Cooperstown
A four-hour drive outside Manhattan sits Cooperstown, a choice destination for families seeking to delve into America’s small-town past in a scenic, unhurried setting. One of Cooperstown’s main draws is its authenticity – the town hasn’t given in to commercialization and therefore, you will find no fast food outlets, chain hotels, or generic food stores disturbing the nostalgic aura of the place. The town’s charm comes from the presence of its one traffic light, gas-lamp street lights and a collection of charming shops, cafes and soda fountains.
Of course for many, the biggest draw of Cooperstown is that fact that it is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, www.baseballhalloffame.org, which draws visitors from all over the world. There are dozens of exhibits, plenty of sports memorabilia, and enough history to satisfy the biggest baseball fan.
But there’s more to this town than baseball. In fact, frequently dubbed the “Village of Museums,” Cooperstown also boasts the world-class Farmers’ Museum, the Fenimore Art Museum and Eugene Thaw Indian Collection. A rare example of neo-classic architecture, Hyde Hall is a stately mansion at the head of Otsego Lake. This is a must for history and architectural buffs, while the Wax Museum’s portrayal of famous players is equally alluring for baseball fans. A scenic drive over the hills to Norwich brings visitors to the Northeast Classic Car Museum with the largest collection of Franklin luxury cars in the world, plus many other extremely rare and unique models and manufacturers. Be sure to allow time to take a train ride on the Leatherstocking Railway.
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