Cooperstown

[twinsfanstreif]

My family is taking a road trip next week to new york. We are driving from Rochester to NYC and I was thinking about stopping in Cooperstown to check out the hall of fame. As it's a little out of our way and kind of expensive I was wondering if anyone's been there and if it's worth the stop and $$$? Any tips or feedback would be appriciated. Thanks

[Eris]

I was there about 6 years ago.  From my perspective it was well worth the trip.  My son and I are planning on going back in 2-3 weeks before he goes to college.  Part of it depends on the rest of your family.  Would they enjoy spending 3-6 hours in a baseball museum?  There is a lot of baseball history there.   I really enjoyed the Negro Baseball exhibit.  I bought the 2 Twins WS collectors mugs from the gift shop.  I was amazed to discover that the scores of several of the games were incorrect.

 

I assume you meant driving from Rochester MN.  Have you seen Niagra Falls?  That would give you an additional reason to be in the area.  Taking a more northern route will add about 8 hours of driving to your trip.

[Thrylos]

Same question here...  Rochester, MN? or Rochester, NY?   If coming from the Pill Hill place, not that much of a detour.  Just take 90 instead of 80, do the Niagara Falls (that is really awesome,) catch a AAA Twins' game at the other Rochester and swing down 87 from Cooperstown to NYC.

 

Well worth it, and comparing to driving (and parking) in NYC, not that expensive.

 

Enjoy

[twinsfanstreif]

 

I was there about 6 years ago.  From my perspective it was well worth the trip.  My son and I are planning on going back in 2-3 weeks before he goes to college.  Part of it depends on the rest of your family.  Would they enjoy spending 3-6 hours in a baseball museum?  There is a lot of baseball history there.   I really enjoyed the Negro Baseball exhibit.  I bought the 2 Twins WS collectors mugs from the gift shop.  I was amazed to discover that the scores of several of the games were incorrect.

 

I assume you meant driving from Rochester MN.  Have you seen Niagra Falls?  That would give you an additional reason to be in the area.  Taking a more northern route will add about 8 hours of driving to your trip.

Actually I meant Rochester, NY, we will be coming from a family reunion there. I live in KC and I'm going to be driving to upstate NY from there. We are stopping at Niagara however my wife couldn't get her passport so we will be staying on the American side. We will only have a few hours if we go to Cooperstown, I hope that's not too little of time

[Eris]

For me, Cooperstown is a bucket list item.  Cooperstown is not out of the way from Rochester, NY.  I would go.  It is only a matter to scheduling 3-6 hours on your way to New York City.  So unless you have tickets to a Broadway show that requires you to be in New York City at a certain time, I would schedule time for Cooperstown.  (I should also note that I have not taken my spouse to Cooperstown as she does not enjoy the history of baseball.  She misrepresented her interest in baseball while we were dating).  

[ashbury]

I've been to Cooperstown twice this year, somewhat by chance. I have never been there in summer, though, and I'm told the crowds really do change the nature of this otherwise small town atmosphere. Parking near the HoF museum itself is nearly non-existent, so be prepared to park in one of the satellite lots at the edge of town and ride the shuttle in. (Unless you are staying at one of the hotels in town, but I think they don't let you stay parked past checkout time in their lots.)

 

Those in your party who deeply love baseball will be able to spend the entire day in the museum and not get bored. Depending on your interest, stop inside the HoF Library and chat with the staff there - you could pick up various tidbits if you have any bent toward research and history, however loosely construed.

 

Those who need a change of pace can wander down Main Street after an hour or two in the museum, though most of the shops are baseball themed so those folks may still feel a bit hemmed in. I like the used bookstore on Main Street, Willis Monie Books - they do have an excellent baseball section but there is plenty more in that store for other readers too. Once you wander a couple of blocks south from Main Street, it becomes more like the small town it really is, and maybe will be interesting just for that. There's a surprisingly big regional hospital in that direction, though I doubt it's much of a tourist highlight.

 

The Susquehanna River starts at the southern tip of Lake Otsego, just east of downtown, and I recall statues and other memorabilia regarding the Revolutionary War - a patriot general intentionally breached the dam that used to be there. The lake itself is a vacationer's destination in its own right, so one alternative would be for the baseball junkies to spend the day at the museum and the others drive north a few miles on the east side of the lake to Glimmerglass State Park . On the west side of the lake is the Glimmerglass Opera, which is supposedly good although opera's not my thing, if you're looking for an evening activity.

 

The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown is a grand old place harkening back to the Gilded Age and might be a worthwhile few minutes of looking around.

 

Miniature golf seems to be a very big thing in the area, in season, due no doubt to the number of families passing through.

 

My guess is that getting meals in the area will be time-consuming for you due to the crowds. We had a very good meal at Council Rock Brewery back in May, except we sat through a 90 minute wait because the staff failed to mention they had a large party in the back and the kitchen couldn't keep up. If it's like that in the shoulder season, I suspect you'll find that kind of treatment everywhere - just plan to roll with the punches and consider it part of the local color.

 

But the HoF and museum itself? Just go!

[DaveW]

The view of Niagara falls is better on the NY side anyways (however the town is really crappy/nothing to do) the Canadian side area is "nicer" but insanely touristy. I wouldn't recommend more than half a day around the "falls"

If you find the passport, I would recommend staying at Niagara on the lake instead, you are close to the falls, but on a beautiful lake in a nice (non touristy) town, with plenty of outdoor activities and great wineries.

In Cooperstown make sure you check out Ommegang brewery if you are a beer fan. Enjoy!

[gil4]

The HoF is definitely worth the detour. As others have mentioned, parking is a pain and the restaurants get crowded. I didn't find it all that expensive, but we didn't stay overnight in town and only had one restaurant meal there, which I don't remember being too outrageous, but then it has been 8 years, so maybe my memory is fading. 

 

I would add that if you were to ask the same question about the football HoF in Canton, I'd say "pass" unless it's on your way.

[twinsfanstreif]

The HoF is definitely worth the detour. As others have mentioned, parking is a pain and the restaurants get crowded. I didn't find it all that expensive, but we didn't stay overnight in town and only had one restaurant meal there, which I don't remember being too outrageous, but then it has been 8 years, so maybe my memory is fading. 

 

I would add that if you were to ask the same question about the football HoF in Canton, I'd say "pass" unless it's on your way.

Actually Canton is on our way but that's our Niagara day and we have to make it to Rochester that day, just not enough time and I also don't wanna bore the wife too much

[twinsfanstreif]

The view of Niagara falls is better on the NY side anyways (however the town is really crappy/nothing to do) the Canadian side area is "nicer" but insanely touristy. I wouldn't recommend more than half a day around the "falls"

If you find the passport, I would recommend staying at Niagara on the lake instead, you are close to the falls, but on a beautiful lake in a nice (non touristy) town, with plenty of outdoor activities and great wineries.

In Cooperstown make sure you check out Ommegang brewery if you are a beer fan. Enjoy!

I didn't know that's where Ommegang was from, maybe I can convince my wife to let us stop there for lunch instead. We really have to make it to NYC that evening so we wouldn't have a bunch of time but might be worth the stop

[DaveW]

 

I didn't know that's where Ommegang was from, maybe I can convince my wife to let us stop there for lunch instead. We really have to make it to NYC that evening so we wouldn't have a bunch of time but might be worth the stop

Plenty of good breweries in NYC as well I'd recommend Brooklyn Brewery, its open Fri-Sun and they give a ton of free (or $5? tours as well)

 

Also if its on Saturday you can get a ton of good food from about 100 local vendors at Smorgasburg, which is a few blocks from Brooklyn Brewery.

[Sarah]

Yes, I second what everyone else has said - you should definitely make a side trip. It's a great museum and Cooperstown is a lovely town. I was there in 2011 for Bert Blyleven's introduction - what a great experience. I probably won't go back though unless someone else is driving. It is out of the way from most places so I guess that's another reason to visit since you're already going to be in upstate New York. Enjoy! 

[Riverbrian]

The Hall was nice... but I was more blown away by the Town. Very Beautiful Countryside in the Foothills. 

 

I'd go for sure.