Cooperstown's Many Wonderful Attractions

Article and photo (Empire State Carousel at The Farmers' Museum) by Eric H.

Cooperstown, N.Y., is best known as the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, but many visitors are surprised to find out that there are so many other attractions within this magical, beautiful region.

At CooperstownForKids.com, we have written an article on many Cooperstown family attractions, (including recreational attractions) like the aforementioned National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum,The Farmers' Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard, Abner Doubleday Field, Clark Sports Center, Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown Fun Park, Doubleday Batting Range, and the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad. Additionally, we feature a section on attractions close to Cooperstown, including the impressively educational and entertaining National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y.!

We hope you enjoy these articles. We can't say enough good things about Cooperstown. The village and nine-mile long Otsego Lake are beautiful, and, as mentioned, there's certainly no shortage of things to do!

The Virtues of a Cooperstown Motel Lake Vacation

Article and photo (vew of Otsego Lake from the Bayside) by Eric H.

Our latest article at CooperstownforKids.com focuses on the Bayside Inn and Marina on Route 80 alongside beautiful nine-mile long Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, N.Y. Stressing the grand tradition of a family-oriented lake motel vacation, this article reveals the wonderful amenities offered at the Bayside like a swimming beach area with sand, free kayaks and canoes, cottages accommodating up to 10 people, well-kept motel rooms, a game room, fitness center, a family room with television and board games, a BBQ pavilion and, of course, the amazing lake and rolling hill views from just about every perspective. The Bayside is the type of traditional place people vacationed in during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. To this day, Cooperstown lake motels are quite popular amongst families interested in vacationing around Cooperstown. For us, the Bayside is a great choice for a lakeside vacation!

To read the Bayside Inn article, click on the link near the top of the story.

Fly Creek Cider Mill Pleases Lovers of Fudge!

The Fly Creek Cider Mill, in beautiful Fly Creek, NY (five minutes from Cooperstown), is famous for its delicious ciders, specialty foods and gifts, and wonderful outdoor lunch setting (with amazing pulled pork, chili, ice cream and homemade blueberry pie!). Much to our surprise, we found its homemade fudge to be, without a doubt, the best we have ever sampled! We've tasted them all through the years: chocolate, chocolate walnut, vanilla, peanut butter, chocolate peanut butter, rocky road, amaretto, mocha latte, maple nut, chewy praline, penuchi, pistachio and and out all-time favorite, creamsicle. Please don't leave the Cooperstown area without visiting the Fly Creek Cider Mill and its delicious fudge!

Fly Creek Cider Mill
288 Goose St.
Fly Creek, NY
Tel. (607) 547-9692

Hidden Cooperstown Dining Gem: The Depot Deli

Sometimes, dining on Main St. during the summer in Cooperstown, NY, brings elevated prices and crowds that call for finding a place to eat off the beaten track. The Depot Deli is just that place, just a few minute's walk from the downtown -- although feeling like miles away. Spotlessly clean and with very friendly service, the Depot Deli features a wide variety of breakfast and lunch items, perfect for the family. It's not overly expensive, which is also a benefit for the family on vacation. Locals we've talked with acknowledge that this is a great dining option in Cooperstown. We're sure vacationers will find the same experience.

We strongly suggest trying the Deport Deli out. It's a nice walk there, you'll be greeted more warmly than some of those downtown places, and the food is just as good if not better than other area restaurants serving breakfast and lunch. We loved the turkey with pesto and the tasty ham and cheese sandwiches. Nothing fancy, but the Depot Deli is terrific at making a very good sandwich -- and with ample portions. What a great find!

Depot Deli
21 Railroad Ave
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Tel. (607) 547-7130

Instant Memories at the Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast

We just returned from a wonderful stay at the Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast at 88 Chestnut St. in Cooperstown, N.Y. It's simply one of those places that we look forward to staying months before the trip. And once we leave, we start planning for the next visit. Family-friendly, quaint, charming, wonderful hearty breakfasts, easily walkable to Main St. and the myriad attractions (like the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) and with the nicest B&B owners on earth -- Linda and John Smirk -- what's not to like? We can hardly wait to return to this beautiful 1902 Victorian that makes us so happy to be in Cooperstown, and with such special people like Linda and John! We recommend visiting the Cooperstown B&B Web Site for more information.

Soapy Sales!

While shopping a few years back at the interesting and ultimately wonderful Riverwood at 88 Main St. in Cooperstown, N.Y., we came across the Oneonta, N.Y.-based T.S. Pink line of soaps. Immediately falling in love with these unique soaps, we now make sure to purchase some more every time we visit Cooperstown. Colorful, natural and full of incredibly wonderful aromas, these rock-shaped soaps are infused with herbs, oils, and other wholesome ingredients that definitely go beyond your standard "natural" soap. The T.S. Pink soap-rocks clean very well, last a long time and, quite frankly, don't look like any other soap on the market. Next time you're in Cooperstown, definitely check out the Riverwood (selling crafts and other true works of art by local artists and artisans, Brighton purses and accessories, books, jewelry, leather goods, games and toys, etc.) and the T.S. Pink soaps they carry! You can also check out the T.S. Pink soap line here.

Editor's note: We have no vested interested in this soap line, so the info you read here is strictly from a personal experience. Plus, we like to smell good!

Be Sure to Visit The Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Article and photo by Eric H.

When visiting Cooperstown, N.Y., we always make sure to visit The Farmers' Museum. This educational and entertaining living outdoor museum wonderfully depicts our rural American heritage through some through authentic demonstrations and interpretative exhibits. While most popular in the summer, The Farmers' Museum is also an exceptional place to visit during the fall, the spring (for maple sugar runoff), and, of course, during the holiday season for its special Candlelight Evening (this year, Dec. 20, from 3-7 p.m.) -- a traditional holiday celebration with thousands of luminaries and caroling, horse-drawn wagon rides, winter games, and wassail.

This recreated historic village, circa 1845, features some glorious, well-preserved Upstate New York architecture through a series of buildings. Here, you'll find the local apothecary, blacksmith shop, a working farmstead, print shop, tavern, beautiful historic gardens, a general store and the amazing Empire State Carousel. The carousel is the result of 20 years of hard work, carved by volunteer artists. This amazing work of art includes:

Twenty-five hand-carved animals representing New York State

More than 300 ft. of hand stencils of the bluebird, rose, apple, sugar maple leaf and state map

Chariot rides of a scallop shell (the State shellfish) and an Erie Canal Boat

Hand-carved frames around the mirrors depicting 11 different regions of New York

Folklore panels, characterizing Uncle Sam and Deerslayer, and portrait panels of historical figures like Susan B. Anthony, Teddy Roosevelt, Grandma Moses and Jackie Robinson enhancing the rounding boards

We absolutely love the Farmers' Museum! This is one travel destination we make sure to visit during our Cooperstown vacations. We heartily recommend putting The Farmers' Museum on your "A' list when planning your Cooperstown vacation.


The Farmers' Museum
St Hwy 80 Lake Rd., Cooperstown NY, Tel. (607)547-1450