TRA VEL GUIDE
Transcription
TRA VEL GUIDE
T R A V E L G U Baseball’s Home. Your Escape. Council Rock, Cooperstown I D E “ Nothing I had read about this famed village prepared me for such a Shangri-La.” Chris Erskine, Los Angeles Times Covered bridge at Glimmerglass State Park Step into a world of wonder in Cooperstown/Otsego County - a timeless destination nestled among the glimmering shores of Otsego Lake. You’ll discover an abundance of historical ties to art and culture, agriculture and, of course, baseball. Here, past and present come together. Generations of families return time after time to pass down magical traditions and experiences only found here. Explore hands-on history, view one the country’s largest collections of American Indian art, and adventure outside to enjoy the beauty of Otsego County. “ There’s a ‘Brigadoon’ quality to this. Imagine what would happen if you dropped a mobile electronic device into this serene scene. It might have the effect of a cultural and social nuclear device.” Welcome to Cooperstown/Otsego County – a multi-season, multi-reason destination. Gary Tischler, The Georgetowner I’ve been fortunate to promote tourism for the Cooperstown/Otsego County area for almost two decades. I still find it exhilarating albeit a bit curious that such a small county in upstate New York has such beauty, charm, authenticity and diversity of attractions, events, and recreational opportunities. Be prepared to fall in love with Otsego County! DEB TAYLOR, Tourism Director Cooperstown/Otsego County Tourism Program Lakefront Park Summer concert at Lakefront Park Kingfisher Tower on Otsego Lake Plan your trip to Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com 3 Next to bonding over your love of baseball with younger generations, Otsego County’s offerings for family fun span far and wide. In the summer, explore miles of hiking trails, swim in the pristine lakes, race go karts, or play mini golf. Pick apples or visit a pumpkin patch in the fall, and in the winter, enjoy age-old holiday traditions. Try these family- BATTER UP: a fan’s dream come true friendly attractions for a trip guaranteed to satisfy all ages. The Farmers’ Museum Everybody knows ‘Cooperstown’ is synonymous with ‘baseball.’ Tens of thousands of fans make their way to “The Main Street Mecca” each year to National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum 3 hours One common thread in every baseball fan’s trip to Cooperstown? The hallowed halls of the Hall of Fame, the definitive repository of baseball’s treasures and an immortal shrine for the game’s greatest players. “ revel in America’s favorite pastime – but every baseball fan’s trip here is It was Baseball Woodstock – a bunch of passionate people sitting in a field in the middle of nowhere to celebrate, in this case, their love of the game.” unique. Hit a home run with these suggested baseball highlights. FAMILY FUN: memories that bind “ • Start with a 12-ounce glass • Add two scoops of French vanilla ice cream (Fly Creek Cider Mill) was my nine-year old’s favorite stop and she loved feeding the gaggle of geese, chickens and ducks running around the mill yard, sampling homemade fudge and enjoying a bottle of fresh, cold apple cider.” • Fill with equal parts of FCCM Sweet Cider and Ginger Ale Gina Vercesi, Westchester Family Magazine Kevin Foote, The Advertiser Heroes of the Game Wax Museum Doubleday Field 1 hour A short distance from Heroes of the Game, step onto the field considered the ‘birthplace of baseball’ – at least within baseball lore – at Doubleday Field. Stay longer if a game is in play. Mosey north along Main Street to Heroes of the Game, where a self-guided tour will reveal your favorite baseball heroes immortalized as life-sized wax figures, as well as family-friendly entertainment. DIY Recipe: Fly Creek’s Famous Cider Float 30 minutes Cooperstown Bat Company Factory Tour Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard The Farmers’ Museum 1.5 Hours 2.5 Hours 1.5 hours with travel Built in 1856, Fly Creek Cider Mill still presses fresh apple cider the old-fashioned way and makes for a great destination for foodies and families alike. Shop the Mill Store to find a wide variety of Mill-made comfort foods and beverages – from dips, cheeses and fudge, to hard cider and their famous fresh-pressed apple cider – let the kids ‘mill around’ at Tractor Land or the Mill pond to feed the resident ducks and geese, and grab a bite to eat at the Snack Barn & Bakery. The Farmers’ Museum is a living history museum with a purposeful village, including a Blacksmith Shop, Pharmacy, and Bump Tavern, plus a working farm (including a milking cow, should you care to try!) Although work on the farm and in the village was tough during the mid-1800s, folks had time for fun – as you will see at the Country Fair and the Empire State Carousel. This unique baseball attraction is worth the 15-minute drive to nearby Hartwick, where you can watch as hand-selected blocks of wood are handcrafted into premier baseball bats. Open Monday-Friday. At the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced that the Navy’s newest ship in its fleet would be commissioned as the USS Cooperstown to honor all professional baseball players who served in World War II. “ Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad 1.5 Hours A ride on the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad brings smiles to kids and the young at heart! Hop aboard when the whistle blows and enjoy a ride on one of the train’s vintage cars as you snake along the banks of the Susquehanna River. Rides take around 90 minutes. Cooperstown is a real place, not just the Hall of Fame.” – Gary Tischler, The Georgetowner 4 Find out more about Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com Plan your trip to Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com 5 BIG CITY CULTURE in small town america “ Lest you think there’s nothing to do in Cooperstown but pay homage to America’s favorite sport, there is also the Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers’ Museum. The Glimmerglass Opera Festival sounds amazing, even if you think you don’t like opera.” Jo-Lynne Shane, My Life and Style One of the really cool things about Otsego County is the melding of its authenticity and natural beauty. We expect to find stellar museums, BEER & WINE: Belly up with your bevy “ theater and cultural amenities in The Glimmerglass Festival larger metropolitan areas. The “ Cooperstown area is truly unique in James Fenimore Cooper’s “The Deerslayer” was photographed in Springfield Center near Otsego Lake in September 1911 by the Vitagraph Company. For the first time, famous actors and actresses were brought to Cooperstown…. The picture was shown in movie houses all over the country. It brought publicity to Cooperstown.” Back Thru Time in Springfield Center, by Mary Maine. that our first-rate cultural attractions Visitors come to this idyllic town to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and perhaps to stay for a gin and tonic on the porch of the lakefront Otesaga Resort. But in the past few years, the food has become its own draw. Local chefs shop at the year-round farmers’ market, and their restaurants serve the local beer, which (happily) comes from the town’s nationally revered Ommegang Brewery.” are in a stunning, pristine setting, Gina Hamadey, America’s Best Little Food Towns many lakeside, nestled in the rolling foothills of the northern Catskills. “ BrewCentralNY.com Attending Glimmerglass is like entering a dream. Each night is another performance of incredible quality and every morning you wake on the edge of a lake glimmering in the sunshine. What’s not to like?” Anne Kostalas, Dear England, Love Canada Brew Central brings together the stories, traditions and tastes behind craft beer, hard cider and spirits in the Central New York Vacation Region and beyond. Cooperstown was once the epicenter of hops production in the United States – at its peak, the region produced more than three million pounds annually. This Golden Age of hops production, however, came to an abrupt end when a blight hit the region in the early 20th century and prohibition was passed. Today, local breweries such as Brewery Ommegang and others are reviving local hops production in Cooperstown and surrounding areas. Fenimore Art Museum Hyde Hall The Glimmerglass Festival Cooperstown Beverage Trail Brewery Ommegang Cooperstown Farmers’ Market 1.5 Hours+ 2 Hours Performance times vary 1-2 Hours per stop 3 Hours 1 Hour Discover America’s past through its art at the Fenimore Art Museum with its stunning American Indian Art Collection and American Folk Art Collection. Exhibitions change seasonally, keeping the museum fresh and lively. Built in the early 1800s, Hyde Hall is a stunning reminder of a bygone era, of English aristocracy in a new America. Take a guided tour of the 50-room mansion and revel in its remarkable architecture, original furnishings and draperies, all while enjoying its commanding view of Otsego Lake. For more than 40 years, patrons have been thrilled by the summer performances at the Glimmerglass Festival. Experience its blend of world-class opera in a relaxed, casual atmosphere amid stunning lake views, rolling hills and rich farmland. Productions run July through August. Boasting four breweries, three wineries, an historic cider mill, and a new distillery, visitors can stop by each of the trail’s partners to tour facilities, see the production process, and sample products. Stops along the trail include Butternuts Beer & Ale, Rustic Ridge Winery, Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard, Cooperstown Distillery, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown Brewing Company, Pail Shop Get a behind-the-scenes look into this Duvel Open Saturdays year-round, the Cooperstown Moortgat-owned brewery producing an awardFarmers’ Market is a not-to-be-missed stop, as a winning lineup of Belgian-style brews. Afterward, meeting place for locals and visitors alike, who mix head to Café Ommegang for some an authentic kibitzing with shopping for fresh, locally-grown Flemish cuisine, including frites, Belgian-style foods and beverages of every description. waffles and a tasting flight of Ommegang’s signature brews. Plan your trip to Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com 7 6 Learn more about Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com Vineyards and Bear Pond Winery. Once a famed angling tradition on Otsego Lake, Otsego bass fishing became just a memory when the species’ population was threatened by a combination of agricultural and human activity and the introduction of a non-native fish species into the lake. In 2015, the lake’s water quality had improved to the point where the Department of Environmental Conservation and SUNY Oneonta were able to reintroduce the fish – meaning Otsego bass fishing is back! Lake Front Park Summer Concert Adventure outside SUMMER The summer months in upstate New York are exquisite - beautiful sunrises and blazing sunsets, starry nights and perfect weather (most of the time). Not too cold, not too hot, a kind-of Camelot. With bountiful water resources and abundant hiking, biking and paddling opportunities, you’ll always find something to do. There’s nothing like spending a sunny summer day splashing around in a lake, or enjoying a picnic in one of the many public parks scattered throughout the county, from lakeside to scenic overlooks. WINTER Snow Tubing at Glimmerglass State Park Home to a myriad of outdoor recreation options in the warmer months, in January and February, enjoy Glimmerglass State Park’s biggest draw with some good old-fashioned snow tubing, just $5 per person for the day. Council Rock Park, Cooperstown Great fishing in Otsego County “ Paddle boarding on the Susquehanna Snowshoeing & Cross Country Skiing The place is as lush as your lettuce bin and rests on the lower lip of a Dodger-blue lake graced with kayaks and canoes. Take away its vaunted National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and you would still have an uncommonly alluring destination.” When winter transforms the area’s hiking and walking trails into a winter wonderland, break out the skinny skis to enjoy Otsego County’s beautiful snow-covered landscape on a bluebird winter day. Chris Erskine, Los Angeles Times Hike Otsego County’s Parks Hit the trails and take in the beauty of Otsego County by foot in one of five state parks, five state forests, and a variety of other preserves and walking trails, each with their own breathtaking views of the region’s rolling landscapes. Boating on Otsego, Canadarago, & Goodyear Lakes Get a different perspective of the area from the water! Rent your own motorboat, paddle boat or kayak, learn how to maneuver a stand-up paddle board, join a narrated cruise or take a charter out to fish the plentiful cold water fisheries of Otsego and Canadarago lakes. 8 Learn more about Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com Paddle the Susquehanna Snowmobiling Cooperstown is headwaters of the mighty Susquehanna River. Sportsmen will revel in discovering the river’s nooks and crannies as it meanders south. Otsego County is a snowmobiler’s paradise with more than 300 miles of marked and well-groomed trails. Hop on your sled and enjoy a day of zooming across rolling landscapes and frozen lakes. Sugaring Off at The Farmers’ Museum is a family-fun event celebrating our rich maple history, each Sunday in March. Plan your trip to Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com 9 Richfield Springs Milford Gilbertsville Cherry Valley Cooperstown Worcester Oneonta Photo: Gerry Raymondo Our countryside is filled with hidden gems, waiting to be discovered. The church steeples of many little hamlets dot our rural landscape, each with its own story. CHERRY VALLEY was once the Gateway to Oneonta from Hartwick College Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers’ Museum, and the Glimmerglass Festival. Explore the Cooperstown Beverage Trail and more art lovers’ havens like the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival, Cooperstown Art Association and Smithy Center for the Arts. GILBERTSVILLE’S unique Tudor downtown bespeaks its English heritage. The entire village, located in the Butternut Valley, is on the National Register of Historic Sites. The Major’s Inn is located in the heart of the charming village. and evening entertainment. The “hustle and bustle” of the Southside area offers a variety of shopping and dining experiences, in addition to art havens like the Foothills Performing Arts Center, Main View Gallery, Community Arts Network of Oneonta at the Wilber Mansion, Oneonta Theater, along with several other performing arts organizations. RICHFIELD SPRINGS once hosted the elite RICHLY STORIED: Charming Otsego County the American Frontier. Its history includes notable events like the Cherry Valley Massacre and notable characters like Beatnik poet Allen Ginsberg. Today, Cherry Valley is home to shops and restaurants, some featured in Food & Wine Magazine, as well as Cherry Valley Artworks, which offers a Sculpture Trail and presents events at the Star Theater. Otsego County is filled with a variety of charming towns and historic villages each well worth the visit. Discover some COOPERSTOWN is a national treasure on MILFORD is located half-way between Cooperstown and Oneonta. Although a cross-road village, it is home to the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad, a fine art gallery and historic Sayre House. of the county’s hidden gems like Richfield’s sulphur springs, Cherry Valley’s unique art scene, Gilbertsville’s Tudor the southern shore of Otsego Lake. With only one stop light and 1,800 year-round residents, the village is home to iconic collections of American history, culture, and art, from iconic attractions like the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, ONEONTA is a small college town about 30 minutes south of Cooperstown. “Bohemian, funky, renaissance” are words that describe its historic downtown, a nostalgic setting for dining, shopping, A walk down WORCESTER’S Main Street is like taking a step back in time. Located conveniently off I-88, this small village is located mid-way between Oneonta and Cobleskill. The Worcester area is a sportsman’s paradise: The nearby Schenevus Creek is a NYS designated trout fishery; hiking, hunting and snowmobile trails are abundant. Unique dining options throughout Otsego County Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta Biking on country roads architecture, and Oneonta’s thriving college town vibe. at grand hotels because of its prolific sulpher springs. The hotels are gone, the springs dried up, but the village’s location on Route 20, a NYS Scenic Byway keep it buzzing. Canadarago Lake is one of New York’s top fisheries, with a large DEC boat launch. Getting here Slow down and enjoy the fantastic scenery on the winding roads to the Cooperstown/Otsego County area. We’re an hour or two from two international airports, Albany and Syracuse, respectively. The Greater Binghamton Airport is about two hours from Cooperstown. There is taxi service to and from the airports. Train service from Penn Station, NYC, to Rensselaer Station, Albany, is available on Amtrak. Enterprise Car Rental has cars at the station to pick up/ leave on departure. 10 Learn more about Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com Because Cooperstown is a small village—one stop light—it’s highly recommended that visitors take advantage of free peripheral parking and the trolley system ($2 per person) during the summer months. Look for the parking lot signs as you approach the village. Trolley maps are available at the Cooperstown Chamber on 31 Chestnut Street, and at the Information Kiosk at Main and Pioneer streets. Stops include Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers’ Museum and the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum. For in-depth maps and more information, visit ThisIsCooperstown.com. Plan your trip to Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com 11 COME STAY: we are ready for you Meadow-Vale Campsites Hampton Inn 2 Whether you’re visiting for one night or a week, Otsego County has a wide variety of lodging Inn at Cooperstown Bayside Inn and Marina options for couples and families. Check out these MORE FAMILY LODGING PARTNERS area accommodations that promise a restful night’s sleep so you wake up feeling refreshed Bayside Inn and Marina Hickory Grove Motor Inn Landmark Inn and ready to play! 7090 State Highway 80, Cooperstown (866) 547-2371 www.baysidecooperstown.com 6854 State Highway 80, Cooperstown (607) 547-9874 www.hickorygrovemotorinn.com 64 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown (607) 547-7225 www.landmarkinncooperstown.com Best Western Plus Holiday Inn Oneonta 50 Commons Drive, Cooperstown (607) 547-7100 www.bwcooperstown.com 5206 State Highway 23, Oneonta (607) 433-2250 www.hioneonta.com Hampton Inn Inn at Cooperstown 225 River Street, Oneonta (607) 433-9000 www.oneonta.hamptoninn.com 16 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown (607) 547-5756 www.innatcooperstown.com Holiday Inn Oneonta Landmark Inn 4 1 15 Chestnut Street Cooperstown (800) 348-6222 www.cooperinn.com Meadow-Vale Campsites 505 Gilbert Lake Road, Mount Vision (800) 701-8802 www.meadow-vale.com 1 Cooper Inn CAMPGROUNDS 3 Cooperstown Luxury 2 (908) 304-4666 www.cooperstownluxury.com Lake ‘N Pines Motel 3 7102 State Highway 80 Cooperstown (800) 615-5253 www.lakenpinesmotel.com Otesaga Resort Hotel 4 60 Lake Street Cooperstown (800) 348-6222 www.otesaga.com For more information about these and other lodging options, please visit ThisIsCooperstown.com. 12 Learn more about Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com Plan your trip to Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com 13 the main attractions 1 “ (The Hall of Fame is) an impressive place, a kind of church that’s full of reverence, references and irreverence. It’s a place where the playing of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ can suddenly bring you close to tears.” Gary Tischler, The Georgetowner Brewery Ommegang 656 County Highway 33 Cooperstown (607) 544-1800 www.ommegang.com 2 1 Fenimore Art Museum 5798 State Highway 80 Cooperstown (888) 547-1450 www.fenimoreartmuseum.org 2 3 Fly Creek Cider Mill 288 Goose Street Fly Creek (800) 505-6455 www.flycreekcidermill.com 4 3 National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum 25 Main Street Cooperstown (888) 425-5633 www.baseballhall.org 4 5 ADDITIONAL ATTRACTIONS Canoe & Kayak Rentals Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum 2828 State Highway 28, Portlandville (607) 286-7349 www.canoeandkayakrentals.com 99 Main Street, Cooperstown (607) 547-1273 www.baseballwaxmuseum.com Cooperstown Bat Company Hyde Hall 118 Main Street, Cooperstown (888) 547-2415 www.cooperstownbat.com 267 Glimmerglass State Park Road, Cooperstown (607) 547-5098 www.hydehall.org The Farmers’ Museum 5775 State Highway 80 Cooperstown (888) 547-1450 www.farmersmuseum.org 6 The Glimmerglass Festival 7300 State Highway 80 Cooperstown (607) 547-0700 www.glimmerglass.org 5 6 MUST DO: top attractions not to be missed The bucket list items: these are the tried and true experiences in Otsego County that one would be remiss not to experience during a visit. There are the standard ‘musts’ like the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, but trust us on this one... Cooperstown is so much Cooperstown Farmers’ Market 101 Main Street, Cooperstown (607) 547-6195 www.otsego2000.org Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad 136 East Main Street, Milford (607) 432-2429 www.lrhs.com more than just baseball. Do yourself – and your bucket list – a favor, and explore these attractions during a visit. 14 Learn more about Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com Plan your trip to Otsego County at ThisIsCooperstown.com 15 Presorted Standard US Postage Cooperstown/Otsego County Tourism 20 Chestnut Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 PAID #422 Oneonta, NY 13820 ThisIsCooperstown.com Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard The Inn at Cooperstown Cooperstown Charlotte Valley Railroad