Willis, Read!

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

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

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!

Lake Swimming Near Cooperstown

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.

Mom will Love the Shopping Opportunities in Cooperstown, NY!

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.

The Friendly, Welcoming Cooperstown Bed and Breakfast

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