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Overview of the
Cooperstown area
Visit Cooperstown, New York,
and come back home with lifetime memories
Article and photos
by Eric H.
There are probably hundreds of
reasons to visit Cooperstown, New York. The editors at VisitingCooperstown.com
have made it easy for you by providing an overview to illustrate
the highlights of visiting Cooperstown. After reading this summary,
we recommend visiting our travel
library to read about all the details of all that is mentioned
below and the Cooperstown photo gallery,
which is what we like to call "the next best thing to being
there."
 The
unspoiled, pure, pristine land with  10-mile Otsego Lake, gentle
rolling hills, tree-lined streets and the toy-like-village look
of Main Street result in Cooperstown, New York, being one of
the most appealing places to visit in the Northeast United States.
It's almost as if everywhere you look creates lifetime memories!
 How
rare it is to be in the rural countryside  and have such a high level
of culture. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the
Fenimore Art Museum, the Farmer's Museum, Glimmerglass Opera,
Hyde Hall (a stunning mansion) and the Cooperstown Art Association
are just the tip of the iceberg on the cultural opportunities
in a Village with a population of just over 2,000. It's simply
remarkable how efforts have been made to create a cultural quaity
of life that surpass many of the highly populated towns and cities
that we live in.
 In
a day where many vacation  destinations
are far too overdeveloped and hectic, Cooperstown remains one
of the best places to relax and unwind from the daily stresses
of modern life. The beautiful views of Otsego Lake, the fresh
air and gentle people who live here create a place that seems
to be missing from our very own communities. A few days in Cooperstown
and you have no choice but to relax.
 Boating,
baseball, biking, hiking,  swimming,
fishing, tennis snow tubing, ice skating, cross country skiing,
golf, miniature golf, batting ranges and more await you when
visiting Cooperstown. Kid's City at the Cooperstown Elementary
School provides a wonderful playground for the kids, while the
Clark's Sports Center offers indoor swimming, a fitness center,
running track, basketball court, bowling and more.
 While
many perceive Cooperstown to  be
full of baseball shops and nothing else, the truth is there is
something for every family member. Boutiques, arts and crafts,
toys, women's clothing, books, quilts, jewelry, home furnishings
and a seasonal Farmer's Market are just a few of the retail opportunities
to be found in Cooperstown. There's even a place to get a massage!
 Cooperstown
is a tourist destination,  but
never in an obnoxious way. Attractions are well integrated into
the town's look, feel and vision. The National Baseball Hall
of Fame and Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, Farmer's Museum, Glimmerglass
Opera, Cooperstown Art Association, Sam Smith's Boatyard, Glimmerglass
State Park, Cooperstown Funland, the Fly Creek Cider Mill, Doubleday
Batting Ranges, Abner Doubleday Field (three baseball games a
day, free admission, during the baseball season) and Cooperstown
Dreams Park are just a few of the opportunities that require
an extended stay in this special area.
From the inexpensive Cooperstown Diner and Doubleday Cafe to
the more  upscale
but unpretentious Hawkeye Bar and Grille, Blue Mingo Grill and
Hoffman Lane Bistro, there is something on the menu for everyone
in the Village of Cooperstown and surrounding areas. DiMaggio's
and T.J.'s Grille are fun, family places, great for a burger
or special dessert. In nearby Cherry Valley is the Rose "n
Kettle, one of the best restaurants anywhere -- they tap
into local farming resources, whenever possible, for the freshest
meats and produce.
 From
the basic, clean motel or cottage to  the
charming bed and breakfast, hotel and inn, Cooperstown has the
perfect lodging destination for all tastes. Some are by the lake
and offer swimming, boating and other recreational opportunities
while others stand tall and proud in the form of a Victorian
and Colonial in the heart of the Village.
 While
summer is synonymous with a Cooperstown visit, the other seasons
 provide wonderful
travel opportunities. The fall sports some of the best (and most
underrated) fall foliage in the northeast. Winter is active with
the February Winter Carnival (Feb. 10 and 11, 2007) and the Cooperstown
Chamber of Commerce Snowfest 2007 (Feb. 17/18) with snow sculpture
competitions, horse drawn rides sledding, cross country skiing
and more. Spring is a beautiful time when all the plant life
blossoms, the warm feel of the air marries the warm feeling in
the Village and maple sugar is to savor.
 No
matter what time of  year,
Cooperstown, NY, beams with community pride, as evidenced by
one of the cleanest and visually attractive Main Streets in the
northeast United States. Fine tree-lined neighborhoods with beautiful
Victorian homes, the shores of Otsego Lake and landmarks like
the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the Fenimore Art
Museum, the Farmer's Museum and Otesega Resort make the Village
of Cooperstown a sure-fire way to enjoy a great vacation at any
age.
Cooperstown's old-fashioned charm,
family values, high fun quotient, and a commitment to locally-owned
businesses make the community a model place to raise a family,
start a business, or vacation in grand style. Cooperstown is
simply a wonderful place to be.
Here's a sample of "best
picks" in Cooperstown, New York. Please check back in often,
as we will be adding new "best of" choices to this
list!
 Best
place to have a picnic Lakefront
Park, foot of Lower Pioneer Street
With a million dollar view of
Otsego Lake and a sprawling, multi-level stretch of green grass,
this is the ultimate picnic place. Bring a blanket, some great
food from Danny's Main St. Market and
enjoy the scenery!
Best
place to grab a burger
Cooley's Stonehouse
Tavern, Cooperstown, NY. Tel. (607)544-1311
Cooley's Stonehouse Tavern used to be a dive when it was the slightly
dangerous looking Bold Dragoon. Now renovated, family-friendly
and with a nice bar menu, this cozy restaurant/bar on a Cooperstown
side street offers mouthwatering burgers that rank as the best
in Cooperstown. The prices are slightly better than many restaurants
on Main Street that serve similar food, always a plus for the
budget-minded Cooperstown visitor.
Best
place for coffee
Stagecoach
Deli, 31 Pioneer St., Cooperstown, NY. Tel. 607-547-6629
This small coffeehouse is a local
favorite for visitors, local working professionals and artists
who enjoy the great coffee aromas, great wraps and paninis, and,
in the warmer weather, a nice little outdoor dining patio. Inside,
the hardwood floors and coffeehouse look create a comfortable
feel. The Stagecoach also offers what some feel is the best ice
cream in Cooperstown.
Best
place for ice cream
Carmen Esposito's
Italian Ices, 69 Main St., Cooperstown, NY. Tel. (607) 547-9366
Carmen Esposito's Italian
Ices serves addictive
flavored ices, homemade ice cream and gelati -- root beer (when
they have it) with vanilla gelati is the recommended choice.
Be prepared for crowds and making a second trip back in the same
day -- it's that good!
Best
place to find anything
The Cooperstown
General Store, 42-51 Main St., Cooperstown, NY. Tel. (607) 547-6196
From malted milk balls to home
furniture and furnishings, the Cooperstown General Store
has something for everyone. We recently bought socks, toys, a
high end thank-you gift, and a small souvenir Cooperstown baseball
bat from this friendly, extremely large, old-fashioned store
that used to be McCrory's, but is now even better.
Nicest view of
Otsego Lake:
The veranda at the Otesaga Resort
Hotel, Lake
Rd., Cooperstown, NY. Tel. (800)348-6222
The veranda at the Otesaga Resort Hotel affords
some spectacular views of Otsego Lake, one of the most beautiful
bodies of water in the state. Framed by gentle rolling hills
and sleeping lion mountain in the distance, the lake gets a great
look this special location in the back of a large, old world
hotel that looks like a high society place out of a 1930s movie
where people come to dance, dine and dress up. All that may be
true, but parts of the hotel, like the veranda, are open to the
public (unless otherwise noted or posted) and there's a friendly,
welcoming aura to all types who come to marvel at the lake while
watching a live band concert or as a treat after eating downstairs
at the wonderful Hawkeye Bar and Grille.
Best
bed and breakfast owners
John and Linda
Smirk, Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast, 88 Chestnut St., Cooperstown,
NY, Tel. (607) 547-2532
Penny Gentile,
Nelson Avenue Pines, 20 Nelson Ave., Cooperstown, N.Y. Tel. (607
547-7118
John and Linda Smirk, of the Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast,
always go the extra mile to provide comfort and cleanliness for
the Cooperstown visitor. They are both down-to-earth, real people
that will make you feel good about staying at their bed and breakfast.
The Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast is indeed a special place,
a 1902 Victorian with beautiful furnishings, a fire placed living
room, upstairs and downstairs porches and rooms with private
baths, air conditioning and ceiling fans. The breakfast buffet
offers delicious food and the smell of baked goods being made
is pure heaven. Penny Gentile, owner of the Nelson
Avenue Pines, is a special person who takes great pride in
welcoming guests to stay at her beautiful 1870s Victorian located
on Nelson Ave., one of the greatest displays of proud, old homes
we've seen in this part of the country. Across, the street from
Otsego Lake and the Leatherstocking Golf Course, the Nelson Avenue
Pines has bright, well-kept French-style rooms, air conditioning,
color cable television and private baths. All this would mean
nothing if the owner wasn't pleasant. Penny is gracious and a
genuinely warm person that makes staying at the Nelson Avenue
Pines a delight.
Best
real estate agent
Dottie Gebbia,
Lamb Realty, 20 Chestnut St., Cooperstown, NY. Tel. (607) 547-8145
Cooperstown has many fine real
estate agents, but Dottie Gebbia, of Lamb Realty, is our
favorite. A native to the area, Dottie is knowledgeable, punctual,
follows up on questions if she doesn't have the answer, and comes
across as a real person as opposed to a sales weasel. She always
works for you, instead of for her own agenda. Dottie's a great
person and a joy to work with.
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