When people hear Cooperstown, New York, they often think of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but Cooperstown also offers museums and many outdoor activities.

Baseball fans from the world over make their pilgrimage to Cooperstown to visit the historic baseball museum and Doubleday Field, the birthplace of baseball.  Doubleday Field hosts an average of 325 games per playing season. It is home to the annual Hall of Fame Classic and seats approximately 9,000.

Cooperstown is named for James Fenimore Cooper,  author of the Leatherstocking Tales. The community's rich heritage is preserved in local architecture with several museums that offer hands-on historical, educational experiences. 

A highlight of a trip to Cooperstown is  The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The museum's mission is "to preserve the sport's history, honor excellence within the game and make a connection between the generations of people who enjoy baseball." The museum's wax exhibit will leave a lasting impression on fans of all ages.  

The critically-acclaimed Fenimore Art Museum's mission is "dedicated to welcoming and connecting people to our shared cultural heritage through exhibitions and programs that provoke, delight, and inspire." This year, the museum will feature several exhibitions dedicated to 20th century American art, along with two major showcases of classic Americana.  The 2011 exhibition season marks the first appearance of artists such as Jackson Pollock and Edward Hopper.

There are many state parks within short driving distance of Cooperstown that offer winter sports  such as tubing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and winter hiking. Glimmerglass State Park in Cooperstown has many well marked trails that offer spectacular views of Otsego Lake. The loop trail to Mount Wellington is 2.5 miles long and is excellent for snowshoeing. The trail winds its way through stands of hardwoods, hemlocks, and majestic white pines.

After a day of outdoor activities, what could be better than barbeque?  Brook's House of Barbecue, located in Oneonta, is famous for their mouth-watering barbecue ribs, chicken and pulled pork. Brook's is always busy, and there is good reason. Excellent, reasonably priced food and friendly, efficient service best describes this restaurant. First time visitors to Brook's House of Barbecue will be impressed with their large, open indoor barbecue pits. Customers can see the barbecue chefs in action as they wait to be seated.

As  spring approaches, adventurous visitors to Cooperstown will enjoy a day trip to the Susquehanna Flight Park. Hang gliding is flight in its purest form and  has evolved since its rebirth in the early 1970s. For those who want to soar silently with the birds, hang gliding is readily available. Dan Guido is a master pilot and a certified instructor who had me flying on my first day- a truly unforgettable experience.

Cooperstown is a very popular destination, and there are many accommodations to choose from. A comprehensive list of accommodations in the Cooperstown area can be found by clicking here.

Otsego County is located in the south-central part of the New York State. Cooperstown is centrally located in Otsego County, 70 miles west of Albany and 30 miles south of the NYS Thruway (1-90). Take the New York State Thruway (Rt. 87) to Exit 21 at Catskill, use Rts. 145, 20 and 80.

GPS Coordinates: 42.699946 -74.921799