SARATOGA SIDEBAR
THE KAYAK SHAK, ON FISH CREEK AT THE OUTLET OF SARATOGA LAKE, IS A POPULAR LOCAL VENUE FOR WATER SPORTS.
PLYING SARATOGA’S WATERS Water is the word in Saratoga Springs, of course, but not just for drinking or bathing. The area is also brimming with liquid sports and recreation. Saratoga Lake, just east of the city, is a busy attraction for fishing, boating, water-skiing, and sailboat racing. Anglers with their own craft can put in at the New York State Boat Launch on Route 9P and try landing a bass, northern pike, or walleye. For advice, lures, and bait, stop in at Saratoga Tackle and Archery, and for motivation, hook onto the lake associa- tion’s guide to fish species and record catches. Need a boat, or just fuel or supplies? Point Breeze Marina rents and sells a range of boats and has dock space. At South Shore Marina, at DiDonna’s Restaurant, you can rent dock space, buy a seasonal boat-launch pass, and even rent a vaca- tion property. Fish Creek Marina, on County Route 67 at the lake’s outlet near Skidmore’s boathouse, also has the lively Kayak Shak, where it seems a party is always about to break out. It offers half- and full-day rentals of kayaks, canoes, row- boats, and stand-up paddleboards. If you have your own non- motorized craft, you can park and launch at the city’s new Waterfront Park off Crescent Avenue. Need lessons? You can get instruction at the Saratoga Sail- ing Club—or just enjoy the beautiful boats in its regattas. Likewise for rowing, in late spring and early fall you can watch the Skidmore crew pulling hard along the lake and creek, or you can sign up for the Saratoga Rowing Associa- tion’s instructional camps, lessons, and competitions—two highlights are the Saratoga Invitational in April and the leg-
64 SCOPE SPRING 2013
endary Head of the Fish Regatta (always an alumni favorite) in October.
For swimming, Saratoga Spa State Park is home to two pub- lic pools. The large Peerless Pool Complex is family-friendly, with a separate slide area and wading pool. The Victoria Pool is smaller, historic, and tucked into arched promenades for a more elegant vibe. It features an outdoor bar, but be there when it opens to have any hope of scoring a lounge chair. Those looking for more thrills with their chills can head north to Lake George for parasailing or to Hadley for high- adrenaline rafting or tubing that the Sacandaga Outdoor Cen- ter promises is “one of the best buzzes mother nature can dish out.” Its equipment includes water cannons and buckets to ensure that your every molecule gets doused. On the other end of the drama and decibel scales, there are abundant options for peaceful paddling, from leafy Lake Lonely to Lake Moreau just north of town. For suggestions, along with thoughtful commentary and gorgeous photogra- phy, check out Saratoga Woods and Waterways, the blog of for- mer Scope editor Jackie Donnelly, whose wanderings always include “looking closely, listening carefully.” Her favorite paddle? “It’s the Hudson River between the Spier Falls and Sherman Island dams, accessed by a boat launch on Spier Falls Road in Moreau,” she says.
After bumping over rapids in a whitewater adventure or paddling across a scenic lake, you may just be ready for the
other Saratoga H20: a tall quaff of, or a long soak in, the fa- mous fizzy waters. —KG
BEAU STALLARD
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