Report From Saratoga Part II

Surely you have heard of Saratoga water? Well for all the years that I have been going there, I have certainly ordered it in restaurants but never really gave it a second thought. Then one morning, I took a walk through Saratoga State Park, right down the road from my hotel. It was beautiful, but a bit warm and I began to notice lots of what looked like water fountains throughout the park, with taps that seemed to be permanently open.

Curious (and thirsty!) I ventured closer and learned the history of Saratoga's waters, many of which can be sampled throughout town and the park. The water comes from underground springs and some of it comes out of the taps carbonated! The natural sparkle comes from natural gases found in the water! Who knew?

You can taste the difference among the various springs. The one above is actually in Congress Park down town and that water tastes like Spring water. There are others that taste like minerals and some that are bubbly. The most popular spring, however, is in the center of the spark and is called the State Seal water. People drive into the park with huge jugs in the trunks of their cars and fill them up from these spigots. It is apparently the same water that comes in those Saratoga Water bottles with the State Seal!! All free!

I met a man who was a home brewer. He said he only used that State Seal water for his beer, which won all sorts of prizes. The problem was he had to come at 2:00 AM to fill up his barrels because it took so long!!

There are of course, the legendary sulphur baths which Teddy Roosevelt make popular, and very ornate buildings in the center of the Park, called the Palaces of Water, in which the springs used to come up inside! The Victorians strolled around the arcades and sampled the waters, all in the name of good health!!

It certainly was an interesting and tasty morning activity and yes, I did fill up a few bottles to bring home!