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Family Travel
Beyond Cooperstown
Howe
Caverns in Cobleskill, NY, features an 80-minute tour of a living,
limestone cave, carved by an underground
river over the course of millions of years, located 156-feet below the
earth's surface!
Cooperstown
is truly a great American travel destination, but did you know that
many of the surrounding towns offer endless scenic beauty and many
family-oriented attractions? Read
all about visiting "Otsego County and just beyond!"
Cooperstown
family travel and classic baseball videos can be viewed
on
every page of this site (after each article, excluding the homepage)!
COOPERSTOWN VACATION
GETAWAYS FOR
PARENTS Mom
and Dad work awfully hard
and deserve a vacation every once in a while. What better
place
for a special getaway than Cooperstown?
Peace,
quiet and solitude can be found all around Cooperstown. Pictured above
is Lakefront Park, a beautiful place to reconnect and reflect
(Cooperstown For Kids File Photo)
Cooperstown, NY, certainly caters to
kids with its fun attractions, but this quaint, little
village also
has a place in the heart of parents looking for their own, special
travel getaway. Romantic inns, wineries and breweries and a
unique combination of rural beauty and world-class museums help make
Cooperstown a one-of-a-kind adult vacation.
You
know you're in Cooperstown when you pass the Inn
at Cooperstown (16 Chestnut St ,
Cooperstown, 607-547-5756), a
stunning 1874 country inn on Route 80 just before the village's only
traffic light downtown. The Inn at Cooperstown's stunning external and
internal ambiance serves as a microcosm of Cooperstown's
beautifully-kept big, old homes
with a classic central hall entrance and a charming formal dining room,
sitting room, cozy guest rooms and an amazing veranda with rocking
chairs -- perfect for reading the paper or just watching the
old-fashioned pulse of Cooperstown. Although the Inn at Cooperstown is
centrally located, the first step onto the wonderful veranda will
instantly wash away the stresses of modern life. It's like having the
best of both worlds: your own oasis, yet just a minute's stroll to the
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, shopping and dining. A
perfect parents getaway can't get much better than a stay at the Inn at
Cooperstown!
We have never stayed at the Otesaga
Resort Hotel (60 Lake St Cooperstown, Tel. 607-547-9931), but
when our budget permits we'll be there in a heartbeat!
They just don't make hotels like the Otesaga anymore -- so proud, solid
in character and architecture, and full of dignity that is yet
accessible to all walks of life.
It seems fitting that the
Otesaga is a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America. With
a look that turns more heads than an L.A. fashion show, the Otesaga is
a stunning piece of Federal hotel architecture -- in operation since
1909 -- with its larger than life pillars, an elegant old-world
interior with 135 renovated rooms and suites, and a charming, expansive
veranda perfect for viewing beautiful Otsego Lake, having dinner and
drinks, and watching and/or dancing to live entertainment.
Additionally, a grand main dining room, the more casual Hawkeye Grill,
and a wonderful outdoor summertime buffet provide perfect and diverse
settings for the wonderful selections of steak, seafood and chicken
dishes, along with an extensive wine list and fabulous desserts.
The
Otesaga also offers the challenging and scenic Leatherstocking Golf
Course, tennis, a pool, lake swimming, canoing, a top-notch fitness
facility and meeting rooms. It is an all inclusive resort before that
term became cool and trendy. There is nothing cool and trendy, however,
about the Otesaga. It is pure, old-time Americana, yet with all the
modern amenities that anyone could ever ask for.
We've heard
wonderful things about the accommodations and know first-hand that the
ambiance just from dining there, walking through the stately lobby and
hallways, and relaxing on the veranda creates lifetime memories. We
look forward to staying a few nights to capture the true essence of an
Otesaga experience, one that so many people throughout the years have
enjoyed as an integral part of their visit to Cooperstown.
Keeping
a more hidden, quiet profile but just as special is the Barnwell
Inn (48 Susquehanna Ave., Cooperstown, Tel. 607-547-1850).
Tara and Mark Barnwell invite you into their elegant yet
informal
and friendly 1850 Victorian home with furnishings and antiques that
match the era. With freshly brewed coffee in the morning, sherry in the
afternoon, an apple tree to sit under and some very charming first and
second-floor rooms,
the Barnwell Inn is a hidden gem, also just a minute's walk to the
heart of Cooperstown Village. What's more, the breakfast in
the
beautiful, old-world dining room is memorable with fresh fruit,
quiches, meats, breads and juices that help start your special day off
on the right foot. Tara and Mark are really great people, the ultimate
bed and breakfast hosts who will remind you of your favorite relatives.
Along with the aforementioned Hawkeye
Grill, we recommend Cafe Nicoletta (96 Main St.,
Cooperstown,
Tel. 607-547-7499) as a top-notch dining choice in Cooperstown.
If you're looking for a great Italian meal that's every bit as good as
the much-heralded urban Italian restaurants we always read about in the
"best of" newspaper dining sections, then Cafe Nicoletta will not
disappoint, Cafe Nicoletta is the type of place people dream of on a
special night out with its dim, romantic lighting to go with fresh
bread and pasta, wine, and a confidence that lets you know this is no
minor league Italian restaurant -- every meal is a home run, and that
goes for the atmosphere, too!
Hoffman
Lane Bistro (Hoffman Lane, Cooperstown, Tel. 607-547-7055) is
an casually upscale restaurant tucked away on, surprise,
Hoffman Lane, a pleasant, narrow Village side street leading to Otsego
Lake. Hoffman Lane Bistro sports attractive, multi-level dining, and a
great fireplace in the bar area. The food is top-notch, especially the
creative versions of meatloaf, pasta, and salmon. The atmosphere is
laid-back and the service always thoughtful, enthusiastic and
professional. There's always a culinary twist at Hoffman's; they never
disappoint.
The
Blue Mingo Grill (6098 State
Highway 80
Cooperstown, Tel. 607-547-7496) creates such fine cuisine that it
competes with the
unbelievably beautiful setting on Otsego Lake. The scenic boatyard, and
the fresh mountain air would be worth the price of admission even if
the Blue Mingo served average. On our memorable night of
dining at
the Blue Mingo, we sampled a healthy green salad (translated: no
iceberg), bourbon berry baby back ribs and a herb flavored sea bass
that ranked somewhere in our top five best meals, including some pretty
well known choices in Boston, Mass., and Quebec City, Quebec.The menu
changes frequently and is brought to you on a chalkboard by the wait
staff. Regarding the wait staff, we found them to be almost always
courteous, right there when needed, and very friendly.
The Blue
Mingo is located in a boatyard a few miles from the Cooperstown.You
have to enter through a gift and clothing shop before finding the
soothing environment of the Blue Mingo. From that point on, the night
is there to remember long after you've left this incredible lakeside
restaurant.
The
chef-owned Rose & Kettle (4 Lancaster
St.
Cherry Valley, Tel. 607-264-3078) in the quaint, cozy Village of Cherry
Valley, NY (20 minutes from Cooperstown), taps into local, seasonal,
and small-farm ingredients, whenever possible, in and around farm-rich
Leatherstocking Country to create one of the best dining experiences
we've experienced, anywhere. The
Rose & Kettle's 200-year-old house setting creates a relaxing,
charming ambiance, perfect for a romantic night out. Upscale, but never
stuffy, the Rose & Kettle offers myriad culinary gems,
especially
the orichiette pasta with caramelized garlic and shallots, chicken, and
almond cream as well as the sky land farm lamb shank, "braised and
toasted," with lemon herb risotto and creamy reduction. Wonderfully
fresh salads, delicious desserts, some unusual wine selections and
stellar service add to the overall great experience, helping make the
Rose & Kettle a truly special restaurant, sure to please even
the
most finicky urban sophisticate. For the rest of us, the Rose &
Kettle is an instant dining memory, pleasing the palate with the
freshest selections in the Cooperstown region, and far beyond.
For
purveyors of fine adult beverages, Cooperstown has many wineries and
breweries.
Belgian-style
ales are the specialty here at Brewery Ommegang (656 County
Highway 33, Tel. 800-544 1809) -- come tour the
facility set within the
beautiful Cooperstown area countryside. Bear Pond Wines, (Route 28,
Oneonta,Tel.800- 544 1809), about 20
minutes from the Village of Cooperstown in Oneonta, NY, offers many
fine
white, red, and sparkling wines and uses New York
State
grapes grown on their property and at other local vineyards.
The arts are alive and well in the
gentle rolling hills of Cooperstown! The Glimmerglass
Opera (7300 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, Tel.
607-547-0700), a
world-class company, attracts 32,000 patrons each season to its
beautiful Alice Busch Opera Theater on Otsego Lake.
The
Cooperstown Art Association (CAA) exhibits approximately 18 shows a
year, featuring a cross section of styles and abilities an bringing in
a multitude of artists and patrons. The CAA also offer classes,
demonstrations and lectures throughout the year along with our ongoing
figure drawing class. Our top museum choice is the Fenimore
Art Museum,
housing one of the country's premier folk art collections, as well as
the American Indian Wing with a dazzling collection and
galleries
"any museum in th world would envy." (The New York Times)
On
the music side, the Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival
offers many
year-round concerts performed by dedicated, talented area musicians at
various local locations. The musicianship is top-notch and the
musicians really love what they are doing. What nicer place to play
than Cooperstown?
If
you love antique shopping, prepare yourself for a treat at Brooklyn
Bridge Antiques (State Highway 28, Milford, NY 13807. Tel. (607)
286-9288). With 6,000 square feet of quality
antiques at
fair prices, Brooklyn Bridge Antiques is an antique-lovers
dream-come-true! I was simply amazed at the seemingly neverending
selection of antiques. With a vast and everchanging array of
"house-ready" Empire to Victorian era room settings and appropriate
period accessories, we heartily recommend visiting Brooklyn
Bridge Antiques.
Owner John Anagnost is a very nice fellow and is really proud of his
store -- this is the type of "local" business to patronize. John and
his wife Rita also have a beautiful bed and breakfast across the street
-- an 1850s, newly-restored Italianette called the Brooklyn
Bridge Bed and Breakfast. Quiet and graceful, this looks like
a great lodging getaway for parents!
Check
out the architecture at Hyde Hall (Mill Road,
Cooperstown, Tel. 607-547-5098),
if you have a chance! 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."
If
you're one of those couples that plays golf, Cooperstown is well above
par in your quest to play under par. Golf enthusasists will enjoy theOtsego
Golf Club (Springfield Center, Tel. 607-547-9290) in nearby
Springfield, NY, and the aforementioned landmarkLeatherstocking
Golf Courseat
the Otesaga Resort Hotel. The Leatherstocking
afford some
of the nicest views of Otsego Lake you'll ever see and the greens
always seem to in perfect condition. The locals just rave
about
the overall golf experience here!
Last
but not least, by all means visit Lakefront Park at Lower Pioneer St.
in the Village of Cooperstown. Sitting on a bench at Lakefront Park in
Cooperstown does more for the soul than any wellness doctor could ever
offer. The distant hills framing the sparkling, one-of-a-kind Otsego
Lake water create a stadium of nature's greatest hits. Boats bob up and
down at Lakefront Park, as if they were nodding approval at their
owner's choice of location. Soon you are relaxed as the antidote to
your daily life of endless traffic, subscribing to the rat race, and
other stressed out urban and suburban lifestyles are relegated to the
bench.
What
was planned as a five-minute stay soon becomes an hour, with thoughts
of making a visit to Lakefront Park part of one's daily regiment. The
reason is simple: you've found a new "quality of life" benchmark at
this special place only a few minute's walk from Main Street. Nature's
wonders indeed provide a true portfolio of peacefulness at this idyllic
location in Cooperstown, in the heart of beautiful Leatherstocking
Country!
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COOPERSTOWN ONLINE MOVIE THEATER Featuring
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All videos are rated G for the whole family to enjoy!
This page features a tour of the Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY: