The Cooperstown For Kids Family Travel and Vacations Planning Blog

Mickey's Place in Cooperstown for the Love of Baseball!

2010-10-01T07:16:00.000-07:00

Mickey's Place. Photo by Eric H.

No surprise given that it's the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, but Cooperstown, N.Y., offers many interesting, high-quality baseball-theme retail stores. Each one has its own unique personality and is worth a visit.

Out of all the baseball shops, Mickey's Place seems to have one of the highest batting averages in regards to stores we like. Named after the late New York Yankee star Mickey Mantle -- who was a friend of one of the owners -- Mickey's Place features a large selection of baseball cards, autographed photos and baseballs, authentic baseball caps that go beyond just "Major League" and Major, Minor and World Classic apparel. You can also personalize a Louisville Slugger baseball bat while you wait. I once was able to find a Rochester Red Wings Minor League Baseball League t-shirt for my Dad who grew up and played baseball in Rochester, N.Y., in the 1940s. What a thrill it is for him to wear this shirt! No doubt, Mickey's has a lot of "hard-to-find" baseball merchandise.

While Mickey's is officially a retail store, the place seems to almost take on a museum-like quality, as I've found myself almost touring the shop instead of quickly locating and buying things. I highly recommend kids of all ages check out this wonderful baseball retail destination. Additionally, Mickey's Place is a stone's throw (maybe Steve Stone!) away from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum -- what a great way to spend a morning or afternoon!

Mickey's Place

74 Main St.

Cooperstown, NY

Phone: 1-800-528-5775

The Riverwood Flows With Great Gifts

2010-09-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

Riverwood, Cooperstown, N.Y. (photo by Eric H.)

Article by Eric H.
The Riverwood, on Main St. in Cooperstown, operates a little bit differently and that's a good thing.

Ignoring the either overly precious/pretentious or hokey elements of so many other modern-day gift shops, the Riverwood chooses to display a fabulous array of unique and hard-to-find gifts in a friendly setting. You'd have to see it for yourself, but the presentation is simply "the right mix."

It's amazing how much merchandise owner Rick Gibbons can fit into a small store. You'll find art and fine craft (and photo prints) by local artists and artisans, Brighton purses and accessories created for all ages, commemorative baseball-style "home plates," as well as jewelry, wind chimes, leather goods, toys, puzzles and games and locally-made soaps.

Gibbons is an exceptionally nice, charismatic gentleman who really has "pride of ownership" written all over him. His staff is nice, too, especially Tierney who has been quite helpful and knowledgable every time we visit the store. Here's proof that stores on Main Street in Cooperstown are so much more than "baseball!"

Riverwood
88 Main Street
Cooperstown, New York 13326
607.547.4403

A Cooperstown Area Restaurant with an Amazing Lake View

2010-09-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

Lake House Restaurant View (photo by Eric H.)

If you like to have your dinner with a scenic lake view, we strongly recommend trying the Lake House in nearby Richfield Springs, N.Y.

This historic 1843 restaurant and inn is family-friendly, serves excellent steak, chicken and seafood dishes, and the views... well, they are simply amazing! Try to visit during sunset where the big dramatic sky meets the pristine waters of Lake Canadarago. During the warm weather, there's an outdoor dining deck for even better views.

Recommended dishes: prime rib, chicken Kiev with herb garlic butter

The Lake House
2521 County Highway 22
Richfield Springs, NY
Tel. (315) 858-2058

What a beautiful restaurant! (photo by Eric H.)

A Good Sign For Cooperstown...

2010-09-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

We just stayed at the Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast. It goes without saying that we love that place... and we also love the new sign put front. The blue tones, the nice fonts and the signature pineapple design really are an improvement over the last sign -- which, by the way, we also liked a lot.

The family-friendly Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast is a charming 1902 Victorian home, operated by two of the nicest people in the world, John and Linda Smirk. To learn more about this fabulous B&B, visit the Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast web site or its brand new Facebook Copoperstown B&B Fan page!

Willis, Read!

2010-09-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

Willis Monie Books (photo by Eric H.)

We're back! Call it a vacation from a travel blog, I suppose...

Pardon the headline pun on the former NBA basketball star, but we'd like to start our return to blogging by featuring Willis Monie Books. Jam-packed to the ceilings with thousands of popular and hard-to-find books, Willis Monie epitomizes the old-time Main St., small-town book shop. The old book smell, personalized service, and the leisurely feel bring one back to another era. This type of store also validates that Main Street in Cooperstown goes well beyond baseball souvenir stores. Willis Monie is part of a group of downtown shops that provide a valuable service to local residents and tourists, instead of just the latter.

Willis Monie Books
139 Main Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Phone: (607) 547-8363
Tollfree: (800) 322-2995
Fax: (607) 547-7128

Cooperstown's Many Wonderful Attractions

2009-07-24T04:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-18T05:53:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

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!

Lake Swimming Near Cooperstown

2009-07-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

What would a summer vacation be like without a place to swim? Fortunately, the Cooperstown, N.Y., area offers several lake beaches with Glimmerglass State Park at the forefront of idyllic places to swim. With plenty of sand and some of the cleanest lake beach water we've ever experienced, the beach at Glimmerglass State Park is an experience you won't want to miss. The beach is part of the beautiful, nine-mile long Otsego Lake -- everywhere you look is, quite simply, memorable. The swimming area is ideal with not much of a drop off, all the way out to the first set of ropes. The lovely mountains and hills add scenic splendor, the air is most likely fresher than where you live, and the open green land to have a cookout (along with some beautiful hiking trails) or toss a ball around helps make the beach a staple of locals and summer vacationers. We recommend checking out the New York State Parks Web Page for more information.

Beautiful Lakefront Park in Cooperstown

2009-07-14T05:08:00.000-07:00

Many visitors to Cooperstown, N.Y., aren't aware that there's a beautiful park just a few minute's walk from Main Street! Whether on a sunny summer day or a cool night with dramatic sunsets, Lakefront Park affords beautiful views of magnificent Otsego Lake, perfectly framed by pleasantly scenic rolling hills. With a sprawling, lush green lawn, gazebo, marina with boatyard and a small lighthouse, and boardwalk with wonderful landscaped gardens, we embrace Lakefront Park as a "must-see" when visiting Cooperstown. From Main Street, take Lower Pioneer Street (at the intersection in the heart of the Village near the Tunnicliff Inn) to this special Cooperstown destination. It's great for a picnic, weekly Tuesday night concert (from July through Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.), or just to relax and take in one of Upstate New York's most scenic lakes!

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Events Page

2009-07-14T04:57:00.001-07:00

If you are planning on visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., I strongly recommend logging onto to the "Upcoming Events" page. There's a lot of wonderful things going on at the Hall of Fame, including the upcoming 2009 Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Weekend featuring baseball greats Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice and Joe Gordon on July 26th at 1:30 at the Clark Sports Center on Susquehanna Ave. in Cooperstown. Of course, we recommend you taking a look at the entire National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Web Site for additional information on visiting this truly remarkable destination!

A Sweet Shopping Experience in Cooperstown Just Got Sweeter

2009-07-12T04:42:00.000-07:00

Straws and Sweets has made its popular candy and gift shopping experience that much sweeter by moving, not too long ago, from 70 Main St., Cooperstown, N.Y., to a new location virtually across the street at 81 Main St. For those of you who know Cooperstown well, this is the former site of the National Pastime baseball collectibles store. The new, bigger location means more sweets, more gifts, a nicer layout and ultimately a more visible location in the heart of this idyllic, quaint village. The store looks great!

By the way, when visiting Straws and Sweets, be sure to buy some cookies from the Cooperstown Cookie Company -- locally made, all-natural cookies with a baseball theme! This is a quality product and it feels good to support local businesses.

Straws and Sweets
81 Main St.
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Tel. (607) 547-5365

Fun Activities for the Summer at a Local Farm

2009-07-11T05:14:00.000-07:00

Cooperstown, N.Y., has so many wonderful attractions for kids, but let's not forget the myriad things to do for the family not too far outside the village. One such destination is Glen Brook Farm, about a half-hour from Cooperstown in Oneonta, N.Y. Glen Brook Farm features summer workshops where kids can "interact with animals, work in the garden or create in small groups led by artists, who guide them in drawing, painting, sculpture and other mediums, all while working in outdoor studios," according to its brochure. The emphasis is on education and sustainability, inspiring the values of caring, responsibility, honesty and good stewardship of the land. Wow, this beats playing with a video game any day! We recommend checking out some of the summer activities at Glen Brook.

New York Pizzeria Comes to Cooperstown!

2009-07-09T04:36:00.000-07:00

Opening July 4th with lines quickly assembling out the door, New York Pizzeria, at 75 Chestnut St., indeed experienced a welcoming debut. Clean, personable and with some of the best made-from-scratch Italian-style pizza we've sampled anywhere, we look forward to eating at New York Pizzeria during our future vacations. The homemade sauce and cheese blend, as well as the truly fresh eggplant and red pepper toppings, were absolutely phenomenal -- and quite noteworthy, given we are from the Boston area where some of the most renowned pizza places reside (Pizzeria Regina, Santarpio's, etc.). Take-out seemed to be the preferred mode when we visited, but New York Pizzeria (with its flagship restaurant in Richfield Springs, N.Y.) also features very pleasant, nicely renovated dining rooms with a moderate amount of seating. It's nice that Cooperstown finally has a pizza place that is running on all dining cylinders!

New York Pizzeria
75 Chestnut St.
Cooperstown, NY
Tel. (607) 547-2930

Mom will Love the Shopping Opportunities in Cooperstown, NY!

2009-02-11T05:55:00.001-08:00

Article and Photo by Eric H.

If Mom has any trepidation about your Cooperstown, NY, vacation being entirely comprised of baseball-related activities, have no fear. Cooperstown has many wonderful cultural vacation attractions like the Fenimore Art Museum, Glimmerglass Opera, Cooperstown Art Association, and the Cooperstown Concert Series, but it is also a place that features some great shopping on Main Street. We recently showcased an article on Main Street shopping in Cooperstown, focusing on the shops that Mom might enjoy in this quaint downtown district. We encourage you to read this article, as well as the myriad attractions and recreational activities that will appeal to all family members.

You can read the "Cooperstown Main Street shopping for moms" article here.

Recently Reviewed Cooperstown Restaurants

2008-12-07T04:08:00.000-08:00

The Cooperstown, NY, area has many excellent family-friendly restaurants for all budgets. We recently added a few dining reviews to our CooperstownForKids.com dining section: Stagecoach Coffee, DiMaggio's Cooperstown Hot Dog, KC's Corner, and Brooks House of Bar-B-Q (Oneonta). Each restaurant has a special appeal to go along with outstanding food: Stagecoach for its mix of baked good, fresh sandwiches, ice cream and own roasted coffee; DiMaggio's for fast food done fresh; KC's Corner for a down-to-earth, home-cooking diner like experience; and Brooks for incredibly good barbecue foods within a large indoor dining area. You can read these reviews as well as previously recommended Cooperstown restaurants here

Enjoying Your Cooperstown, NY, Vacation on a Budget

2008-11-02T04:18:00.001-08:00

During this tough economy, the "common folk" are looking for ways to budget their vacations -- if they vacation, at all. Fortunately, our beloved vacation destination of Cooperstown, NY, accommodates all types of budgets with, certainly, a plethora of ways to save money. We have come up with several suggestions on how to budget for your Cooperstown vacation at CooperstownForKids.com. From spending a magical time at Lakefront Park to finding restaurants that won't break the bank, it's actually quite easy to afford a Cooperstown vacation.

The Friendly, Welcoming Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast

2008-10-30T03:53:00.000-07:00

You know you've arrived at a great bed and breakfast when you look forward to seeing the owners as much as visiting the vacation destination.

That's the ultimate compliment to John and Linda Smirk of the Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast, given that we regard Cooperstown as our favorite travel destination. John and Linda are two of the most down-to-earth B&B owners you will ever meet and welcome you like a favorite relative to their large 1902 Victorian home -- in the heart of the Village and walkable to many attractions.

The Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast creates the perfect foundation for those traveling to Cooperstown to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame, The Farmers' Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, Abner Doubleday Field, Fly Creek Cider Mill, scenic Otsego Lake, the picture-perfect tree-lined Main Street, and many other "Americana" attractions.

The guest rooms, including two suites (one with bunk beds), are filled with old-world Victorian charm as well as amenities such as private bathrooms, air conditioning and ceiling fans.

Some Cooperstown B&B highlights: An afternoon tea on the relaxing front porch with wicker or in the fire placed living room, and a cozy outdoor second floor porch with soft candlelight, ideal for lounging with a glass of wine. The unforgettable breakfast buffet includes homemade scones, cinnamon buns, waffles, sausage, bacon, cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit and juices. Afternoon and evening refreshments include fresh baked cookies and other baked goods, as well as fruit and cheese!

Just writing this review makes us want to return to our favorite bed and breakfast and vacation destination, the magical Village of Cooperstown, N.Y.

Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast
88 Chestnut St.,Cooperstown, NY.
Tel. (607) 547-2532
Fax (607) 547-8745

Candlelight Evening, Dec. 21, 2008, 3:00 pm - 7:00 p.m.

2008-10-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Cooperstown, N.Y., might be regarded by most vacationers as a summer travel destination, but events like the Farmers' Museum's Candlelight Evening prove that this magical Upstate New York Village is a special place, year-round. This year's Candlelight Evening will be held this year on Sun., Dec. 21, 2008, from 3-7 p.m. Representing the true essence of the holiday season, Candlelight Evening features a beautiful lit tall Christmas tree, musical performances by local musicians from the community and schools, much-needed warm wassail for a cold day, a special Santa Claus telling great children's' stories, horse-drawn carriage rides, comfort food in the tavern, and thousands of lights illuminating the scenic countryside. What a truly special time, one that we can hardly wait to attend every year -- even in the summer!

For more information on Candlelight Evening, please visit The Farmers' Museum Web Site

Where to Find National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum News and Updates

2008-10-29T06:54:00.001-07:00

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a "must-see" for any Cooperstown, N.Y., visitor. You can find updates on Baseball Hall of Fame events and other happenings by visiting its News From the Hall of Fame section on its very fine Web Site.

This is a great time to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. It's more quiet in Cooperstown, so that means less of a hectic tourist crowd and a chance for you to visit, with more elbow room, one of America's great museums -- as well as one of America's greatest villages!

Cooperstown, NY, Slide Show

2008-10-29T06:32:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, it's hard to get a feel for a travel destination if photographs don't complement the content. As dedicated, passionate Cooperstown travelers, we have come up with a series of photos of Cooperstown and vicinity that we feel you will enjoy. Perhaps these visuals will inspire you to visit this truly special Village in the heart of Leatherstocking Country. You can access the slide show at http://www.cooperstownforkids.com/CooperstownSlideShow.mov. Depending on your computer's speed, it might take some time to load, but the Cooperstown photos are well worth the potential wait!

The Greatness of Photographer Richard Duncan

2008-10-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

Richard Duncan is a tremendous Cooperstown, NY, photographer with an inspirational story that can be read at the VisitingCooperstown Web Site. He has contributed immensely to area publications and books, such as Cooperstown, The Book. Richard's Web Site is also very nice with some of his photographs showcased.

Richard is a true gentleman and incredibly talented. I encourage you to click on these links above to read more about this special person.

Cookies, Cooperstown style!

2008-10-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Patti Drumm Grady, a local resident, has taken her considerable professional career management experience to create a "sweeter" career. She is the owner of the Cooperstown Cookie Company -- an "all-American" all-natural classic baseball shortbread cookie," available online and at Cooperstown area businesses. You can read all about the cookies and Patti's dedication to reaching out to others in her business at our "Cooperstown Sweets" section at CooperstownForKids.com.

Why We Love the Doubleday Cafe

2008-10-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

No matter how many restaurants we try every time we visit Cooperstown, we always return to the Doubleday Cafe. With its spirited bar/restaurant setting with high ceilings, brick walls, and picture-windows overlooking the lively colorful Main St., the Doubleday Cafe acts as sort of an unofficial community meeting place for locals as well as informed visitors who know the greatness of this Cooperstown dining landmark. Hitting a home run with virtually every breakfast, lunch and dinner item we've tried, we love the Doubleday for its food, its quick and friendly service, reasonable pricing and its pride of ownership. It's a terrific place for an omelette, salad, burger or fish or steak dinner special as well as some really great gooey, chocolate-based desserts Not only does the Doubleday Cafe capture the spirit of Cooperstown within its modest settings, but it does so with perhaps the most consistently good food in the Village.

The Doubleday Cafe, 93 Main St., Cooperstown, Tel. 607-547-5468

Read more about Cooperstown dining

Cooperstown For Kids Debuts Short Stories Series

2008-10-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

Our main site, CooperstownForKids.com, recently debuted The Adventures of Goldilocks O'Brien in Cooperstown. This series follows the fictional character Goldilocks O'Brien whose family moved to Cooperstown from New York City. With lots of humor and wonderful discoveries found in Cooperstown, we believe these stories will not only serve as great bedtime stories for your kids, but also as a travel guide, of sorts -- many Cooperstown travel attractions are mentioned in the stories!