Cooperstown, New York: Come For Baseball, Stay For More

I recently enjoyed gently rocking in a chair on a wide veranda overlooking a magnificent lake vista in New York State.

My stay at The Otesaga, a luxurious historic resort hotel perched at the edge of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, was part of my immersion in the destination. The property, whose name comes from the Iroquois word for “Place of meetings,” transports visitors back to a time of elegance and gracious hospitality.

The wide veranda of The Otesaga resort hotel overlooks a magnificent lake vista — The wide veranda of The Otesaga Resort hotel overlooks a magnificent lake vista.
Photo courtesy of The Otesaga Resort

The expansive porch and guest rooms feature ceiling chandeliers and oversized windows providing stunning views of the lake. These are among the many details that combine ultimate comfort with opulence.

Adding to the mix is a golf course rated among the best on the East Coast that hugs the lake. There is also a heated swimming pool, tennis and pickleball courts and restaurants that serve four-star meals.

Many People Visit Cooperstown, New York to Get Their Baseball Fix

While I could have happily spent my days relaxing at The Otesaga, the wide variety of things to see and do in town drew me away.

Most people visit Cooperstown to see the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. This site is a virtual Mecca for fans of the sport known as “America’s Pastime.” It portrays the popular game through a combination of memorabilia and exhibits which provide both entertainment and education.

Among other attractions related to the game are the Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum and Cooperstown Bat Company, where visitors see how professional models are made. In addition, there are shops offering a wide selection of baseball-related apparel, players’ cards and other collectibles.

But it didn’t take long for me to learn that Cooperstown’s appeal extends well beyond the game. Also, to understand why it has been referred to as “America’s most perfect village.” After seeing more of the town, I concluded that an apt invitation for people to visit might be; “Come for the baseball, stay for a lot more.”

The Setting of Cooperstown, New York Itself is Worth a Look-See

The setting itself is a magnet for those seeking breathtaking scenery. There are rolling farm fields tucked among pockets of dense forest amid tranquil lakes overlooked by low-lying mountains. Against this backdrop, the town could be the movie set of a quintessential village.

New York shares one of Mother Nature’s stunning settings. Photo courtesy of This is Cooperstown

Walkable streets lead to the spectacular lakefront, and leafy parks lend welcome touches of Mother Nature. Adding to the storybook décor is an architectural mix of colonial buildings and gingerbread Victorian homes. Many of these are painted in a palette of vibrant eye-catching colors.

It’s no wonder that Cooperstown has been referred to as “America’s most perfect village” and included by Travel + Leisure magazine on lists of best places to visit and best road trips from New York City.

Downtown in “America’s most perfect village”. Photo courtesy of This is Cooperstown

James Fenimore Cooper Lived In and Wrote Out of Cooperstown, New York

The town was founded in 1786 by William Cooper, the father of renowned author James Fenimore Cooper. Among his works is the Leatherstocking Tales. This is a series of historical novels set in the frontier period combining pioneer and Native American lore set against a backdrop of the region’s magnificent scenery.

A centerpiece of that lovely landscape is Otsego Lake. The name of this glacier-created body of water is derived from the Iroquois word meaning “place of the rock.” This refers to a boulder known as Council Rock which once served as a meeting place for Native Americans.

Otsego Lake appears as Lake Glimmerglass in Cooper’s books because at times the surface is so still it resembles a mirror.

For a Small Town, Cooperstown, New York Offers Some Big Attractions

For such a small village (population about 1,800), Cooperstown offers a wide choice of welcome surprises. The Fenimore Art Museum houses world-class displays of American folk and Indian art. It also offers a constant line-up of changing exhibits.

The Farmers’ Museum is a living history village that re-creates mid-19th-century rural life. The site has been a working farm since 1813 when it was owned by James Fenimore Cooper.

Collections run the gamut from an early 18th-century plow to homemade hay rakes and a 19th-century milkfat tester. Broom makers and other reenactors demonstrate long-lost skills.

A broom maker at The Farmers’ Museum. Photo by Victor Block

These museums are among a number of enticements that extend the appeal of Cooperstown well beyond its fame as a favored destination for lovers of baseball. From nature at its best to man-made appeals to the town itself, there’s variety enough to find a place on many people’s travel wish list.

If You Go

To learn more about Cooperstown, log onto thisiscooperstown.com. For The Otesaga resort hotel, which greatly enhances a visit, go to otesaga.com.

About
Latest Posts

Rambling Writers

Fyllis Hockman and Victor Block are a husband-wife team of experienced travel journalists who have gallivanted throughout the United States, and to nearly 80 countries around the world, and written about what they have seen, done and learned.Their articles have appeared in newspapers across the country and on websites across the Internet, and they each have won numerous writing awards. They love to explore new destinations and cultures and uncover off-the-beaten-path attractions.

Latest posts by Rambling Writers (see all)