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Otsego Lake reflects a high
quality of life for residents and a peaceful oasis for visitors
| Otsego
Lake from a Lakefront Park perspective (photo by Eric J. Hurwitz) |
Article by Eric
J. Hurwitz
Otsego Lake may be 10 miles long,
but the sparkling body of water creates millions of pleasant
memories.
Easily one of the prettiest lakes
in New York state, Otsego Lake offers myriad swimming, fishing,
boating and other recreational opportunities. Many, however,
know that just sitting on a bench and marveling at the clean,
placid waters will do just fine.
For those who live in Cooperstown,
the lake would be enough to make Cooperstown a great place to
live. Add beautiful homes and neighborhoods, refreshing mountain
air, and one of the most appealing Main Streets in America and
the combination is hard to beat. For those coming to Cooperstown,
this splendid mix is enough to consider "making the move"
to a kinder, gentler land.
A great introduction to Otsego
Lake starts at the end of Lake St., near Lakefront Park. Take
the steep stairs to the Clinton Dam, a wonderfully serene area
where the beginning of the Susquehanna River meets Otsego Lake.
With a small park area -- perfect for sunning, and an an incredibly
peaceful aura, the Clinton Dam, while not a well-known spot to
tourists, is highly recommended as a great example of Cooperstown
beauty.The absolutely tranquil Lakefront Park, with a multi-level
stretch of park land and stunning views of Otsego Lake, is just
a short walk from the Clinton Dam (going from Lake Street to
either Lower Fair St. or Lower Pioneer St.). The walk down to
Lakefront Park is a treasure with beautiful gardens in front
of splendid lakeside homes At Lakefront Park, you can sit on
a bench and see that Otsego Lake is more than just a body of
water. It represents a way of life for Cooperstown residents
who appreciate the beauty of their town. A great way to appreciate
this grand lake is taking an hour tour on the The Glimmerglass
Queen Tour Boat , which departs from Lakefront Park, en route
to a wonderfully relaxing tour of Otsego Lake and views of all
the great rolling hills and greener-than-green lands.
Glimmerglass State Park, 10 minutes
out of Cooperstown Village and at the other end of Lake Otsego,
is a model of how state parks should be run. Clean, well-maintained
and ultimately beautiful, Glimmerglass State Park has a fine
swimming beach in the summer, great cross country skiing and
vast open land to roam any time of the year. The fresh air is
enough to make one want to move instantly to this region. Next
to Glimmerglass State Park is the beautiful Hyde Hall. Hyde Hall
promotional literature accurately says it all: "Hyde Hall
is a stunning reminder of a bygone American era when families
of English aristocracy established vast estates in the former
colonies. The house itself may well be the finest example of
neoclassic country mansions anywhere in America. Roger Kennedy
of the Smithsonian writes that Hyde Hall is "a great house,
architecturally, and a social document of the first importance."
The late former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan called Hyde Hall
"one of the most remarkable buildings in America."
Otsego Lake, on its own, makes
for a great Cooperstown vacation. Every inch of the lake is ripe
for fond memories, but that is no surprise --Otsego Lake is just
"reflective" of what makes Cooperstown such a wonderful
destination.
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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