Visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame
in Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown Overview
Cooperstown, New York is located on the southern banks of Otsego Lake in upstate New York, approximately an hour and a half west of Albany. Cooperstown is a manageable drive from most major cities in the northeastern United States, as can be seen from the following table:
Driving Distance/Time to Cooperstown, New York
| City | Approx. Mileage | Approx. Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Albany, NY | 76 miles | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Boston, MA | 240 miles | 4 hours |
| Burlington, VT | 215 miles | 4 hours 25 minutes |
| New York, NY | 225 miles | 4 hours |
| Newark, NJ | 230 miles | 3 hours 55 minutes |
| Philadelphia, PA | 265 miles | 4 hours 25 minutes |
| Providence, RI | 240 miles | 4 hours |
For those not inclined to drive three plus hours, or who live farther away, the best way to get to Cooperstown is to fly to Albany and make the hour and a half drive west to Cooperstown. There is no train service to Cooperstown, but there is bus service from many cities.
Planning Your Trip to Cooperstown and the National Baseball Hall of Fame
There are many excellent resources available to help individuals plan their trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. One of the best resources is the Baseball Hall of Fame web site itself, that has a Plan Your Visit section to their web site. Other excellent resources include:
- The Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce web site - this site includes information on what to see and do, where to eat, where to stay, and more.
- VisitingCooperstown.com - This site has similar information to the Chamber site, but occasionally has discount coupons to attractions.
Lodging in Cooperstown, New York
Lodging options in and around Cooperstown range from small country inns and bed and breakfasts, to chain motels, to an historic resort hotel.
Good Options for Families with Children
Families with children might want to stay at the Best Western Inn and Suites, Cooperstown (607-547-7100), the Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites - Cooperstown (607-547-8000), or the Howard Johnson Inn & Suites (607-286-7600). All are within minutes of main street in Cooperstown and feature a complimentary continental breakfast, indoor swimming pool and hot tub, fitness center, free Internet access and more. All are excellent options to make families with children comfortable.
Elegant Resort Hotel Experience
For individuals and families that are looking for the experience of an elegant and historic resort hotel, the Otesaga Resort Hotel (800-348-6222) is a "Grand Dame Resort" that has been in operation since 1909. It occupies 700 feet of "Glimmerglass" Lake Otsego lakefront. The Otesaga Resort Hotel features heated pool and lake swimming (in season), fishing, canoeing, skeet and trap shooting, a fitness center, tennis, the Leatherstocking Golf Course that was rated one of the top 100 U.S. golf resorts by Conde Nast Traveler, high speed Internet access, and much more.
Other Places to Stay in Cooperstown
Other places to stay in Cooperstown include:
- Aalsmeer Motel and Cottages - (607)547-8819
- August Lodge Cooperstown - (607)547-7457
- Baseball Town Motel - (607)547-2161
- Bay Side Inn and Marina - (866)547-2371
- Brookside Inn and Guest Suites - (888)547-1381
- The Cooper Inn - (800)348-6222
- Gateway Inn & Suites - (607)547-2569
- Hickory Grove Motor Inn - (607)547-9874
- The Inn at Cooperstown(607)286-7600
- Lake 'N Pines Motel - (607)547-2790
- Lake Front Motel & Restaurant - (607)547-9511
- Lake View Motel & Marina - (607)547-9740
- Landmark Inn - (607)547-7225
- Mohican Motel - (607)547-5101
- Red Carpet Inn & Suites Cooperstown - (607)544-1000
- Terrace Motor Inn- (607)547-9979
- The Tunnicliff Inn, Cooperstown - (607)547-9611
There are also many other lodging choices in the towns surrounding Cooperstown.
Places to Eat in Cooperstown, New York
There are numerous nice places to eat in Cooperstown ranging from nice family restaurants to excellent cuisine. In general, all restaurants in Cooperstown welcome casual attire. Following are some of the nicer dining options when staying in Cooperstown.
Restaurants for Families in Cooperstown
Restaurants for families means casual dining, good selections for children, and relatively inexpensive. Restaurants in this category would include:
- Cooperstown Diner (607-547-9201) on Main Street. The Cooperstown Diner is home to the "Jumbo" burger.
- The Doubleday Café (607-547-5468) on Main Street. The Doubleday offers burgers, sandwiches, and American cuisine.
- Pepper Mill (607-547-8550) on State Highway 28. Steakhouse and family restaurant providing good basic food.
- "The Pit" (607-547-9611) at the TUNNICLIFF INN off of Main Street on Pioneer Street. Features American continental cuisine.
- T.J.'s Place / The Home Plate (607-547-4040) on Main Street. Family dining with a broad selection.
Fine Dining in Cooperstown
Fine dining in Cooperstown does not necessarily mean do not bring the kids. Most of the following restaurants are "kid-friendly". All are also fairly casual. Some of the nicer dining choices for individuals visiting Cooperstown include:
- Alex and Ika (607-547-4070) which will be opening on Main Street in the Spring of 2007. It is moving to Cooperstown from Cherry Valley. It was ranked as one of Frommers "Top Ten Restaurants in New York State" in 2006.
- Hawkeye Bar & Grill (800-348-6222) at the Otesaga Resort Hotel on Lake Street. The Hawkeye Bar & Grill's menu ranges from burgers to pasta to fine Continental cuisine.
- Hoffman Lane Bistro (607-547-7055) on Hoffman Lane off of Main Street across from the Hall of Fame. The Hoffman Lane Bistro has a very creative menu as well as a "kids menu". They also offer live music.
- Nicoletta's Italian Cafe (607-547-7499) on Main Street. Offers excellent Italian food. Try the Veal Saltimboca Romano - you will not be sorry.
- Portabello's (607-547-5145) in nearby Fly Creek on State Highway 28. Very nice ambiance and excellent Mediterranean cuisine.
There are certainly many more dining choices in and around Cooperstown. The ones listed here are simply those with which the author has first hand experience.
Baseball, Baseball, and More Baseball
While there are many things to do in and around Cooperstown, baseball is the "big kahuna" attraction. There is no shortage of baseball attractions in Cooperstown and one can quite simply overdose on baseball.
Parking in downtown Cooperstown is limited, and many of the spaces are two-hour parking spots. Visitors should allow themselves extra time (approximately 30 minutes) to get a parking space in or near downtown and should consider public transportation during peak times (Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend).
The National Baseball Hall of Fame
The major baseball attraction in Cooperstown is, of course, The National Baseball Hall of Fame on Main Street. The Hall of Fame was dedicated on June 12, 1939. The first class of inductees - Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Honus Wagner, were elected three years before the Hall of Fame opened.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame consists of three floors that house some of baseball's greatest treasures, as well as the Plaque Gallery which contains the induction plaques of all members elected to the Hall. The Hall of Fame is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Baseball Wax Museum
The Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum is located on Main Street in Cooperstown. It is the world's only wax museum dedicated to baseball. It has three floors of exhibits and is open from April through October from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Doubleday Field
Doubleday Field is a minor league ballpark off of Main Street on Susquehanna Avenue. It is home to the Hall of Fame Game every year which pits two Major League Baseball teams against each other in the only exhibition game during the regular season (the results do not count in the standings). Baseball has been played on the field since 1920. The field has a seating capacity of 9,791 spectators. Many teams come from far and wide to play on the field which typically has games throughout the baseball season.
Doubleday Batting Range
The Doubleday Batting Range is located off of Main Street on Susquehanna Avenue next to Doubleday Field. It offers batting cages that throw different speeds and pitches including fastballs, knuckleballs, sliders, overhand curves or screwballs. There is also a slow pitch softball cage and pitching range with radar gun. Doubleday Batting Range is open daily from Hall of Fame weekend through Labor Day, and weekends (weather permitting) in April, May, September (after Labor Day) and October.
Baseball Memorabilia Shopping
For individuals looking for baseball memorabilia, there is not better place than Cooperstown. Almost every shop has some form of memorabilia, and many are dedicated to selling baseball cards; autographed cards, pictures, bats, and balls; and much more. This is a great place for the baseball enthusiast to pick up a very special piece of baseball history.
Baseball Events
The Hall of Fame Game Weekend
The Hall of Fame Game is the only in-season exhibition game that is held during the Major League Baseball season. It has been scheduled annually since 1940 and pits teams from across Major League Baseball at the 10,000-seat Doubleday Field. The Hall of Fame Game has been independent of Hall of Fame Induction Weekend since 2003. It is a weekend full of events including the game.
Hall of Fame Induction Weekend
The Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is a weekend of baseball events including the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony that happens every summer.
Other Things to Do that Do Not Involve Baseball
So at this point Mom and Sis have had it up to their eyebrows with baseball? Fret not, following are some things to do in and around Cooperstown that do not involve baseball:
- Bear Pond Wines - Bear Pond Wines (607-643-0294) is located on State Highway 28 in Oneonta about 15 minutes from Cooperstown. It is a small winery with nice wines that are available for tasting and a nice wine-oriented gift shop.
- Brewery Ommegang - Brewery Ommegang (800-544-1809) is located in Cooperstown on County Highway 33. It makes artisan Belgian-style ales. The brewery gives tours and tastings daily.
- Cooperstown Candlelight Ghost Tours - Cooperstown Candlelight Ghost Tours (607-547-8070) gives individuals an opportunity to experience Cooperstown's ghostly history by hearing about haunted houses and learning about ghostly sightings.
- Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival, Inc. - The Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival (877-666-7421) provides a series of concerts by world class artists from June through August every year.
- The Farmers' Museum - Located on Lake Street in Cooperstown, the Farmers Museum (607-547-1450) is a 19th century village with over two dozen authentic buildings from New York State bringing rural America to life.
- Fenimore Art Museum - Also located on Lake Street in Cooperstown, across from the Farmers Museum, the Fenimore Art Museum (607-547-1400) presents world class permanent and changing exhibitions of American folk art, American Indian art, American photography, and more.
- Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard - The Fly Creek Cider Mill (800-505-6455) and Orchard is located in nearby Fly Creek on Goose Street. It is an historic, water-powered cider mill on the banks of Fly Creek that has been in operation for 150 years.
- Glimmerglass Opera - The Glimmerglass Opera is located in Cooperstown. It produces new, little known, and familiar operas as well as works of music theater presented in the Alice Busch Opera Theater on State Highway 80
- The Glimmerglass Queen Tour Boat Company - The Glimmerglass Queen Tour Boat (607-547-9511) offers daily tours of Otsego Lake (in season).
- The Leatherstocking Golf Course - The Leatherstocking Golf Course (800-348-6222) is a 72 par golf course that was designed in 1909 by Devereux Emmet. It is considered to be one of the East's most scenic and challenging public resort golf courses. It is located on Lake Street and is owned and operated by the Otesaga Resort Hotel.
- Howe Caverns - Howe Caverns (518-296-8900) is located an hour east of Cooperstown in Howe Cave, New York. Howe Caverns are caverns that are over 150 feet below the surface. Tours are offered that include a boat ride on an underground lake.
- National Soccer Hall of Fame - For those who did not get enough sports in Cooperstown, the National Soccer Hall of Fame (607-432-3351) is located in nearby Oneonta, New York.
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