James Fenimore Cooper (author of Last of the Mohicans and Leatherstocking Tales) wrote that Cooperstown, New York (named for his father, Judge William Cooper) would become a “place of great resort.” As a testament to its deep beauty, it has.
Cooperstown is home to the celebration of that Great American Pastime, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and a famed lakeside golf hotel. Plus, it’s also home to Ommegang Brewery, a wonderful Living History Museum, and a world-class art museum. What more could you ask for?
Let’s delve into all the spectacular things to do in Cooperstown NY that make this place an outstanding destination for couples.
Looking for more weekend getaway ideas? Here’s our roundup of romantic getaways in the Northeast.
Where Is Cooperstown NY?
Cooperstown is located in upstate New York, specifically in Otsego County. Situated at the southern tip of Otsego Lake, it’s approximately 70 miles west of Albany, the state’s capital. Cooperstown is about a 4-hour drive from New York City and roughly 3.5 hours from Boston’s Fenway Park, making it an accessible getaway for residents of major Northeastern cities. Known for its scenic landscapes, the area is surrounded by rolling hills and lush forests, offering a tranquil setting that contrasts sharply with urban hustle and bustle.
Things to Do In Cooperstown NY
EXPLORE: The Village of Cooperstown
The Village of Cooperstown, New York, is a charming and historic community nestled at the southern tip of Otsego Lake.
VISIT: National Baseball Hall of Fame
The boys of summer are in residence year-round at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. This three-floor paean to our nation’s favorite pastime is perhaps the reason most people come to Cooperstown, and is jam-packed with all of the artifacts you’d expect to find in a Hall of Fame.
Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson were the first baseball superstars to be inducted and immortalized in 1936, when the Hall of Fame opened. Who knew back then that this tiny upstate New York hamlet would become a mecca for baseball fans around the world?
Exhibits on three floors represent a mesmerizing trip through time. Find displays encompassing Black players, Women in Baseball, and “Viva Baseball” (Hispanic figures). The mockups of Met’s and Yankee’s lockers include the uniform of Gary Sanchez, aka “Kraken.”
Even if you’re not a sports fan, the 17-minute film, Generations of the Game” will make your eyes water and your heart soar. Just try not to cry when listening to Lou Gehrig’s Farewell Address. You can’t. (And neither could I).
Check out the wall-mural depicting the baseball “cards your mother threw away.” Hilarious or agonizing depending on your perspective.
TOUR: Brewery Ommegang
Ommegang is the Ben and Jerry’s of beer making. Or at least that was my first impression when I spotted the cowhide-painted grain silo. But then I took the tour and came to the conclusion that Ommegang is more Jerry Garcia than Ben and Jerry’s.
Opened in 1997 on a former hops farm (high water quality and favorable soil render this region tops in hops-growing), Ommegang has emerged as one of America’s new favorite Belgian-style craft beers. At least, the folks at HBO think so. They chose this craft brewery to make and bottle a series of Game of Thrones beer.
Brewery tours are a delight for the senses. The Millhouse and Brewing rooms vibrate with loud rock and roll. The bottling room shakes rattles and rolls with hundreds of bottles on conveyor belts. And the whole place permeates with the fragrance of fermenting hops and grains.
Ommegang is so rock and roll, in fact, that it’s also a concert venue for the greats in music. Performers in the past have included The Pixies, Decemberists, and Bonnie Raitt, to name only a few, who have belted out tunes on the brewery’s hillside. Check the website for this year’s lineup.
VISIT/SHOP: Fly Creek Cider Mill
Known for offering its own and many “Pride of New York” products in a well-stocked shop, Fly Creek Cider Mill is not stingy with its samples. So it’s little wonder that lines form out the door for a self-guided tour of the old-fashioned 150-year-old cider press – powered by water from the on-site mill pond. That, and a chance to try some of the best locally made dips, sauces, sweets, cheese and other foodstuffs.
“Cider Mill Bill” and his wife Brenda (whose brother is the celebrated chef, Charlie Palmer), took a small family business into the internet age. Fly Creek now draws a whopping 100,000 visitors a year without sacrificing the old-time vibe that three generations have come to know and love.
Fly Creek presses over 30,000 gallons of sweet cider from September through November, from NY State apples only. Though fudge, cheese, and cider are Fly Creek’s “core products,” you’ll find anything and everything apple-related here.
Hard Cider, Apple Wine, Cider Bread, Apple Salsa, Pies, Donuts, Sauces, Slushies and novelty items all for the sampling. Check the website for “Events at the Mill” – which range from special tastings to cooking demos, to concerts. There’s always something going on here!
VISIT: Fenimore Art Museum
The Fenimore Museum is often overlooked in all the Cooperstown Baseball hoopla. The “other Clark” brother, Stephen Carlton Clark (whose brother, Sterling, founded The Clark in Williamstown MA), founded this institution in his stately Georgian-style family home on Lake Otsego.
It’s a sophisticated alternative for baseball widows (and widowers) who’d just as soon meander through galleries filled with fine, folk, decorative, and Native American Art.
In fact, the museum houses the Thaw Collection – one of the best groupings of Native American art in the world spanning 2,000 years. Visitors have come to Cooperstown specifically to see the source of the few pieces on loan to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.
And that’s not all. The Fennimore holds one of the largest collections of folk art, including one of the earliest paintings of an American landscape–John Heaton’s 1733 depiction of the Martin Van Bergen farmstead.
When you tire of man-made art, step outside to the lakefront gardens for Mother Nature’s best. It’s the perfect place to stroll on sunny, and even not-so-sunny, days.
TOUR: The Farmers Museum
This is not a Hall of Fame for celebrity farmers, as I first imagined. The Farmers Museum is an impressive living history museum that brings our rural heritage to life through costumed interpreters who dramatize village and farm life in the 1840s.
There’s a General Store, a Print Shop where you’ll see demonstrations of manual typesetting and printing, the requisite weavers, blacksmiths, coopers, housewives, and village characters who encourage visitors to join them in their tasks.
Heritage chickens and cows roam around, and you can strike up a “period” conversation with anyone who looks as if they’re an extra in a 19th-century-set film.
It’s Sturbridge Village MA or Williamsburg VA on a much smaller scale with one very distinctive attraction – the 2006 Empire State Carousel. Termed “The Museum You Can Ride,” the merry-go-round is the brainchild of New York State History teachers who like to carve.
Each of the 24 wooden carousel animals has its own name and regional heritage (e.g. Daphne, the Long Island Duck). Above them, plaques about famous New Yorkers, like Alexander Hamilton, Grandma Moses, Pete Seeger, and Eleanor Roosevelt, rotate as your kids ride. A true educational delight.
PLAY GOLF: Leatherstocking Golf Course
The 18th hole of the Leatherstocking Golf Course is right off the Otesaga Hotel’s massive veranda. Yes, the course is affiliated with the hotel. But it is also a public course. So even if you don’t stay at the Otesaga, you can play on this world-famous, challenging, lakeside course. A new golf pro – as of 2021 – offers lessons tailored to your level, as well as junior clinics.
PADDLE: The Susquehanna River
Starting in the tranquil waters of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, the Susquehanna River provides an unparalleled kayaking experience as you traverse a portion of its 444-mile length–it’s the longest river in the Eastern U.S. As you paddle down this historic river, you’re likely to encounter a myriad of wildlife from herons to river otters, framed by lush forests and rolling hills. Accessible to kayakers of all skill levels, the Susquehanna offers a variety of routes and distances, making it an ideal destination whether you’re interested in a half-day excursion or a more extended adventure.
PHOTO OP: Historic Doubleday Field
It has been used for baseball games since 1920 and is currently where the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are held. Come by for a pic.
VISIT: Glimmerglass State Park & Hyde Hall
Glimmerglass State Park is a natural haven located on the eastern shore of Otsego Lake, just a short drive from Cooperstown. The park’s diverse landscapes offer something for every type of outdoor enthusiast, from beaches and picnic areas to forested hiking trails and bird-watching opportunities. In the winter, the park transforms into a snowy playground, with ice-fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing among the activities on offer.
Within the boundaries of Glimmerglass State Park, you’ll also find Hyde Hall, a neoclassical mansion that’s a noteworthy stop for history and architecture buffs. Built between 1817 and 1834, Hyde Hall offers guided tours that immerse visitors in the early 19th-century American aristocratic lifestyle. With its meticulously preserved rooms and artifacts, the mansion provides a glimpse into a bygone era. Its presence in the park adds a unique cultural dimension to the otherwise nature-focused attractions at Glimmerglass, making it a well-rounded destination for a day trip or weekend getaway.
ATTEND: The Glimmerglass Opera
The Glimmerglass Opera, often referred to simply as Glimmerglass, is a cultural cornerstone of Cooperstown. Located about eight miles north of the village center, this summer opera festival is set against a backdrop of verdant landscapes and Otsego Lake, enriching the experience with natural beauty.
Offering a mix of classic operas, contemporary performances, and even musical theater, Glimmerglass prides itself on its innovative productions. With its intimate 900-seat theater, the venue offers a personal viewing experience that allows the artistry and emotion of each performance to shine through.
Restaurants in Cooperstown NY
EAT: Origins Café
Situated, literally, in a greenhouse, “everything on the menu is super-fresh from here and local farms,” say young, “environmentally conscious” owners, Dana and Kristen Leonard, who also run a very popular Food Truck in season. Fresh, and fantastic, I might add.
Try ice or hot tea made from homegrown herbs, sandwiches like The Painted Goat with chevre, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and sundried tomato pesto. Or any other excellent dish from a menu that changes daily. Just a bit out of town, Origins is one of the most popular, and from-the-ground-fresh, restaurants in Cooperstown.
EAT: Cafe Ommegang
Dine on Belgian-inspired food – mussels, crepes, waffles – in the brewery that turns out some of America’s best-tasting Belgian-style beer. Come for a tour and tasting, stay for a meal.
EAT: Mel’s at 22
Housed in a charming, historic building, Mels offers a varied menu that caters to a range of tastes. Known for its seasonally-inspired dishes made from local ingredients, the restaurant’s culinary team excels in crafting meals that are both visually appealing and incredibly delicious.
Hotels In Cooperstown NY
STAY: Otesaga Resort Hotel
Built in 1909, this lakeside golf resort still awes Cooperstown visitors. After a $34 million restoration, the Otesaga is still the Grand Dame on the Lake. The ambiance remains “old-world,” with some contemporary updates, like a gigantic fire pit, perfect for outdoor winter gatherings.
First Impressions of the Otesaga Resort Hotel
I drove up to the red brick Georgian hotel, walked in, and was immediately drawn to French doors that open from the lobby to a veranda lined with rocking chairs.
This is where I wanted to stay, and I was not alone. The view is dramatically stunning, especially at sunrise and sunset.
On temperate nights, you’ll find couples, business groups, and solitary guests sipping drinks, reading and gazing in wonder at Otsego Lake and the 18th hole of the resort’s Leatherstocking Golf Course.
Rooms at Otesaga
Rooms and suites are of the well-appointed freshly “of their time” as an early 20th-century resort. Pastel-colored walls show off period portraits, floral prints, art, and reproductions from Cooperstown’s Fenimore Art Museum.
For optimal views of Otsego Lake and the golf course, ask for a corner suite. One evening, I spent a good while watching a couple of Little Leaguers tossing a ball to each other as the fire-pit and dock lights lit up. It was like being inside an idyllic Hollywood movie about romanticized Small Town America, and quite calming.
Bathrooms are small but adorable – with high-end fixtures, towels, and amenities.
Dining at Otesaga
New to the hotel, “1909″ harks back to Otesaga’s opening year, and is considered the finest Steakhouse in Cooperstown.
Like 1909, the more casual Hawkeye Bar and Grill also sources ingredients from local farms. My meal-sized Cesar Salad was perfectly dressed, and snappy-fresh. If possible, ask to sit on the patio overlooking the lake – lovely in all of its moods.
A bountiful buffet breakfast is served each morning in the resort’s largest restaurant, Glimmerglass, which provides guests with one of the best breakfast-time views you’ll ever find anywhere. If you can score a table near a window, that is.
Long after you’ve finished eating your custom-made omelet, you’ll want to linger just for that view.
Otesaga Amenities and Activities
Golfers will want to play the arguably challenging 18-hole Leatherstocking Course. From the 18th hole, wave to your non-golfing friends, happily sipping drinks on The Otesaga’s veranda.
Swim in a heated pool or in the lake itself. Or rent a canoe, rowboat or paddleboard from a lakefront shop. You can even fish in Lake Otsego, one of the finest deepwater fisheries in Central New York. But only if you’ve secured a fishing license.
And even if you don’t, you can procure a license at the hotel. Now, that’s service.
STAY: Inn At Cooperstown
This 17-room inn is less “grand dame-ish” but charming nevertheless.
STAY: Landmark B&B
In town, this green home with rust-red shutters is a charming, romantic alternative to the Otesaga. And just down the block.
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