This NY town combines small-town charm with world-class attractions.
In central New York, at the southern tip of Otsego Lake, the village of Cooperstown is famed for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, home to memorabilia and hands-on exhibits. The Fenimore Art Museum is another top attraction and has gardens overlooking Otsego Lake and a Seneca Log House and Mohawk Bark House. Outdoor activities on offer in surrounding Otsego County include everything from swimming to snowmobiling to hiking and biking.
Otsego Lake
Otsego Lake got its “glimmerglass” nickname from James Fenimore Cooper in his “Leatherstocking Tales.” Head 10 miles north of Cooperstown into Glimmerglass State Park, which overlooks the shimmering lake, and you’ll understand why. The rolling, partially wooded terrain is the setting for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, and swimming in summer and tubing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, and ice fishing in winter. The park’s campground is open from May to October.
Howe Caverns
Fifty minutes east of Cooperstown, you can explore the rock formations and twisting corridors of the largest cavern in the northeast by taking a boat ride on the underground river. Above ground is an adventure park featuring a zip line, ropes course, and rock wall.
Little Falls
A 45-minute drive north of Cooperstown, Little Falls lies in a deep gorge of the Mohawk River Valley and is a popular spot for rock climbing. Moss Island, on the river in the middle of town, has a wide range of easy to challenging climbs.
Cooperstown and surrounding Otsego County is a four-season destination. The long, sunny days of spring and summer are ideal for enjoying hiking trails and swimming beaches, but the rich colors of fall draw visitors out of season, while winter offers lots of fun snowy activities, from cross-country skiing to snowshoeing and ice fishing.