza.
While holed up in corporate housing for a few months, we ate out a lot. For a while it was looking like the only non-chain restaurants that were affordable enough for everyday meals involved meat or pizza.  All it took was a few bites of my first Frank Pepe’s Neapolitan style pizza for me to sing the praises of this wonderful food.  The Guardian newspaper actually named Frank Pepe’s as the best place to eat pizza in the world (so sorry Chicago, NYC and Naples – NOT).  I would put it a close second to our local pizza place, Harry’s but I am looking forward to visiting Naples to see how Connecticut’s own holds up to its birthplace.

Vermont countryside.

1. Vermont
Aaahhhh, just crossing the state line brings a smile to my face. After three visits in south and central Vermont, I can’t get back enough.  The landscape, the people, the food, the attitude suits me so well there may be a small cabin on a river in our future.

Top 10 Things I Discovered in New England During My First Year, #6-10

Fish Family Farm Creamery Truck

9. Knipschildt Chocolate with Jersey Cow milk.
Leaving some of the best food in the world available at my twice-weekly, year-round farmers market, I knew there had to be some local gems.  I highly recommend a Chocopologie bar (Dark chocolate, burnt caramel and Hawaiian red sea salt)  washed down with 100% Jersey cow milk from Fish Family Farm Creamery.

8. Farmer’s markets at historic homes.
Would you like some history with your hard neck garlic and macoun apples?

Dancers from the NYCB teaching ballet before a performance at SPAC.

7. Summer ballet at SPAC.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) hosts the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Philharmonic during the summer as well as a host of other events including the Saratoga Jazz Festival.  We loved watching one of the world’s premier ballet companies for only $10 on a very kid friendly lawn. Who says kids need dumbed down versions of  performing arts?

Mirielle eating blueberries off the bush in Martha's Vineyard

6. Eating blueberries off the bush.
Ker-Plink, Ker-Plank, Ker-Plunk.  While the wild blueberries from the Halifax Saturday market are the best I ever had, eating berries right off the bush on Martha’s Vineyard was pretty amazing (and delicious).

Top 10 Things I Discovered in New England During My First Year, #1-5

Before the noise and stench of  snowblowers begin, I love the fresh blanket of snow.  It has been so long since I have lived in a place with snowfall that I notice the shape of the snowflakes and how it sticks to otherwise bare trees.  I laugh at the squirrel tracks in the snow crossing rooftops and circling trees.

What I notice most is how similar it looks to other seasons; the color pallet has just changed.  In October I updated you on the bold colors of the New England autumn attracting Leaf Peepers from around the world.  Here are some of those same views in the middle of a winter storm.

I am participating in DeliciousBaby’s super cool Photo Fridays, where everyone is invited to link to a travel photo. Please click here to see more of this week’s photos & stories.