Chances are, if you are planning a trip to Cooperstown, then you, or someone in your group, is a baseball fan. Cooperstown has a lot to offer travellers of all interests, but it is most well known for its National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. There, you will find the history of baseball and baseball-related artifacts, as well as exhibits honoring those who excelled in the sport. If you and your children are coming during the summer to participate in the intensive baseball practice at Cooperstown Dream Park, which is a grand facility of 22 fields, practice your swing before you come with a “hot bat,” like these softball bats. Since the museum sees roughly 300,000 guests per year and the Dream Park field attracts nearly 20,000 players a summer, it is crucial that you make reservations for all your transportation and overnight accommodations beforehand.
Getting around
Cooperstown is situated in central New York. If you fly into Albany International Airport or Syracuse Airport, you can schedule airport transportation to and from Cooperstown. Another option is to fly into New York or Boston and rent a car to drive 3.5 hours to Cooperstown, or 4.5 hours from Philadelphia. Whether or not you have a car once you get to Cooperstown, the village is extremely walkable, so wear comfortable shoes. Enjoy a walk around the lakefront and a walk down the main stretch that is full of good restaurants and shops, which sell mostly baseball memorabilia. One perk of Cooperstown is that you do not necessarily need a car while you are there. Ride the Cooperstown Village Trolley to avoid the headache of parking. Your kids will get a kick out of it! Top places to stay in Cooperstown include the Inn at Cooperstown, the Otesaga Resort Hotel, the Cooper Inn, as well as the option to stay in vacation rentals rented out by owners.
Attractions
In addition to the Baseball Hall of Fame, other attractions to include in your tour are the Fenimore Art Museum, the Farmers’ Museum, Glimmerglass Opera, and Brewery Ommegang. Just south of Cooperstown is the Joseph L. Popp, Jr, Butterfly Conservatory. It is an incredible experience to see hundreds of free-flying butterflies and dozens of species of tropical birds. Take a drive and look around–still standing are the original homes of the founding Cooper family. On Saturdays in June, Cooperstown celebrates Father’s Day with a parade and a old-timer’s baseball game at Doubleday Field. Intergenerational events go on all day, but a real attraction are the Hall of Famers who walk the streets. For Independence Day, the town of Oneonta, which is 25 minutes south of Cooperstown, has a day-long celebration filled with games, food, good entertainment, as well as a baseball game. If you visit in September, plan your trip around the annual Pumpkin Festival in Cooperstown. There is a “largest pumpkin” contest and a pumpkin paddle around the lake. No matter the time of year, Cooperstown is beautiful place, rich in history and fun for all.
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