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Tips for budget vacationing
in Cooperstown, NY
Gas prices and general
inflation got you down? Maximize your hard-earned money by following
these money-saving vacation tips when staying in the great New
York state Village of Cooperstown
| Taking
in a free Tuesday evening concert at Lakefront Park is a great
way to hear talented local musicians while relaxing as the sun
goes down at beautiful Lakefront Park. (photo by Eric J. Hurwitz) |
by Eric H.
Enjoy dining out without having to take out a second mortgage
If budget-busting hand-rubbed
garlic chicken with a drizzling of some obscure oil isn't your
meal-ticket, then Cooperstown offers some real dining bargains.
Tino's Pizza (75 Chestnut St., Tel.(607)547-2930) offers delicious thin and thick crust
pizza as well as well-made, substantial subs in a pleasing traditional
storefront, sub shop setting. The
Cooperstown Diner (136 1/2 Main Street, Tel. (607)547-9201
beats most of its competition at what they do by offering hearty
breakfasts, lunches and dinners at low prices that would have
Alan Greenspan scratching his head on how they can be so affordable
in this day of age. It's a charming diner -- small, friendly
and full of great conversation, coffee and food. T.J.'s Grille
is a populist's favorite offering great meals from morning to
late evening, including great scrambled eggs, a phenomenal roast
chicken dinner and fruit pies. The Doubleday Cafe (93 Main St.,
Tel. (607)547-5468 may be on the more expensive side of "cheap"
at dinner, but its surprisingly creative flair at relatively
less expensive prices make it a hometown and tourist's dream.
Lunch is always a good value at the Doubleday, also. The Stagecoach
Deli (31 Pioneer St., Tel. 607-547-6629) might just be the
best-run eatery in Cooperstown, offering quick, efficient service
and terrific wraps and paninis, baked goods, coffee and ice cream.
They also have a relaxing backyard patio, perfect for a leisurely
summertime lunch. Dimaggio's Cooperstown Hot Dog (4561
State Highway 28, Milford, Tel. (607) 547-5400) does fast food
the right way. Located directly across from Cooperstown Dreams
Park on the ever-expanding Route 28 Southern corridor, Dimaggio's
serves tasty, full-bodied hot dogs, substantially-sized burgers,
excellent salads and some very large portions of ice cream. The
dining room is spotless, the service quick and courteous, and
the atmosphere family-oriented. It's a great choice for a quick
and affordable meal. Down the road in the pleasant and interesting
city of Oneonta, NY, is Brooks Bar-B-Que (5560 State Highway
7, Tel. (607)432-1782), famous for some of the best barbecue
chicken, pork spareribs, beef, pork and steaks this side of the
Mason-Dixon line. Brooks isn't one of those "Johnny-Come-Lately,"
trendy barbecue joints that serves, wimpy, watery rotisserie
meats. With the largest indoor charcoal barbecue pit (38 feet
in length) in the East, Brooks Bar-B-Que certainly isn't for
the macrobiotic, vegetarian crowd as this 300-capacity family-oriented
restaurant serves high-quality, hearty portions that never disappoint.
The great food, low prices, efficient service and cleanliness
make Brooks a must-visit dining spot when visiting Cooperstown,
even if it is a half-hour away.
Catch
a free ball game at Doubleday Field (25
Main St.) The thrill of watching America's Favorite Pastime
at a true American ballpark never gets tired. With free admission
and ball games going on all day during the baseball season, Doubleday
Field is a throwback to an era when baseball was played for the
love of baseball and nothing else, set in a family-friendly ballpark.
Get
active at the Clark Sports Center (Susquehanna
Rd., Tel. (607) 547--2800) If only
every community had something as special as the Clark Sports
Center, located on a scenic country road minutes from the center.
Here, you can buy a $8.00 day pass ($4 for children) to use the
Olympic swimming pool, weight training room, track, bowling alley,
and climbing wall and racquetball and basketball courts.
Ride
the Cooperstown trolley
Two dollars for adults and half of that for kids will get you
on the Cooperstown trolley, taking you to some of Cooperstown
best attractions, as well as the Cooperstown
Chamber of Commerce information center. On the way, you'll
see some amazing old homes, the charming downtown, Otsego Lake,
great neighborhoods and many other landmarks, attractions and
ways-of-life that make Cooperstown a special place. It's a great
tour!
Spend
the day at Lakefront Park (bottom
of Pioneer St.) Whether it's a Tuesday night free summer
concert or just having a quiet picnic on the expansive green
lawn overlooking beautiful Otsego Lake, Lakefront Park proves
you don't have to spend money to bring home lifetime memories.
To many, Lakefront Park seems like the nicest place in the world,
given its amazing scenery and relaxing location.
Discover
Kid City playground (Walnut
St. behind Elementary School) With a labyrinth of wooden
play system structures to explore and a swing set, Kid's City
will keep the kids happily busy for hours. The location is nice,
too, behind the Cooperstown Elementary School with great views
of surrounding scenic hills.
Enjoy
the truly special old-fashioned Cooperstown Village Library (Corner of Main and Fair Sts.) The
old-book smell, the pleasant, dedicated staff, the historic looking
hall way and stately tall pillars supporting this old-time building
lend a wonderful old-fashioned experience. One might not think
of going to the library during vacation, but why not? It's leisurely,
relaxing and is well integrated into the charming Village of
Cooperstown as a community landmark.
Patronize
the fine arts For a small
Village Cooperstown has an amazing amount of culture, including
many art galleries. Check out the local talents of artists at
the Cooperstown Art Association (at the Cooperstown Village Library),
Smithy-Pioneer Gallery and Leatherstocking Brush and Pallette
Club (both on Pioneer St., in the downtown).
Go
swimming at Glimmerglass State Park For
$6.00 a car, your family can enjoy one of the cleanest lakes
in New York State and wonderful rural scenery. Glimmerglass State
Park's beach has coarse sand and a large shallow swimming area.
There's also changing rooms, a refreshment stand, crackerjack
lifeguards doing their jobs, and some truly lovely park area,
perfect for camping, hiking and barbecuing.
Support
local businesses at the Farmer's Market (Pioneer
Alley, downtown Cooperstown) This non profit market located showcases,
in the summer and early fall, the products of local farmers and
producers. This includes fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, flowers,
herbs, potted plants, prepared foods and crafts. It's always
a great experience meeting the hard-working, nice, decent people
that earn money through their works of love.
For more information on
Cooperstown, NY, view the Cooperstown
Travel Library, Attractions Resource
Guide, Calendar of Events, Dining and Lodging sections, and Photo Gallery
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