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Exploring Cooperstown, New York

My husband has talked about wanting to take our son to Cooperstown, New York for years. For those who are not informed on all things baseball, his desire to visit was not just because Cooperstown is located in beautiful upstate New York and has tons of outdoor activities to offer during the summer. Cooperstown, New York is also the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and it has become the destination for baseball aficionados everywhere.

My boys finally got their wish, and we stopped in Cooperstown on our way to Maine last month.

paul and david in hall of fame

In addition to the popular Museum, the entire town is taken up with shops and restaurants dedicated to baseball. It is about as close as baseball fans can get to heaven here on earth.

cooperstown

david shopping cooperstown

The museum itself is three floors of exhibits and memorabilia, and my husband and son spent a few hours combing the place from top to bottom. I didn’t feel like spending a half a day at the museum, so I came a little later with the girls (our hotel was within walking distance.) I particularly enjoyed the historical exhibits. There is an extensive one for Hank Aaron and another one for Babe Ruth, and I could have stood in those and read every piece, but evidently a lot of people felt the same way, as those exhibits were quite crowded the day we were there.

Each team also has a display with memorabilia, baseball jerseys, famous bats and balls, and other fun artifacts. Of course we made a beeline for the Phillies.

phillies in cooperstown

There were some more modern, interactive exhibits like this one too.

david at hall of fame

My husband’s favorite room was the Plaque Gallery, where each hall of famer has his induction plaque. He and D spent a while in there, searching for their favorite players.

paul-with-ritchie-ashburn-plaque

Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame is definitely worth a visit if you have a baseball lover in your family. But don’t worry, it’s not all baseball all the time.

Lest you think there’s nothing to do in Cooperstown but pay homage to America’s favorite sport, there is also the Fenimore Art Museum and the Farmers’ Museum. The Glimmerglass Opera Festival sounds amazing, even if you think you don’t like opera. Or you can go boating or fishing on the gorgeous Otsego Lake. Many rental homes and hotels in Cooperstown overlook this picturesque 9-mile lake.

lake morning

You can also tour the Brewery Ommegang or explore the historic Hyde Hall. And don’t miss the Stagecoach Coffee Shop. The area has much to offer families traveling with kids of all ages, and did I mention? It is stunningly beautiful. I highly recommend splurging on a stay at the Otesaga Resort Hotel if you decide to visit the area. You can read my full review here.

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4 Responses

  1. Cooperstown looks beautiful! I love towns like that where it is easy to lose yourself in little shops and town history. What a fun looking day!

  2. Ugh…so jealous, this is definitely on our Bucket List. What a great experience for your husband and son to have together 🙂

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