*This trip was taken last summer and was posted on a now deleted Substack account, so I am reposting here for posterity and for your enjoyment and information!

The Saratoga Race Track, located in Saratoga Springs, New York is one of the oldest sporting venues in the country. I live only 2.5 hours away but visited for the first time last summer. The racetrack is a fun outing for all budgets. Read on for some of my recommendations for other first time visitors. 

In 2025 the Saratoga Race Track’s season ran from July 10 through September 1. During this time period there were horse races every Wednesday through Sunday. Expect less crowds on the weekdays.

There are two major horse races during the season - The Whitney Stakes and the Travers Stakes. If you are not a big horse racing fan you may want to avoid visiting on these days as there are massive crowds.

We visited on a Friday in August. We arrived at the race track at 10:45 AM and had to wait on line for a few minutes until the gates opened at 11 AM. Most days the first race doesn’t post until 1:10 PM, however double check the first race time for the day of your visit.

Admission:

General admission tickets can be purchased the day of at the gates. However, if you want reserved seating at the Clubhouse or in the Grandstand, you may want to purchase tickets in advance. 

General Admission: At the time of our visit, general admission was $10 per person. This includes access to the Rivers Casino Backyard, Clubhouse (standing room only to watch the races), Grandstand and trackside apron.

Visitors are permitted to bring chairs and coolers into the racetrack. It is tradition that the gates open at 7 AM when guests can “claim” one of the many picnic tables by laying a tablecloth out. Although everyone has to leave at 10 AM, the table will be reserved when the gates reopen at 11 AM.

Reserved Seats: The Grandstand and Clubhouse provide a seating option for those that want a reserved seat. While all the seats in the Clubhouse are covered, the first several rows of the Grandstand are not.

Parking:

Like admission, there is parking available at the race track for all budgets. The general race track parking lot entrance is located off East Avenue on Potato Chip Lane, across the street from the race track. At the very end of the general parking lot there is free parking available. This does require a bit of walking to get to the track. We opted for the $5 parking area. There was also a $10 parking area in the same lot. Trackside parking is available, though I am not sure of the cost. Local residents also allow parking on their lawns for a fee.

Tours:

There are several different tours available at the race track including a Breakfast & Breeding Farm Tour, Backstretch Golf Cart Tour, Paddock Tour and a Walking Tour. These each have different prices.

Since this was our first trip to the race track, my husband and I opted to do the Walking Tour. These tours depart every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM, almost every race day. It costs $15/adult and free for children 12 and under. The tour is approximately 45 minutes long. 

We had arrived to the track early so we signed up for the 11:30 AM tour. Since our tour took place before the races started we were able to visit the winner’s circle (and ring the bell!) and climb up to the Steward’s Walk for an amazing view of the track.

Our tour guide was so informative. We learned so much about the history of the venue as well as the operations. This helped us plan our day and to know what was going on. I highly recommend this tour, especially for first time visitors.

Food:

Just like any other sporting venue, the food at the racetrack is expensive. There are options for all diets. Since coolers are allowed, I recommend bringing lots of beverages and snacks. If I visit again, I will likely pack my lunch and then go out to dinner in town.

My husband and I shared an order of Loaded Chowder Fries (it seemed the most interesting) from the Surfside Chowder Shack and a lemon Italian Ice from Papa Rosso.

Betting:

You can’t visit the race track and not place any bets! Programs are available for purchase if you want to see the lineup for each race and see stats. Some people select their horses by their names. Some people study stats and odds. We did not buy a program and placed our bets by the ever-changing odds posted on the many television screens. Sometimes we even randomly picked numbers.

The wagering windows are the only locations at the Track that take cash. There are also many self-service terminals where guests can place bets. We found it easier to go to the window. Bets can be as low as 10 cents for a Superfecta (correctly identifying the first four race finishers) or a $1 for a Win, Place Show bet. We usually placed a couple of $2 wagers per race. We won a couple of wagers earning change or a couple of bucks. But for us, it was all about the fun of the bets and seeing if we won, than trying to win big money.

Tips:

*Wear comfortable shoes! We did a lot of walking throughout the day!

*The race track is a cashless facility. Admission and any food or beverage purchases require a credit, debit or mobile pay option.

*Stand by The Horse Path to see the groomers walk the horses to the Paddock area.

*Check out the Paddock area before each race to see the jockey mount their horse before the race.

*Watch the races from different areas. Stand at the rail for an up-close viewing. Head up to the Clubhouse to see a full view of the track. 

*The dress attire depends on your seating area. If you are doing general admission or the Grandstand, shorts and t-shirts are fine. For any other seating areas, collared shirts with slacks are required for the men and dresses or dress slacks are required for women. Wearing a hat is also highly encouraged!

If you live in the Hudson Valley, you’ve heard of Mohonk Mountain House. The resort has been written about and received accolades from almost every well-known publication including Conde Nast Traveler, Parents Magazine, Travel & Leisure, USA Today and Newsweek. It’s been on my local travel bucket list for ages and my 20th wedding anniversary seemed like a fitting occasion to visit.

Nestled in the mountains of the Hudson Valley, Mohonk Mountain House is an idyllic location for a family vacation or a romantic getaway. The property is rich in history and is named a historic landmark property. Located in New Paltz, New York, it is less than a 90 minute drive from northern Westchester County.

The name Mohonk is believed to be Native American for “Lake in the Sky.” Although nothing officially has been found that gives the exact definition, it is a very fitting description for the property. The resort is beautiful with an arts and crafts/light Victorian design. If you watched the Amazon Prime show Upload (May 2020), this property was featured.

Mohonk Mountain House was purchased in 1868 by Alfred Smiley. To this day it continues to be a family run business with the 5th generation of Smileys currently operating the resort. Mohonk has been hosting guests for over 154 years. Famous visitors have included Presidents Bill Clinton, Howard Taft, Rutherford B. Hayes, Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Carnegie.

With some additions through the years, the resort now has a total of 262 guest rooms. The hotel has an inclusive pricing structure, so meals and most activities and amenities are included in the price.

My husband and I visited over spring break when there were many families visiting. It was early April and the weather was still pretty chilly. It also rained the second day of our two-day visit.

Activities and Entertainment:

The resort encompasses 1100 acres of property, most of which consists of 85 miles of hiking trails. Mother Nature will hopefully be on your side, so you are able to take advantage of these trails. During our visit we hiked up to the Sky Tower. This is a a must-do for some picturesque views. Although the trails are fairly well marked, we somehow ended up on a different trail and extended our hike a bit on the way back. 

There is a rotating daily schedule of activities. We partook in one of the archery sessions and enjoyed the historic house talk. 

In the warmer months, this deck is filled with row boats, kayaks and pedal boats.

During our stay we also played a couple rounds of billiards and then spent some relaxing time reading by the pool. 

There are also complimentary exercise classes, a fitness center, guided hikes and outdoor activities. In the evenings there is usually a movie and some type of performance. 

The night of our stay we were treated to "Disney on Broadway" with WICKED's musical director and conductor Dan Micciche playing the piano and Broadway stars John Riddle and Carrie St. Louis singing Disney Broadway tunes. The show took place in the parlor, which made for an intimate performance. The performers were extremely talented and as musical theatre fans, this show was one of the highlights of our visit!

Having been on multiple cruises and visited other resorts, overall I found the activity offerings to be on the sparser side. More activities are available during the summer and winter months, however, the rates are also priced accordingly.

Food:

Executive Chef Jim Palmeri leads the culinary team at Mohonk Mountain House. As a self-proclaimed foodie, the food was one of the highlights of our stay.

Afternoon tea and cookies is served daily in the Lake Lounge. We tried each of the different cookies (coconut macaroon, chocolate chip, shortbread, cherry biscotti, chocolate shortbread) and they were all delicious! 

Although dinner and breakfast were included in our stay, reservations were required to dine in the historic main dining room. The dinner menu alternates between two different menus and is based on what is currently in season. The menus notate which dishes contain certain ingredients like dairy, nuts and shellfish, for those with allergies. There were several gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. 

My husband enjoyed this Cured Spanish Mackerel starter, the Three Cheese Tortelloni and Cheesecake with White Chocolate Whipping Ganache, Mango Gel, Hibiscus Jelly and Tropical Fruit Compote (pictured below). 

I enjoyed French Onion Soup, Seafood Carbonara and the Mohonk Crunch Cake. The entree portions were on the modest size, but with the three courses we left satiated.

Tables celebrating special occasions were draped with a red table runner. When dessert was brought out, both our plates had anniversary wishes written on them. I think it’s this extra touch that makes a lasting impression.

Breakfast was available in the main dining room, but open only from 8-9:30 AM. It is buffet style with an impressive spread. I enjoyed the omelet station where I had a made-to-order omelet with lobster, enoki mushrooms, onions, asparagus and Swiss cheese. It was delicious! I also had to indulge in the bagel and smoked salmon station, that included a variety of cream cheeses, capers, onions and hard boiled eggs. My husband enjoyed the steel cut oatmeal station and the yogurt and smoothie bar. There are two omelet station lines, both of which were very long. If you want to avoid a wait, I recommend arriving when the dining room first opens or near closing time when it is less crowded.

Room:

Our room was a traditional room with a king size bed. There are a variety of traditional room configurations (two queen beds, one queen bed, one queen and one twin bed and one king bed). Many of these rooms have a balcony, but ours did not. For larger parties, there are suites available.

My one disappointment with the room is that there was not a television. Since the evening entertainment ended fairly early, it would have been nice to be able to watch a movie in bed.

The bathroom was white and minimalist. Gilchrist & Soames shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are available in the shower.

Overall, we had a great time and it was nice to get away for a couple of days. Mohonk Mountain House is a perfect destination for a Hudson Valley weekend getaway!