my daughter has been attending ACW since she was 9 months old, she is now 4. ACW has become part of…read moreour extended family and my daughter has blossomed, flourished and is very happy. highly recommend.

The bad review from several years ago really hurts my heart as a teacher. When a parent enrolls…read moretheir child and tells us that the other parent doesn't want them in the center because it isn't the center the other parent wanted, we do our best to be understanding and make the child and both parents feel welcome. Then to have the disgruntled parent lash out every day at pickup over one thing or another is hard and it's unfair to the child who loves their new school and is adjusting wonderfully. Although this child wasn't in my class I do remember the situation well and wish we all could have worked together for the benefit and growth of the child.

We just moved here from California where the Y really didn't have the presence it had here in…read moreUpstate. The Y was just there for convenience and little random programs (circus, after school, toddler sports). HOWEVER....here in Saratoga the YMCA is a culturrrre. We didn't get the hype at first until we actually joined. What a complete 180 from what I had envisioned in my head. Every possible thing is going on at this club-Swimming, 2 levels worth of gym space, 4 specialized gym spaces, a ton of activities and clubs--yes this is our 2nd home now. On top of that, the value you get for the family membership is beyond worth it. So excited to finally take the leap and join the Y. The facilities are clean, the staff are friendly and helpful, and the community is so welcoming.

I've been a YMCA member for over 15 years, with the last four spent at the Saratoga location. In…read morethat time, the staff has become like family--genuinely supporting me through personal and physical goals with compassion and consistency. My children have grown up at this Y. My son started his first job here nearly a year ago, and it's been a transformative experience. He is encouraged, recognized, and valued in a way that's helped him grow with confidence and pride in his work. It's rare to find such a positive and nurturing environment for teens entering the workforce. Both of my children have participated in the summer camp and sports programs. The attention to detail, the care, and the personal connections the staff make with each child are unmatched. They are always greeted by name, with joy and familiarity--it truly feels like family welcoming us every time we walk through the door. A special thank you to Kristie and Jenna, who have gone above and beyond from day one. Their presence has made a lasting impact on our family. Through difficult personal challenges over the past five years, this YMCA has been a steady source of peace, encouragement, and community for us. The facility is always clean, friendly, and full of opportunities for personal or family growth. This isn't just a place to work out--it's a safe space, a support system, and a vital part of our well-being. We are deeply thankful.

It was a spectacular experience. We have long wanted to do the tour. When we saw the advert, we did…read morenot waste a moment and booked immediately. It was one of the most beautiful and inspiring properties that we've ever toured. They only open it up every 5-6 years. Don't miss your opportunity whenever it presents itself again.

I highly recommend checking out these gorgeous free gardens. It's a fantastic spot to picnic, read,…read moredraw, or meet up with friends. It seems like the extension of an estate nearby, but it's open to the public. It's easy to find when entering in a GPS. You follow what feels like a one way road to the little parking section. This is free too. It's a mostly flat walk. I loved how blue the entrance fountain was. The statues surrounding the gardens are stunning. The best part is the rose garden. Roses weren't really in season when we visited, but there were a few still in bloom and they were gorgeous. We saw someone nearby sketching them. The fountain at the garden has plenty of coy fish to check out. This is a lovely, free spot.

Bolton Landing, NY - my introduction to Up Yonda Farm came courtesy of the Lake George Winter…read moreCarnival, which included a naturalist-led snowshoe hike in its activity lineup. Although we didn't make the tour (sold out), we drove up anyway to see if we could rent snowshoes to hike the trails on our own. Fortunately, there were plenty of snowshoes to go around - including kids/toddler sizes! - despite the tour group before us which I was afraid would clear out the snowshoe racks. But that was not at all the case! Rick and Linda at the Center could not have been lovelier or more helpful. Rick walked us through the trail map, pointing out where the tour group had gone (who would've broken in the snow for us), and being mindful of the fact that we were hiking with a small child who may or may not have a meltdown somewhere along the way, and how far into the hike it is likely to happen, from experience. I pulled out AllTrails to help with navigation, and Rick told us he actually created the GPS tracks for the property in the app! There are 3 miles of hiking trails across the 73-acre property, well marked with blazes and easy to follow. The woods were so beautiful and serene in the fresh snow. My child enjoyed the StoryWalk on the Sugar Trail and had me read the story to him. In addition to the educational exhibits in the farmhouse welcome center & museum (including some cute turtles!), the Center offers a variety of environmental education programs throughout the year (birds, butterflies, wildlife, night sky, hikes, field guides, crafting, seasonal events, etc.). It is now maple sugaring season so you can learn about the process and visit the sugarhouse when it's open. In the summer, you can see the butterfly garden, picnic by the pond, and explore the grounds with vistas of Lake George. We loved our visit to Up Yonda Farm, and the snowshoe hike turned out to be the highlight of our weekend. What a magical experience for all seasons!

I recently visited Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center for their maple-making tour and…read moreabsolutely loved it! This was my first time visiting and it was such a fun experience. The snowy setting made it even more special. We walked along a path through the woods while learning about how maple syrup is made. It was really interesting to hear about the history of maple sugaring and see the progression of tools that have been used over time. One of my favorite parts was the tasting. At the very beginning we got to try raw maple sap, and later we tasted the syrup fresh after it had been made. It honestly changed my mind about maple syrup -- I used to not like it, but tasting it fresh made me appreciate it so much more. There is plenty of parking, and the bathrooms are right next to the parking lot. After parking, you walk up to the main house to check in. The tour starts off to the side of the house near a fire pit, which was a nice gathering spot. At the end of the tour they served French toast sticks with different maple syrups to try, which was delicious and a perfect way to finish the experience. Overall, this was such a fun family-friendly event. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique outdoor activity and a great way to learn about maple syrup!

Fantastic staff! Fellow gym goers concentrate on their workouts, not cell phones. Even at times…read morewhen only one other person there, energy still through the roof. Only 2 complaints, no pool at this branch and very short weekend hours.

This review is not of the country branch ymca itself but Alysse Kasowski, executive director. Over…read morethe course of 3 months, I have had the most unpleasant time dealing with her. I was relocating and needing to sign my child up for the before and after school program, which I called about numerous times to get information on with no call back. When I was finally able to make contact with her, we scheduled a meeting in order to register him. I had to take a personal day from work to attend this meeting and when I arrived, she was not there and did not show up. The gentleman at the front desk informed me I was the second person that day that she had missed a meeting with. He attempted to help set me up with registration but was unable. She later called me and told me we had never scheduled a meeting and I must have misunderstood her. Needing care, I still registered my son, paying 2 months in advance. In October my work hours had changed and I no longer needed before and after school care. She informed me I was not giving her enough notice as 1 month is required per the handbook and that it effects her staffing and ratios. The handbook states a 2 week notice is required, which is what I gave her, once I was able to reach her on the phone after once again leaving multiple voicemails that were left unreturned. I then noticed another payment was taken out on October 2nd. When I called Saratoga YMCA front desk as that was the phone number on my statement, they informed that was a November payment for childcare. They assured me I would recieve a refund and forward me to Alysses' extension to start the process. My voicemail once again went unreturned. When I finally made contact with her, she told me no payment was being shown as taken out on that date but that she would look into it and get back to me. I hadn't heard anything until I emailed her yesterday where she was insistent that she did indeed email me with her findings. We then went back and forth as she insists that the payment taken out on October 2nd(that she couldn't see) was for the month of October even though my payment history clearly states October payment was taken out in September, along with the registration fee that was used as first months payment. Payments and fees aside, Alysse has been the most unpleasant, unprofessional, rude executive director I've ever had the misfortune of speaking with. I encourage everyone to seek alternative childcare rather than have to deal with this woman.

Cool spot to go for a easy hike. Because the area is so large, it was really peaceful even though…read moreit was busy (full parking lot) when we visited. The ranger working at the visitor center was very helpful, recommending different areas to go. She even pointed out some areas of the park that have blueberries and raspberries for picking. Turns out that there was quite a lot of berries. We were fairly early in the fall season so there were some good views, but I can imagine that it will be nice @ peak times. We didn't have data in most parts (Verizon & Tmobile) but the visitors center @ the front does have data outside.

My husband and I only visited to do a hike on their property, where they have 30+ miles of trails…read more The visitor center wasn't open at the time, so this review is just for the trails/general property, and also to comment on the very friendly and helpful staff we met on our way up. This place seems awesome and I love their mission - I'd go back if we were in the area again.

Nice little farm stand with interesting and tasty products -- not just produce, all kinds of items…read more Google Pay works at the self-service station.

A quick stop on the way to the airport led us to this gem. A beautiful community garden with over…read more120 plots that you can walk through, a pollinator garden, fun activities for kids & adults, and a farm stand that you can buy fresh food & more! We took home fresh honey, maple syrup and recently harvested garlic. The braided garlic is GORGEOUS and I would have bought it if there was room in my carryon.

THE BEST ON THE LAKE! We did the floating classroom two years in a row! Fascinating to learn…read moreabout the lake that everyone is on top of. Lovely boat ride! Knowledgeable guides and educators. No, not boring. Not a lecture. Yes, it's geared toward kids but even grown ups can lelearn something. Keep it up LGA!