Going to Cooperstown

[Centerfield]

Taking the kids this weekend to the Hall of Fame for Ryan's birthday.

So far the plan is to drive up Friday. Visit the HOF Saturday. Golf with my parents Sunday and then drive home.


Any recommendations or advice? I know just about nothing. Any food recs, useful tips, etc would be appreciated!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Bring an extra cooler and bring home some Brooks' Chicken for dinner so you
don't have to cook or go out after a long drive. Don't forget the cole slaw.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The Ommegang Brewery is about a 15-20 minute drive from downtown and is a really nice facility with a really gorgeous pub room + restaurant if you're into that sorta thing.

[HahnSolo]

I assume you have rooms booked already? I'd make sure that your hotel has a shuttle or there is a shuttle close because on summer weekends, parking is difficult near the HOF.

Save some time to walk on that main street. Lots of fun souvenir/memorabilia places.

Doubleday Field is fun to go to even if nothing is going on there at the time.

[Guest themetfairy]

There's not much to see in Cooperstown other than the HOF, but the shopping on that street is amazing. Buy the kid an extra birthday present or two while you're there.

And whatever you do, do not stay in the Baseball Town Motel.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I assume if you're going with granny you probably won't want to but last time we visited we camped at Glimmerglass State Park and had a great time.

More useless info: Area supermarkets are really underwhelming

[ashie62]

Spend the $500 a night at the Otsega Hotel. Golf course along the lake and the best breakfast you may ever find.

[Edgy MD]

See if you can catch the Binghamton Mets on the way into or out of town. They've got the Rosario fellow and this Smith dude you might enjoy. You can visit some Twilight Zone locales, and hey, you'll be in the Valley of Opportunity

[A Boy Named Seo]

themetfairy wrote: There's not much to see in Cooperstown other than the HOF, but the shopping on that street is amazing. Buy the kid an extra birthday present or two while you're there. And whatever you do, do not stay in the Baseball Town Motel.

That was the last dump in town the weekend I went through and stayed. I remember it being like a dirty kids room with schlockey baseball stuff everywhere. Beautiful, quiet town to just walk around in.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

We stayed once in a hotel that was about a block away and on the water. It was on both sides of the road (which dead ends right there at the water.) One part was actually shaped like a boat. it was old and kitchzy -- but really kind of cool. And, best of all, a short walk from the Hall and downtown. No idea if it is still there, but we have fond memories. We went in October 1992 with the fall colors -- and Cooperstown was stunning.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Farmer's Museum (exhibits on NYS farming methods and history, AND recreated period village) and Fenimore Museum (well-curated, rotating collection of American folk art and fine art... in James Fenimore Cooper's ex-home) are across the street from each other, and are well worth a look-see. You can watch turkeys lay eggs!

Seconded on Ommegang. We also liked Alex and Ika (I think it might be called Alex's Bistro now), down an alley down the street from the HOF.

[Lefty Specialist]

A third on Ommegang. Check out Doubleday Field which is right behind Main Street. And it's fun to be in a town where the whole thing is just baseball shop after baseball shop.

We were just there for HOF weekend which is a zoo, of course. But we also went in November about ten years ago when everything was pretty quiet and it's a charming little place.

We stayed in the Otesaga Hotel when we went then, and it was lovely but reallllly pricey.

[Edgy MD]

Poor Ika!

[seawolf17]

There's another microbrewery -- something Hill? -- just south of town. Good restaurant attached too.

The Holiday Inn Express just south of town is brand new, nice, and reasonably priced.

[Ceetar]

seawolf17 wrote: There's another microbrewery -- something Hill? -- just south of town. Good restaurant attached too. The Holiday Inn Express just south of town is brand new, nice, and reasonably priced.

there's a 'Cooperstown brewing company'

Google Maps shows a Dobler's Brewery and Tavern that I've never heard of. A Council Rock brewery just north.

And Butternuts Beer and Ale is off to the west.

Roots Brewing back down by 88.

[Centerfield]

Really appreciate the feedback guys. Will definitely try to hit the Ommegang if I can convince my folks to go.

We are staying at the Holiday Inn Express!

Seawolf-CF SimScore rockets again!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think we went to Council Rock. Just a sandwich shack with screen windows and a gravel parking lot, nothing special presentation wise, especially after also visiting Ommegang

[seawolf17]

Council Rock is it. No, it's nothing to look at, but the beer was good and I really enjoyed the reuben.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: Poor Ika!

Whatever happened... it ain't good.

[Centerfield]

Just ate at Ommegang. Thanks for the rec guys!

And by "ate" I mean "drank".

[Centerfield]

Thanks for all the recommendations guys.

Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express* It's about 10 minutes from downtown. New and clean, very nice staff. Free breakfast!
Friday night we went to Ommegang Brewery**. Drank the Rare Vos and the Nirvana (IPA). My dad liked the Rare Vos. Saturday we spent the whole day at the HoF and Museum (did not realize these are technically two different entities), then hit the batting cages downtown. Afterwards we walked over to Doubleday Field.*** It was pretty cool. A bunch of Expos fans were playing a group of Baltimore fans. So funny. They hate the Nats. While they warmed up they let Ryan and I play catch on the field.

Dinner was at Bocca Osteria. Italian place. I think this is the best food we had in town. Full bar.

On Sunday, I took my parents golfing at Otesaga Hotel**** Super-pricey but it was a beautiful course. Be prepared to lose lots of balls on hole 18. Lunch was at Mel's at 22. Good sandwich place. Tater tots.

Didn't get a chance to visit Council Rock, and wished we had time to check out Glimmerglass lake. The activities look fun. I think we'll go back in a few years when the kids are older and can appreciate some of the older exhibits at the Museum.






*recommended by seawolf.
**recommended by JCL, then seconded by LWFS and Lefty Specialist
***recommended by Lefty Specialist
****recommended by Ashie62

[Centerfield]

Also, we walked by the Baseball Town Motel and shuddered.

[Guest themetfairy]

Centerfield wrote: Also, we walked by the Baseball Town Motel and shuddered.

It's definitely shudder worthy!

[Benjamin Grimm]

It doesn't look so bad from a distance... This is the only image I was able to find, using Google Maps.

What exactly about it would make one shudder?

[Guest themetfairy]

Keep in mind that we were there before we had kids, so somewhere in the 1987-88 area. We booked a room, but didn't stay the night. It was tiny and uncomfortable - just not up to snuff at all.