At first glance, wintertime in Ballston Spa doesn’t seem to be that exciting. But what makes it all the more fun is that bit of digging that you have to do to uncover what really is at the heart of this little village. We found it to be in the people we met — from the bus driver to the barista to the sales associate in a little antique shop, everyone we spoke to was eager to talk. In addition to the chatty locals, we also discovered a plethora of interesting places to explore.
To get to Ballston Spa, you can take either the 450 bus route or the 451. Both have stops along the intersection of Broadway and Church Ave.
Nomad Coffee & Crepes
We started off our adventure with some very needed caffeine. Although the coffee shop was closing at 3 p.m. (we recommend not following exactly in our footsteps as a lazy-Sunday afternoon might not have been the prime time to explore Ballston Spa), the owner seemed more than happy to take our orders at 2:57 pm.
After settling on iced lattes, we sat at the bar and took in our surroundings. With a tin ceiling, record covers lining the walls, and a jukebox in the corner, Nomad gave off a funky, retro vibe that seemed to be very popular with all age groups, as the coffee shop was still filled with a mix of people finishing their food, even after their closing time came and passed.
The owner and baristas were incredibly friendly and eager to answer our questions about Ballston Spa. “When I first moved here, I wasn’t sure, but [Ballston Spa] is turning into a nice little village,” Nomad’s owner said.
He was quick to highlight the growing but tight-knit community, especially between shop owners — something we saw reflected in the rest of our exploring.
National Bottle Museum:
After getting our coffee fix at Nomad, we headed up Milton Ave towards Front Street and came across the National Bottle Museum. Though the museum was closed (again, we didn’t quite get the timing right), through the large front windows, we could see countless intriguing displays of antique bottles. Later we browsed the museum’s website to see exactly what we missed: descriptions of the glass blowing process, displays of tools used to make glass bottles, galleries for contemporary artists to display their work, guided tours of the various antique bottle exhibits, and, best of all, FREE admission. The National Bottle Museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Daisy Dry Goods, Antiques, and Gifts:
Our first stop on Front Street brought us to Daisy Dry Goods, Antiques, and Gifts. This quaint second-hand shop sells old 50s records (think Chet Atkins), costume jewelry, vintage dresses, kitchenware, and all sorts of decorative nick-nacks. We spoke to the woman working at the front counter and she told us how since starting to work in Ballston Spa a few years ago, she has come to appreciate the tight-knit, passionate community. Daisy Dry Goods is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
In addition to Daisy Dry Goods, there are MANY other places to go antiquing and thrifting in Ballston Spa. Rosie’s Repeats, Belle’s Treasures, and Noah’s Attic are some of the others we saw while we were there.
Henry’s Tavern:
At this point, we were quite hungry from our exploring and so we decided to grab a quick meal at Henry’s Tavern, also located on Front Street. We were drawn in by the large rustic wood and wrought iron door and overall cozy appearance of the tavern on such a frigid winter afternoon. We split the Mac and Cheese which was delicious and plenty for two people, making our meal quite budget-friendly!
Overall, we were very happy with the food, service, and atmosphere of Henry's and would certainly go back. Henry’s is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sundays. If you are looking for other dining options some local recommendations we acquired during our time in Ballston Spa include Pizza Works, Front Street Delicatessen and Pizzeria (both casual, cheaper options that locals spoke very highly of), Two Birds Marketplace (very aesthetically pleasing!), and Iron Roost (Vegan and Gluten-Free friendly).
Whistling Kettle
While walking along Front Street, we were intrigued by the name “tearoom” and decided to give it a try. Would the average college student like it?
After some taste testing, emptying of wallets, and careful deliberation, we are not sure the Whistling Kettle is a good fit for those limited to a student’s budget. The quiche, while pretty tasty, was very small for the price ($11!).
We were also running short on time and did not realize that we would be waiting for half an hour for a quiche the size of a hand. While the waitstaff was very nice, we wouldn’t have missed out on anything had we not eaten there, and would have caught our bus in time.
Final Thoughts
Half a day in Ballston Spa has us already trying to figure out when we can go back. There are so many other places we want to explore that weren’t open (a reasonable consequence for trying to explore a new place on a Sunday), such as a comic book shop, a bead shop, and little boutiques. In the spring, there is a little park in the middle of town that is supposed to be beautiful.
Ballston Spa is so much more than we first thought it would be. The bus ride was short, the town was walkable, and the people were so easy to talk to (with such friendly locals, it’s no wonder they call themselves a “village of friends”!). Next time you find yourself bored with Saratoga Springs, just remember you can catch the next bus, and within 15 minutes, you’ll have a whole new town to explore.