I love to travel, and road trips are one of my favorite ways to get from point A to point B. Whether driving with kids, as a couple or alone, choosing local travel can be filled with exciting stops and new adventures that make memories without venturing far from home.
Recently, I decided to spend a long weekend with a friend visiting a few museums in the area. It was a weekend that we'd remember for a long time – and one I want to share with you! I tried to concentrate on history, culture, and art. And I wanted to visit places that were familiar to us and others that were brand new.
We chose the Holiday Inn for an overnight stay in Saratoga, as it's located on Broadway. This hotel is an excellent place for families – with a pool to relax in at the end of the day. It has always interested me – how a group of like-minded people wanted to involve the community in an "investment opportunity" rather than ask for donations to build the historic inn back in the 60s. A cool concept in the heart of town – pretty impressive.
We lucked out visiting the Saratoga Automobile Museum – as there happened to be a new exhibit featuring 25 original vehicles from James Bond movies. They even had screens where you could watch portions of the film each car appeared in. This show runs through November this year – so you still have time to see it! It was a Sunday, and a docent tour-guide walked around with a group of visitors, filling us in on 100-plus years of the industry's evolution. I've been to the museum several times and always love learning more about the automobiles on display there.
The Tang Museum on North Broadway is free, with beautiful exhibits throughout the year. There was a fantastic one titled 'Parallax – Framing the Cosmos' when my friend and I visited. It referenced objects appearing to change position when viewed from different angles and how your perspective of our universe can be – and frequently will be – separate from mine. Hundreds of NASA press photographs and several artists' points of view were on display, and each made an impression on us. There was also a study of Art and Mathematics, a cabinet filled with crosses on loan from The Hyde Collection, and more.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, located on Union Avenue, is one I'd never been to before – which is a shame as I've lived here for more than 20 years! The museum boasts several galleries – Pre and post-civil war, Anatomy, Triple Crown, Horseplay interactive, and Steeplechase, to name a few. The most impressive thing we learned during this visit was that you don't need to be a horse race lover – the art alone is outstanding, and there are several kid-friendly places inside this museum as well.
In 'Call the Race,' we could choose from four iconic races, study the original race video and then make our call – which was super fun! They even email the digitally recorded call afterward so you can share it with your friends. The museum's new Race Day Gallery is exciting to experience. This brand-new gallery leads visitors through different parts of a typical day at the races. It features a fantastic mural by local artist, Greg Montgomery. And we loved the 360-movie experience in the theatre.
We decided to stay at the Queensbury Hotel after venturing only a few exits north of Saratoga. I adore old historic places, and this hotel is part of Historic Hotels of America, managed by Spruce Hospitality, making it even more alluring. I've photographed weddings here, and the building's architecture is fantastic, but I've never had the pleasure of staying overnight. Many famous people have enjoyed the hotel over the years - Bob Dylan, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, and even Robert F Kennedy, to name a few. It was fun to wonder if we were standing in some of the same common areas they had!
I'd also heard that the property had recently remodeled the 123 guest rooms, and we were anxious to experience an overnight stay there. The hotel features a hot tub and pool on the 2nd floor. Oh my gosh, can I tell you how nice it was to end our day with a long swim and then soak for a while longer? A few young people were swimming, and we were happy to chat with two couples from Vermont that night. We had dinner at Fenimore's Pub, one of their onsite restaurants. It was the last night of restaurant week, and the meal was excellent! I chose a steak dish, and my friend settled on a chicken dish. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive, and they even had live music. It felt like the Queensbury Hotel was the centerpiece of Glens Falls, and it was close to everywhere we wanted to visit. Our beds were comfortable, the room's decor was fresh and uplifting, and check-in/out went smoothly.
Sometimes, when we travel closer to home, we can discover places that have never been on our radar. In Glens Falls, we visited two such locations during that weekend. I have spotted signs on 87 North for years, always scolding myself with the words 'I need to get there!' but I keep driving. The Hyde Collection was such a delightful surprise! This is an exceptional museum - with several rooms displaying current art exhibits. The Hyde House and Permanent Collection boast gorgeous furnishings and world-class art from all over the globe. Think Rembrandt, Rubens, Homer, Whistler, Picasso, and Renoir, to name just a few. It was interesting to sit and watch a short film about the couple - Charlotte Pruyn Hyde and Louis Fiske Hyde - their history in Glens Falls and the collection they built over their lifetime. There's an education center, an art center, and one of their current exhibits - The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art - moved me to tears as I wandered around the room and studied each piece. This exhibit runs through April 23rd; try not to miss it!
The 2nd museum we visited was also in Glens Falls - an easy drive - or walk - from the hotel. The World Awareness Children's Museum is a hands-on, interactive space where children can learn about different parts of the world through play. Mexico features a farm-to-table experience where children can pick corn, tomatoes, and peppers from a 'farm wall' and then prepare a meal in the play kitchen for their family. A Thailand experience invites youngsters to learn about Thailand's culture and traditions while they become explorers in Southeast Asia. There's a selection of clothing kids can try on - but not clothes you'd buy off the rack at a nearby store - they are items purchased in other countries and brought to the museum. We had fun learning how to play the balaphone and thumb pianos in the museum's music room. We watched as young kids donned kimonos, took off their shoes, and went into an adorable tea house to learn about Japanese tea ceremonies, how to use chopsticks, and play with 'sushi.' It's a delightful place families should visit when in the area.
The Chapman Museum is another wonderful experience - for children and adults. They have a map room that highlights over 150 years. The oldest map is from 1810! It's an exciting way to learn a little bit about the history of Glens Falls, from its early rural landscape and sparse population to the hustle and bustle of present-day life. If you love the Adirondacks and photography, an extraordinary exhibit covers Seneca Ray Stoddard's work. He was one of the first to capture the Adirondacks through this medium, and his work and attention to stunning detail prove it. The DeLong Home boasts furnishings and artifacts from when the family lived there. Once a modest wooden house built in the early 19th century, they constructed the two-story addition using brick after a devastating fire. The multi-purpose classroom is an exciting exhibit, and there are places throughout the home where people are encouraged to touch items and learn about the past. Wander the themed rooms - school days, family time, music memories, and the weird and curious lend fun insight into yesteryear.
I wish I'd had another day or two to fit in more wonderful museum visits – we have so many in this area! It was a great weekend filled with culture, and we plan to cross more off our list once summer hits. I hope you do, too!
