Nestled between the iconic Hudson River and the beckoning Adirondack Mountains, Saratoga County, N.Y., already possesses enough to entice any number of folks. But there is more—much more. And summer is the time to see it all.

For starters, summer brings the racing season at the nation’s oldest continuously operating Thoroughbred race track. It also brings the annual commemoration of a battle that helped change the world. In addition, it brings a list of festivals and the time to visit a raft of museums and other attractions.

On Historic Tracks
For some, Saratoga Race Course’s gate opening is synonymous with summertime. And it has been that way for 141 years. Home to the Travers Stakes—the “Mid-Summer Derby”—the Saratoga Springs layout has been called one of the best sports venues in the country by Sports Illustrated. Visitors get their chance to see what the magazine means July 29 through Labor Day.

Everyday race fans and the curious can eat breakfast at the edge of the track while horses are put through their paces. Then, spectators can settle in for the afternoon and its slate of races. The biggest race is the Travers Stakes on Aug. 29. The $1 million-purse race is the centerpiece of a weeklong event that features more than 30 other major happenings.

Two more festivals highlight the racetrack and its connection to summer travel. The first, Hats Off to Saratoga, July 31–Aug. 2, showcases sunset races, a hat contest, Breeders’ Cup races and music in downtown Saratoga Springs. The other festival, The Final Stretch, Sept. 4-7, also showcases sunset races and music in downtown Saratoga Springs. The Final Stretch also specializes in family-friendly fun and graded stakes races.

While Saratoga Race Course makes history every time the starting gates open during its summer love affair with the sport of kings, the fight against a king left behind history with international consequences elsewhere in Saratoga County. At the Battle of Saratoga, an engagement begun as summer was waning in 1777, American troops forced the surrender of a British army and transformed the Revolution from an isolated rebellion into a world war. Invading from Canada and intending to meet British forces coming from New York City, the British had planned to take New York and cut the Colonies in two. They failed.

Because of the American victory, European powers, and enemies of England, France, Spain and the Netherlands entered the fray on the behalf of the Colonies. Now, the British had to fight conflicts around the globe to protect their far-flung interests. Its historic consequences credit the Battle of Saratoga as being the turning point of the Revolution and a moment during which the world was changed, as the United States was on its way to being born.

A visit to Saratoga National Historical Park is like a pilgrimage. This is a place to feel a moment that made America. A failure on this spot 232 years ago likely would have resulted in an imminent end to the Revolution. Everything would be different today.

The historical site comprises the battlefield, Schuyler House and Saratoga Monument. Self-guided tours of the battlefield begin at the visitor center, where an orientation film can be seen, artifacts viewed and maps obtained. The battlefield tour includes 10 stops to gain a richer understanding of the battle that lasted from Sept. 19 through Oct. 17. The Schuyler House, about 7 miles north of the battlefield, is the country home of Gen. Philip Schuyler, a primary planner of the American defense at Saratoga. The monument—7.5 miles north of the battlefield—commemorates the victory, and a stop can be deepened by a ranger talk.

The Culture Clubs
Any stop in Saratoga County can be made richer by checking out performances held at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center or stepping into the halls of one of its many museums. At the performing arts center, a summer visit will be an instant classic—that is because its classical season gets started in late June with the Freihofer’s Jazz Festival. The New York City Ballet then comes to town July 7–18 and the Philadelphia Orchestra follows Aug 5–22. The sounds of summer are not all of the classical variety as SPAC brings in contemporary musicians, too. Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay and Nickelback are three bands that have played or will be playing the center in 2009.

Hearing what Saratoga has to offer is one way to enjoy the summer. Checking out what makes the county tick is another. Museums are a great way to get closer to the subject. At the Tang Teaching Museum & Art Gallery at Skidmore College, art can be enjoyed by all in a variety of ways. The museum was one of the first of its kind, bringing together several disciplines and media, and how they work together to open worlds.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum spotlights the world that opened when the car-making industry began. New York was home to more than 100 automakers, so there is considerable car heritage to explore that has nothing to do with Detroit. Most of the New York builders were small, but some, such as Pierce Arrow, were major successes. Learning about the local car industry is but part of the museum experience. Other exhibits include famous car races in New York and displays dedicated to particular autos and auto accoutrements.

Other specialized repositories in Saratoga are dedicated to military heritage—the New York State Military museum holds artifacts predating the Revolution; touching young lives—the Children’s Museum at Saratoga uses 11 exhibits to expand the minds of children; and going local—the Brookside Museum delves into Saratoga County, including the tourist experience it offers.

That tourist experience can be further heightened by attending a polo match, a Saratoga tradition since 1898; being entertained at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, with its 1,700 gaming machines and live harness racing; and going for the green at Saratoga National Golf Club, ranked second only to Bethpage Black (the site of the 2009 U.S. Open) as the best public course in New York. 
 
For more information on a Saratoga County getaway, visit www.saratoga.org or call (800) 526-8970. For trip-planning assistance, contact AAA.com/travel.