...because 36 hours just isn't enough for Cooperstown.
We're all about exploring the untrodden path, but do yourself (and your bucket list) a favor: make sure you don't miss the 'musts' during a trip to Cooperstown and Otsego County. Here's a sample three-day, four-night itinerary to help keep you on schedule with some room to explore other hidden gems.
Day One
Get Down Witte It
3:30 pm Kick off your trip to Cooperstown with a trip to Brewery Ommegang, one of Cooperstown's numerous breweries paying homage to the region's beverage-making tradition – Cooperstown and Otsego County once led the country in hops production until a blight eradicated most of the region's hops crops at the turn of the 20th century. After a brewery tour, head to Café Ommegang for some frites and waffles.
Bevvy Up
8:00 pm Head back to your B&B or hotel in Cooperstown and enjoy a nightcap – or keep the first-day-of-vacation-woooo! party going and head to the Cooperstown Beverage Exchange for a cocktail creation sure to knock your socks off. Just don't party too hard – big day ahead tomorrow.
Day Two
The Most Important Meal of the Day
7:30 am ...at Doubleday Café. This tiny diner is the perfect place to fuel up for a day of adventures in Cooperstown, baseball inclined or otherwise. Try one of their loaded omelets or keep it simple with a combo order of eggs, home fries, toast, and coffee. You can't go wrong with breakfast here.
Baseball's Mecca
9:00 am It wouldn't be a visit to Cooperstown without a stop at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Beat the crowds and get started early on Friday morning to maximize your visit and lessen your drool output as you take in a serious amount of baseball artifacts and memorabilia from your favorite players.
Pack a Picnic
1:00 pm Grab a sandwich from Spurbeck's Grocery, and head to Council Rock Park or Lake Front Park to relax over lunch next to Otsego Lake while you download from all of that baseball history and memorabilia you just saw. Also one of Cooperstown's most Instagrammable spots.
Shopping Home Run
2:00 pm Head back to Main Street Cooperstown and explore Cooperstown's many shops, offering everything from baseball wares and curios to arts and crafts from local artists.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
3:30 pm During or after your Main Street shopping spree, visit the field widely considered the birthplace of baseball: Doubleday Field. If you're lucky, an exhibition game might be in action during your visit.
Foodie Dreams
6:30 pm Dinner and drinks at the Otesaga Hawkeye Bar & Grill, a modern-gourmet meal at Mel's 22, farm-to-table fare at Mel's at 22, a short trip to the famous Brooks House of BBQ or Dazzo's in Oneonta – you can't make a bad choice for where to eat in Otsego County.
Day Three
Lead Off with a Sweet Treat
8:30 am Kick off your day with coffee and a sweet treat at Schneider's Bakery or Stagecoach Coffee. OR do yourself a favor and take the drive out to the Five Kids Bakehouse in Gilbertsville early in the morning. You'll thank us later. You're going to need it for this busy day...
1840s Time Travel
9:00 am Head to The Farmers' Museum and step back in time to life in Central New York circa the 1840s, complete with an authentic living history experience at the authentic Blacksmith Shop, Pharmacy, Bump Tavern, and Lippitt Farmstead.
Art Walk
12:00 pm Head across the street to the Fenimore Art Museum. Grab a light bite in the Fenimore Cafe to eat in their beautiful gardens before catching their star temporary exhibition
Marc Hom: Re-Framed, on display through September 2. You'll also find one of the largest collections of American Indian art in the country, The Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art.
Otsego by Boat OR By Rail
2:30 pm Hop aboard the Glimmerglass Queen for a one-hour tour of Otsego Lake, take a scenic ride the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad or on a pedal-assisted rail bike through Rail Explorers USA, or take a DIY route and rent a canoe, kayak, or stand up paddleboard from Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Sales to explore on your own.
A Night at the Theater
7:30 pm Enjoy a night at the opera at The Glimmerglass Festival every Saturday starting July 21 through August 20. This year's festival includes original productions of Pagliacci, the Pirates of Penzance, Elizabeth Cree and La Calisto.
Day Four
A Family Affair
10:00 am Take it easy Sunday morning and head to the newly expanded Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard for some good old-fashioned family fun. With the Mill Marketplace at your fingertips, it's also a great time to stock up on gifts and goodies to take home with you.