Don't just think of a visit to New York as a visit to New York City. Making the 'City that Never Sleeps' your starting point to exploring the rest of the State of New York is an unbeatable way to launch the vacation of a lifetime.

Take, for instance, Saratoga Springs, a city in upstate New York that's as lush and bubbling as the name suggests. Famed historically for its mineral springs, the city offers top-notch spa treatments in the Roosevelt Baths bathhouse in the Spa State Park. There's also the chance to bottle up some of the good stuff in the numerous springs found all over the town, although the taste and smell of the water offered from some of the springs is not for the faint-hearted, due to its significant sulfur content. The locals and visitors to the town swear by the stuff though, and the bathing culture that has emerged around the town is a modern take on the time-old tradition of 'taking the waters.'

However, the city probably best-known for the Saratoga Race Course, and the racing season starts in the third week of July and runs through until the end of August, culminating in the Travers Stakes, the most important event on the Saratoga racing calendar. Taking the chance to have a flutter on the races or rejuvenate in the spas makes Saratoga Springs a memorable choice for any stag do or hen party. With enough in store to keep the guys and girls occupied and entertained for hours, Saratoga Springs is a winning option for pre-nuptial celebrations.

Take this, in combination with the city's vibrant nightlife, and Saratoga Springs is ideal for any vacation with family or stag or hen night with friends. The city has strong links to the American musical heritage with names like Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, and Don McLean having featured in the city's cultural fabric at one time or another. The famed Yaddo artists' community, established in 1900, has been home to artists-in-residence of the caliber of Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, and David Sedaris, further confirming the city as an interesting draw card and an intriguing accompanying journey for any visit to NYC.