Saratoga Spa State Park: 2020

January 6, 2021

2020 in the Park

Saratoga Spa State Park is a place I can go that always brings me joy.
In 2020 I tasted springs, visited the baths, “ran” trails, played disc golf, went swimming, and snowshoed.
I am truly fortunate to have a refuge of recreation near my home.

I took over a thousand photos within the park throughout 2020.
I’m always noting changes.
Nature, weather, and seasons.
Persistently, I try to capture “the moment.”
The textures and colors of tufa and trees will always fascinate me.
#documentyourlife #recreatelocal #recreateresponsibly

January

February

March

April

May

June

Tallulah Spring, June 30th. I love how you can see the carbonation on my fingertips!

July

August

September

October

November

December

Saratoga Performing Art Center (SPAC)

No SPAC performances.

Closed Gate of Route 50 Entrance, June 13th.

Hall of Springs

No Hall of Springs Holiday Party.

Roosevelt Baths

I did get to go to the baths!

Roosevelt Baths 2

And on December 2nd, I got to go inside the Roosevelt Bathhouse II.
I had been curious about it for years.
It was exciting to learn that there are public restrooms inside!

Victoria Pool

July 19th – My husband and I went to Victoria Pool. The rules were 50% capacity, you had to purchase food to buy alcohol (which is a smart thing anytime considering drinking, swimming, and sunshine), masks required unless you are in the pool, social distancing on the deck (6 feet away from others) and in the pool.

Me masked up at Victoria Pool, July 19th.

Social Distancing at Victoria Pool, July 19th.

Disc Golf

One of the best things to come out of crowds in the park was finding new ways of avoiding people while still getting outdoors.

My husband and I began playing disc golf.
I’m terrible at it. I’m reckless, determined, and seriously lack precision. Despite all my frisbee throwing shortcomings, I still have a good time playing disc golf.

Disc golf turned out to be a pretty great way to maintain social distancing in the park.

Me and my husband playing disc golf on July 4th.

My husband disc golfing on September 7th.

Lincoln Baths

National Museum of Dance & Hall of Fame

“Pas De Deux” by Christopher O’Leary

All Around Saratoga Spa State Park

5 Mile Trail/Geyser Trail

I frequently walked, jogged, ran trails, and completely got distracted by nature along the Geyser Loop Trail in 2020.

Geyser Creek

As I wander through the park I am constantly in awe of the same scenes.

And I am endlessly passionate about the same springs.

(Geyser) Island Spouter

Tallulah Spring

Shonts Memorial Spring

Fountains

Karista Spring

Hathorn No 3

It’s always fun to get my friends to drink from Hathorn 3, June 20th.

the spring has no name

I never saw it before it was pointed out to me.
Water seeping gently from the hillside by the creek, creating its own tufa.
It’s fun to imagine that all the springs looked similar before they had fountains.