Cooperstown& OTSEGO COUNTY, NY America’s Best Small Town FOR THE ARTS, CRAFT BEVERAGES, AND BASEBALL ThisIsCooperstown.com Catch me in COOPERSTOWN & OTSEGO COUNTY I fell in love with the Cooperstown area the moment I first visited. We have something to offer people of all ages and interests. It’s an incredible place to live, work and play. From the craft beverage scene to the outdoor activities and the incredible restaurants, I would rather opt into a stay-cation than a vacation. Come visit, I promise you’ll love Otsego County! CASSANDRA HARRINGTON Executive Director and Tourism Promotion Agent Cooperstown/Otsego County, NY On the cover: Kingfisher Tower, Cooperstown, NY Inside: Otsego Lake, photo by Cooperstown Getaway, Chip Henderson 2 Explore Inside 4 BASEBALL 12 OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES From Hall of Famers to bat makers, Scenic four-season adventures, baseball begins in Cooperstown. on land and water. 6 FAMILY FUN 14 OUR TOWNS Memories are made of these Otsego County at a glance. back-to-basics experiences. 16 BEYOND COOPERSTOWN 8 FOOD & DRINK Explore the entire county and the Delicious discoveries, paired with Central New York region. artisanal craft beverages. 18 WHERE TO STAY 10 ARTS & CULTURE Lodging options for groups of Art, music, and more “big city” all sizes. culture — in a small-town setting. Lodging Baseball Shopping Museums Craft Outdoors Arts Beverage ThisIsCooperstown.com 3 Baseball Passion For Our National Pastime From Hall of Famers to bat makers, baseball begins in Cooperstown Little did Abner Doubleday life, then take time to walk know he was creating the through the Plaque Gallery, country’s national pastime when where inductees are immortalized he sketched out a diagram of a in bronze. baseball diamond with a stick in If you’re planning a summer the dirt back in 1839. Or so goes visit, consider coming out for the the popular telling of the birth of festivities surrounding the Hall of IT’S IN THE CARDS baseball. Even though the game’s Fame Induction Weekend or the actual origins are less clear, a visit Hall of Fame Classic. Each event Did you have a baseball card collection as a kid? In to Cooperstown is a top bucket brings both fans and some of the 2019, the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum list experience for baseball fans biggest names in baseball for a will feature a new exhibit, “SHOEBOX TREASURES,” the world over. memorable celebration. that will tell the history of baseball cards, as well as The first stop for any devotee For spring and fall visits, consider is the National Baseball Hall of a VIP Experience, with an their design and fabrication. The “Holy Grail” section Fame & Museum. The ultimate exclusive behind-the-scenes will feature rare cards you’ve only dreamed of shrine to the sport, the museum view of the museum’s collection. owning, like the 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps rookie celebrates baseball’s greatest Alternatively, visit in the winter to legends and most exciting avoid the crowds. card and the Honus Wagner T206 from 1909-11. moments, and pays tribute to To complement your visit, head the game’s history. Explore how to the nearby Heroes of Baseball baseball has touched American Wax Museum to stand alongside 4 PLAN YOUR TRIP TO OTSEGO COUNTY AT ThisIsCooperstown.com Take me there Must See & Do NATIONAL BASEBALL Cooperstown Bat Company HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM CooperstownBat.com (607) 547-2415 baseball’s favorite greats. Then, whether you’re playing in a youth league or hitting homers in the majors, make time to check out the Cooperstown Bat Company, where they’ll fit you National Baseball for the perfect bat. (Insider tip: Cooperstown Bat Company’s factory in nearby Hartwick also Hall of Fame & Museum features bat-turning demonstrations.) From there, browse around Cooperstown’s Main Street BaseballHall.org shops specializing in baseball memorabilia, including commemorative bats, signed baseballs, and vintage baseball cards. (607) 547-7200 For a first-hand view of baseball’s living history, head to Doubleday Field, circa 1920. Within walking distance of the downtown bustle, these majestic grounds date back to the first days of For More Information Visit American baseball. You might catch one of the games that are played almost daily throughout the ThisIsCooperstown.com spring and summer season. To experience the youthful spirit of today’s game, head to Cooperstown Dreams Park, a tournament facility dedicated to developing skills in players twelve and younger. Its popular weekly tournaments run throughout the summer and draw athletes from around the country. On Thursday nights, the weekly series wraps up with a spectacular fireworks display, open to the public and free of charge. For more game action, check out the Oneonta Outlaws and its team comprised of some of the best college-level players in the country. Games are held throughout the summer at Damaschke Field, one of the oldest, most historic ballparks still in use today. BASEBALL Whether visiting as a die-hard baseball buff, up-and-coming young player, or as part of a family love of the game, Cooperstown offers plenty of ways to explore the history and lore of the sport and experience the greatness of the game as its played today. Cooperstown Bat Company 5 Main Street Oneonta When it comes to family vacations, the best times together are spent exploring new places, enjoying new experiences, and making memories. Cooperstown and Otsego County make the perfect backdrop for a fun-filled, relaxed getaway any time of year. To combine fun with learning, step back to a simpler time with a memorable visit to The Farmers’ Museum. Get a firsthand look into 19th-century life through its historic village and farmstead. April through October find hands-on activities, demonstrations, tours, and exhibits that offer insight into the area’s past. Kids love riding the whimsical Empire State Carousel. You can also see the Cardiff Giant, considered America’s Greatest Hoax. Meet cute farm animals, take a hops tour and more. From there, head to the nearby Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard, and take a self-guided tour of the 160+ year old cider press, and watch live pressings in the fall. The on-site Snack Barn & Bakery and Mill Store Marketplace are great options for a treat to enjoy while the kids interact with the millpond waterfowl. For a unique look at nature, visit the Joseph L. Popp Butterfly Conservatory in Oneonta, an indoor tropical garden with more than 150 animals, including summertime butterflies, tropical birds, lizards, tortoises, fish and frogs. Or, head to Kingfisher Lavender in Fly Creek, a small lavender farm and shop with fragrant fields awash in purple hues every summer (June through mid-August). Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad For relaxed fun, ride into history aboard the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad, celebrating its Sesquicentennial (150th Birthday) Family in 2019. There are regularly-scheduled rides and special holiday excursions aboard an 1860s Fun diesel train. Family Memories are Made Here 6 PLAN YOUR TRIP TO OTSEGO COUNTY AT ThisIsCooperstown.com Take me there Must See & Do The Farmers’ Museum FarmersMuseum.org THE FARMERS’ MUSEUM (607) 547-1450 Choices abound for outdoor activity. Take to the area’s lakes or the Susquehanna River via Canoe Fly Creek Cider Mill & Kayak Rentals and Sales for a fair-weather & Orchard adventure. Otsego County’s parks and forests offer great hiking, camping, and fishing in warmer FlyCreekCiderMill.com months, while winter is perfect for a cross-country (607) 547-9692 skiing, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling adventure. Sleep under the stars, at places like Cooperstown Beaver Valley Cabins and Campsites in Milford and For More Information Visit Susquehanna Trail Campground in Oneonta. ThisIsCooperstown.com Whether you’re traveling with a young or young-at-heart baseball fan, the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a special experience. For hands-on fun, test your batting skills at Doubleday Batting Range. Or, swing a club instead, at Barnyard Swing, a family entertainment center with miniature golf, laser tag, gem mining, game room, and the famous Sassy Cow ice cream counter. An indoor alternative, the Clark Sports Center has a rock wall, Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard indoor pools and bowling alley. Recipe from Fly Creek Cider Mill Combine the cider, brown sugar, butter, 3 This syrup is great on pancakes, waffles, vinegar, and lemon juice in a medium ice cream, or as a sweetener for teas! nonreactive saucepan over medium heat. Cook at a low simmer for 30 minutes, or until syrupy and reduced by half. FLY CREEK CIDER CIDER SYRUP MILL & ORCHARD Makes about 2 cups Remove from heat and cool slightly before • 4 cups apple cider using. Store, covered, in refrigerator for up • 1¼ cups packed light brown sugar to 2 weeks. • 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter Excerpted with permission from The Fly Creek • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar Cider Mill Cookbook, by Brenda and Bill Michaels. • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 7 OTSEGO COUNTY’S CRAFT BEVERAGE LEGACY ORIGIN OF THE FARM BREWING RENAISSANCE Not only famous for being the birthplace of baseball, Brewery Ommegang Cooperstown is where American craft beer brewing was reborn. In the 1800s, Cooperstown and Otsego County were considered the country’s capital of hops production, but DELICIOUS production came to a halt during Prohibition, and along with it the demise of the region’s brewers and distillers. DISCOVERIES In 1997, Brewery Ommegang restarted the traditions of craft beer brewing. Returning a 136-acre parcel of Located in New York State’s “heartland,” dining options in Cooperstown farmland to its hops past, Brewery Ommegang was the and Otsego County are as plentiful as the region’s bounty.