Redwood Creek: Top 25 Picnic Destinations

		SARATOGA SPRINGS: Mountains, Museums and Mineral Baths
		THE SETTING Nestled in the southern foothills of New York's Adirondack Mountains, Saratoga Springs offers many spots for a perfect picnic - as well as a perfect day's outing. The town is famous for its mineral baths, horse races and historic inns, but it also has many beautiful parks and gardens ideal for a quiet lunch outdoors. Congress Park, Saratoga Spa State Park and Saratoga Lake are all great spots to spread your picnic blanket. Saratoga Spa State Park, located just one mile south of downtown Saratoga Springs, is home to several bath houses whose mineral water is believed to have therapeutic effects. After enjoying a private bath and a massage, linger in the park for a leisurely walk or bike ride through the Avenue of the Pines, where majestic evergreens line the roadway. In the evening, the park comes alive at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, an outdoor amphitheater that is the summer home of the New York City Ballet, New York City Opera and Philadelphia Orchestra. There's no better way to end a day in Saratoga Springs.
		WHAT TO SEE AND DO After your mineral bath and picnic at Saratoga Spa State Park, enjoy the park's many other offerings, including its swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses and walking trails. Check the Performing Arts Center's schedule to see if a concert is playing in the evening. Sail or water-ski at Saratoga Lake, four miles southeast of downtown. If you've got time, explore the city of Saratoga Springs, which features many historic buildings -- including the Beaux Arts former trolley station, which was built in 1915. In historic Congress Park, right in the center of downtown, stop at the Historical Society of Saratoga Springs Museum, which was the site of an 1870s gambling casino. Visit the National Museum of Racing, the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame and the Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame to learn more than you'll ever need to know about the "sport of kings" - or enjoy a trackside breakfast at the Saratoga Race Course, the oldest racecourse in the nation. About 15 miles southeast of town is Saratoga Historic Park, site of the Battles of Saratoga, to watch living history demonstrations. If you're an artist at heart, visit the famed Yaddo artists retreat, which has inspired writers and painters for decades.
		HOT TIPS Begin your visit to Saratoga Springs with a pit stop at the Urban Cultural Park visitor center downtown. Or stop at the information booth located outside Congress Park on Broadway; the kiosk is run by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and is open seven days a week during the summer. Saratoga Spa State Park picnic areas come equipped with grills, restrooms and picnic tables. For these areas, no reservations are required, but if you need a sheltered spot, you must book one through the Park Office. Reservations for the park's mineral baths should be made in advance.
		PHOTO OPS Stroll through Saratoga Spa State Park and photograph the elaborate Victorian buildings, pretty streams and rolling hills. Capture the latest star thoroughbred as he sprints across the finish line at Saratoga's racecourse, or the actors in uniform playing their part in the American Revolution. The newly restored rose garden at Yaddo also makes for some beautiful pictures.
		LOCAL SPECIALTIES New York State apples, the favored fruit of the Empire State, work well in summer tarts and muffins - perfect treats for an outdoor lunch.