The Baseball Hall of Fame - Anyone been? (1 Viewer)

[TheIronSheik]

Wanting to take the family up to go see the Baseball Hall of Fame. It's about a 4 1/2 hour drive from where I live. Our thoughts are maybe leaving Friday after work and spending the night in a hotel, then going Saturday.

Has anyone been? I assume it's an all day thing. But if not, is there other stuff close by that the fam should check out?

If anyone has been, do you have any hotel recommendations? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, as always.

TIA
TIS

 

[Limp Ditka]

No one has ever gone. No idea why they even have business hours

 

[Thunderlips]

Cooperstown is a very nice quaint town. There's a big lake there. There's a brewery somewhere there. There's a lot of shops and a couple of bars. Get to the HOF early on Sat.....stay for whoever long.....then go home Sat. night.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Cooperstown is a very nice quaint town. There's a big lake there. There's a brewery somewhere there. There's a lot of shops and a couple of bars. Get to the HOF early on Sat.....stay for whoever long.....then go home Sat. night.

Cool. Have you been?

 

[Thunderlips]

Don't stay at the Cooperstown Motel....but do try to stay in town within walking distance. It's nicer that way.

 

[Keerock]

I've been at least 3 times. If you love baseball, the HOF is awesome. If you like baseball, the HOF is interesting.

Plenty to do around town too... like was mentioned. A few decent restaurants. Lots of shops (most of them baseball themed/related). Several breweries. Doubleday field is cool if you can catch a game there. Lake and hotel on the lake are beautiful.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Man, I'm excited to go now. I've always wanted to go. Just need to figure out where to stay now.

 

[Raider Nation]

shady drove four hours to get there and stayed for 10 minutes.

 

[Don Quixote]

Been a long time since I've been, but it can take as much time as you make of it. I think it was all day for me. You can head over to Doubleday Field or browse the shops if some time to kill.

I guess you can blow by the plaques and be in and out in an hour like shady (baseball forum joke).

 

[Thunderlips]

Cooperstown is a very nice quaint town. There's a big lake there. There's a brewery somewhere there. There's a lot of shops and a couple of bars. Get to the HOF early on Sat.....stay for whoever long.....then go home Sat. night.

Cool. Have you been?

Yeah....a couple of times. I live in Delaware and the last time we went we made it up on a Fri. afternoon/evening. Walked around when we got there....drinks/bite to eat etc. Then Sat. we went to the HOF for like 5-6 hours. After that though....we went home. It really is Baseball Heaven......but if your kids aren't gaga over the sport....the town loses a good amount of charm. IIRC, even the shops in town are pretty cool with their own memorbilia so they're worth popping in.

The Ommegang Brewery is right around there. Get some of that Game of Thrones beer.

I know you can take a boat tour of Lake Ostego and there's a Fennimore Cooper Museum.

I don't remember if its true or not....but I thought the town charter didn't allow any chains or franchises in there.

But the whole thing revolves around baseball.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Cooperstown is a very nice quaint town. There's a big lake there. There's a brewery somewhere there. There's a lot of shops and a couple of bars. Get to the HOF early on Sat.....stay for whoever long.....then go home Sat. night.

Cool. Have you been?

Yeah....a couple of times. I live in Delaware and the last time we went we made it up on a Fri. afternoon/evening. Walked around when we got there....drinks/bite to eat etc. Then Sat. we went to the HOF for like 5-6 hours. After that though....we went home. It really is Baseball Heaven......but if your kids aren't gaga over the sport....the town loses a good amount of charm. IIRC, even the shops in town are pretty cool with their own memorbilia so they're worth popping in.

The Ommegang Brewery is right around there. Get some of that Game of Thrones beer.

I know you can take a boat tour of Lake Ostego and there's a Fennimore Cooper Museum.

I don't remember if its true or not....but I thought the town charter didn't allow any chains or franchises in there.

But the whole thing revolves around baseball.

This is awesome. Sounds like I'd have a similar trip, so this is perfect. Appreciate it!

Did you get hotel reservations in advance, or is it something you can just do when you get there?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

shady drove four hours to get there and stayed for 10 minutes.

That was the worst vacation ever, Dad.

 

[Thunderlips]

Cooperstown is a very nice quaint town. There's a big lake there. There's a brewery somewhere there. There's a lot of shops and a couple of bars. Get to the HOF early on Sat.....stay for whoever long.....then go home Sat. night.

Cool. Have you been?

Yeah....a couple of times. I live in Delaware and the last time we went we made it up on a Fri. afternoon/evening. Walked around when we got there....drinks/bite to eat etc. Then Sat. we went to the HOF for like 5-6 hours. After that though....we went home. It really is Baseball Heaven......but if your kids aren't gaga over the sport....the town loses a good amount of charm. IIRC, even the shops in town are pretty cool with their own memorbilia so they're worth popping in.

The Ommegang Brewery is right around there. Get some of that Game of Thrones beer.

I know you can take a boat tour of Lake Ostego and there's a Fennimore Cooper Museum.

I don't remember if its true or not....but I thought the town charter didn't allow any chains or franchises in there.

But the whole thing revolves around baseball.

This is awesome. Sounds like I'd have a similar trip, so this is perfect. Appreciate it!

Did you get hotel reservations in advance, or is it something you can just do when you get there?

We got them in advance......but we stayed at that Cooperstown Motel. We didn't need to. It was pretty bad. We looked at the Tunnicliff Inn.....but waited too long on getting a reservation. That place was interesting....very much like one of those traditional hotels you'd expect in New England/NY. I know there's Best Westerns outside of town.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Man, I'm excited to go now. I've always wanted to go. Just need to figure out where to stay now.

Was there 2 years ago, and the whole experience of being in/around Cooperstown definitely turned my appreciation of the game into a love of the game. I didn't get to the brewery but heard good things from a friend that went. The lake was pretty cool, as it was clear enough to see the bottom from the surface. Also second the suggestion of catching a game at Doubleday, but be careful: watching a game on the same field that appears at the beginning and end of "A League of Their Own" may cause you to develop unexpected feelings for the movie.

 

[zamboni]

Agree on Ommegang Brewery - good place to go and grab a brew. Should have some eats for the kids, too.

As for places to stay, I think we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express or Best Western - not too far from the town and museum. Nothing special, but decent and at least it's a chain as opposed to some local yokel place.

ETA: would definitely book in advance or you'll wind up staying in Oneonta.

 

[Keerock]

If you can stay at the Otesaga hotel, do it.

ETA: Several very nice B&Bs in town too

 

[Keerock]

Agree on Ommegang Brewery - good place to go and grab a brew. Should have some eats for the kids, too.

As for places to stay, I think we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express or Best Western - not too far from the town and museum. Nothing special, but decent and at least it's a chain as opposed to some local yokel place.

ETA: would definitely book in advance or you'll wind up staying in Oneonta.

Those hotels are 15 minutes from Cooperstown. If you're fine with that, they're decent. Something to be said for staying IN town IMO

 

[fantasycurse42]

Went as a little boy... Good memory that I have, worth a family trip.

That's all I have.

 

[TheIronSheik]

If you can stay at the Otesaga hotel, do it.

ETA: Several very nice B&Bs in town too

Holy crap. That hotel is like $500 a night.

 

[SeaDogStat]

Been there a couple of times... most of the guys have highlighted the various attractions... The HoF is not very interactive (unlike the NBA HoF). It is basically a lot of...stuff. It's enjoyable but will probably be boring to younger kids and, of course teenagers, who are bored by everything at all times.

Tons of shops with great baseball memorabilia and all of it for sale. You can go broke in those shops...

Ommegang brewery has tours and tastings and plenty of craft beer. Three Philosophers is a wheat beer that will kick your ### (9.9% ABV)...it's almost a wine...

Brooks BBQ in Oneonta is a great place to eat... real good food and prices are good for a lot of food.

 

[Gawain]

My mom lives outside of Oneonta, so I've been to Cooperstown a bunch. Was in the hospital there for about 10 days after a car accident as well, but that's a different story.

As Keerock stated, the Otesaga is the best place in town. They do a Sunday brunch that's very good if you want a nice meal, but don't want to drop the coin on staying there.

One of the real advantages to staying in town is that parking is a major pain. From the motels/field of dreams south of town, there is a trolley that runs, but then you are beholden to that schedule.

Cooperstown is a great long weekend trip, but there's not enough to do there for an entire week. Ommegang and the Cooperstown Brewing Company are both south of town. IIRC, there are a couple wineries down that way for the fairer sex as well. If you have an extra day, taking in Howe caverns may be worth your while. The place is still pretty impressive as an adult. The wife and I did a candle light tour the last time we were up that way. Shopping is about 95% baseball related (as it should be) and the last time I went I couldn't find a Kent Hrbek autograph. Heavy on the Yankees because of the demographics.

If you have any questions, shoot me a PM.

 

[Keerock]

If you can stay at the Otesaga hotel, do it.

ETA: Several very nice B&Bs in town too

Holy crap. That hotel is like $500 a night.

Can you get it on kayak or with a AAA discount?

 

[zamboni]

If you can stay at the Otesaga hotel, do it.

ETA: Several very nice B&Bs in town too

Holy crap. That hotel is like $500 a night.

Yes, you're going to pay for convenience. I liked the aforementioned Holiday Inn or Best Western since even though it was a bit of drive, it wasn't too far away (near Cooperstown Dreams fields), and it's not like there's a ton of nightlife in town.

 

[Gawain]

Depending on where you are coming from and what your kids are into, the Soccer Hall of Fame is also in Oneonta (30 minutes south). I've never been, but if you've got a kid who is into soccer, it might be worth a stop.

 

[SeaDogStat]

If you can stay at the Otesaga hotel, do it.

ETA: Several very nice B&Bs in town too

Holy crap. That hotel is like $500 a night.

We stayed at one of the B&B's... The Phoenix Inn, I believe... which was very nice and way cheaper than 500 a night... lol But, as always, it depends on the dates you go but here is a link to B&B's in cooperstown area and some are running deals now

http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/cooperstown-new-york.html

 

[TheIronSheik]

My mom lives outside of Oneonta, so I've been to Cooperstown a bunch. Was in the hospital there for about 10 days after a car accident as well, but that's a different story.

As Keerock stated, the Otesaga is the best place in town. They do a Sunday brunch that's very good if you want a nice meal, but don't want to drop the coin on staying there.

One of the real advantages to staying in town is that parking is a major pain. From the motels/field of dreams south of town, there is a trolley that runs, but then you are beholden to that schedule.

Cooperstown is a great long weekend trip, but there's not enough to do there for an entire week. Ommegang and the Cooperstown Brewing Company are both south of town. IIRC, there are a couple wineries down that way for the fairer sex as well. If you have an extra day, taking in Howe caverns may be worth your while. The place is still pretty impressive as an adult. The wife and I did a candle light tour the last time we were up that way. Shopping is about 95% baseball related (as it should be) and the last time I went I couldn't find a Kent Hrbek autograph. Heavy on the Yankees because of the demographics.

If you have any questions, shoot me a PM.

The Otesaga looks awesome. But that's a lot of coin to drop for a weekend trip. Since you are familiar with the area, do you have any suggestions for places to stay in town, that won't break the bank? I mean, I don't mind spending more money than a normal hotel stay, but $500 is crazy to me.

 

[jwb]

If you can stay at the Otesaga, do it.

ETA: Several very nice B&Bs in town too

Holy crap. That hotel is like $500 a night.

Can you get it on kayak or with a AAA discount?

If you do this on a weekday, and book in advance, it's not bad. My wife and I are going in a few weeks, booked 2 months ago, and it was something like 239 a night. Never stayed there, so looking forward to it.

Been to the BBHOF twice (once as a kid, and once about 13 years ago) and really liked it both times. It's a solid 2-3 hours if you take your time and absorb what you are seeing, but you can make it a lot longer if you want. The town is an excellent walking town with a ton of shops, restaurants, bars, etc. I would definitely try to stay in town if you can because yes, parking is at a premium.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Appreciate all of the great advice, guys. This is very helpful.

 

[Gawain]

My mom lives outside of Oneonta, so I've been to Cooperstown a bunch. Was in the hospital there for about 10 days after a car accident as well, but that's a different story.

As Keerock stated, the Otesaga is the best place in town. They do a Sunday brunch that's very good if you want a nice meal, but don't want to drop the coin on staying there.

One of the real advantages to staying in town is that parking is a major pain. From the motels/field of dreams south of town, there is a trolley that runs, but then you are beholden to that schedule.

Cooperstown is a great long weekend trip, but there's not enough to do there for an entire week. Ommegang and the Cooperstown Brewing Company are both south of town. IIRC, there are a couple wineries down that way for the fairer sex as well. If you have an extra day, taking in Howe caverns may be worth your while. The place is still pretty impressive as an adult. The wife and I did a candle light tour the last time we were up that way. Shopping is about 95% baseball related (as it should be) and the last time I went I couldn't find a Kent Hrbek autograph. Heavy on the Yankees because of the demographics.

If you have any questions, shoot me a PM.

The Otesaga looks awesome. But that's a lot of coin to drop for a weekend trip. Since you are familiar with the area, do you have any suggestions for places to stay in town, that won't break the bank? I mean, I don't mind spending more money than a normal hotel stay, but $500 is crazy to me.

I've never stayed in Cooperstown (well, besides the hospital which I don't recommend), but IIRC there's a couple places on Route 28 N heading out of town that looked nice and are still within walking distance. Something like below looks nice. I'd just try to stay in the village.

http://www.mainstreetbandb.info/

 

[shadyridr]

Before i read, O/u on how many posts about me? 3.5. Checking now

 

[shadyridr]

1? Im disappointed in you guys

 

[comfortably numb]

I camped out at this place http://www.belvederelake.com/

Was cool.

They have a 3-4 hole golf course.

People were nice.

There is a lake.

I drove into to Cooperstown but didn't go in. Just hung out on main street for a bit.

 

[TheIronSheik]

1? Im disappointed in you guys

I counted 3.

 

[shadyridr]

Ok my honest review...

It took us 4 hrs to get there. We drove from Staten island. We stayed in a cheap motel outside cooperstown and then left for the HOF first thing in the morning. The town is a quiet little town with not much to do. Keep in mind i went in my mid twenties with no kids at the time. Baseball card shops and antiques stores wasnt my kind of fun at the time. The HOF itself was amazing but it seemed a little small. I think i just built it up in my head to be this amazing place. And it was just was grumpy after the four hour drive. The room with the plaques was amazing. I got chills. Basically i spent about 2 hours in the hall and felt like i did it all.

In retrospect, i honestly cant wait to go back when my son is old enough and share the experience with him. Ill definitely savor it more the next time. Ive loved baseball my whole life but i dont think i was mature enough to appreciate the majesty of the trip.

 

[shadyridr]

1? Im disappointed in you guys

I counted 3.

i glanced thru the thread quicker than i ran theu the hall. Hey yooooooooooo

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

went as a kid the year after the tigers won the world series, dont remember much except my dad #####ing how expensive the tigers jersey he bought me was

 

[Dickie Dunn]

I've been twice. First stop was just to kill an afternoon on the way from Syracuse to the Albany area.

But then I went to the induction ceremonies in 1997, when Niekro (nice guy) and Lasorda (nowhere near as personable as he is made out to be) went in. Had to stay at a KOA way outside of town and do the parking/shuttle thing, but through connections my group basically had the run of the place the whole time there. Definitely a great time if you're into baseball history, nostalgia, collectibles, etc.

The saddest thing was seeing Pete Rose set up at an outdoor cafe on the main street selling autographs for about $20/pop.

 

[Limp Ditka]

1? Im disappointed in you guys

So fitting

 

[Eephus]

Ok my honest review...

It took us 4 hrs to get there. We drove from Staten island. We stayed in a cheap motel outside cooperstown and then left for the HOF first thing in the morning. The town is a quiet little town with not much to do. Keep in mind i went in my mid twenties with no kids at the time. Baseball card shops and antiques stores wasnt my kind of fun at the time. The HOF itself was amazing but it seemed a little small. I think i just built it up in my head to be this amazing place. And it was just was grumpy after the four hour drive. The room with the plaques was amazing. I got chills. Basically i spent about 2 hours in the hall and felt like i did it all.

In retrospect, i honestly cant wait to go back when my son is old enough and share the experience with him. Ill definitely savor it more the next time. Ive loved baseball my whole life but i dont think i was mature enough to appreciate the majesty of the trip.

When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

 

[shadyridr]

Ok my honest review...

It took us 4 hrs to get there. We drove from Staten island. We stayed in a cheap motel outside cooperstown and then left for the HOF first thing in the morning. The town is a quiet little town with not much to do. Keep in mind i went in my mid twenties with no kids at the time. Baseball card shops and antiques stores wasnt my kind of fun at the time. The HOF itself was amazing but it seemed a little small. I think i just built it up in my head to be this amazing place. And it was just was grumpy after the four hour drive. The room with the plaques was amazing. I got chills. Basically i spent about 2 hours in the hall and felt like i did it all.

In retrospect, i honestly cant wait to go back when my son is old enough and share the experience with him. Ill definitely savor it more the next time. Ive loved baseball my whole life but i dont think i was mature enough to appreciate the majesty of the trip.

When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

was that written on a plaque i skipped by?

 

[Don Quixote]

Ok my honest review...

It took us 4 hrs to get there. We drove from Staten island. We stayed in a cheap motel outside cooperstown and then left for the HOF first thing in the morning. The town is a quiet little town with not much to do. Keep in mind i went in my mid twenties with no kids at the time. Baseball card shops and antiques stores wasnt my kind of fun at the time. The HOF itself was amazing but it seemed a little small. I think i just built it up in my head to be this amazing place. And it was just was grumpy after the four hour drive. The room with the plaques was amazing. I got chills. Basically i spent about 2 hours in the hall and felt like i did it all.

In retrospect, i honestly cant wait to go back when my son is old enough and share the experience with him. Ill definitely savor it more the next time. Ive loved baseball my whole life but i dont think i was mature enough to appreciate the majesty of the trip.

When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

I found the "legend":

I went to Cooperstown. It ####in sucked. The museum is very small. 4 hour drive and we were in and out of the museum in about an hour.

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=665197&p=15204718

 

[Mohawk]

Haven't read the entire thread, but camping is an excellent option of you are into that. Wife and I took kids to see Cal Ripkin inducted. Had great fun. Stayed at Lake Caroga, about a half hour drive from Cooperstown and "commuted" in for a few days. Great small town to hang out in during summer months

 

[bweiser]

not much to add. been there a few times. most recent was probably 30 years ago. (wow, that long?)

friend wanted to go while we were college aged. we left at like 6 a.m., he drove up (i slept). we went to the HofF. he drove back.. (i probably slept).

great times.

i don't think you need other activities if you are only going to be there one day. you said you want to take your 'family' so i guess it depends on the age and baseball interest level of your kids.

you've given me an idea for the next couple of months, though. live outside philly, so i'm probably 4.5 hours away as well.

 

[Judge Smails]

Never been to Cooperstown. On my bucket list. But for those living in So Cal there is a baseball exhibition at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library that looks really cool. 5 minutes from my house so I'll be going.

http://www.reaganfoundation.org/details_f.aspx?p=LM2024ETEX&h1=0&h2=0&lm=libraryandmuseum&args_a=cms&args_b=35&argsb=N&tx=2984&sw=2984

 

[Zegras11]

Say to Pete for me.

Went right before 9/11. Stay at lease two days.

 

[Skipdog77]

Been many times (only live about an hour and a half away), and taking the family up on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend for the Hall of Fame Classic game, a bunch of retired players playing a game on Doubleday. Tickets were like $12, and guys like Hideki Matsui, Pudge Rodriguez, Ozzie Smih, and others are scheduled to be there. Plus there is a 'Family Catch' on Doubleday that evening that the kids will eat up. It's a great way to spend a day or two.

 

[Premier]

shady drove four hours to get there and stayed for 10 minutes.

was wondering how long it would take to get to this.

 

[TheIronSheik]

not much to add. been there a few times. most recent was probably 30 years ago. (wow, that long?)

friend wanted to go while we were college aged. we left at like 6 a.m., he drove up (i slept). we went to the HofF. he drove back.. (i probably slept).

great times.

i don't think you need other activities if you are only going to be there one day. you said you want to take your 'family' so i guess it depends on the age and baseball interest level of your kids.

you've given me an idea for the next couple of months, though. live outside philly, so i'm probably 4.5 hours away as well.

Yup. I'm also right outside of Philly.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Has anyone been?

They built it, yet oddly nobody came. Turns out the whole If-you-build-it-they-will-come schtick was just a marketing ploy.

 

[jwb]

Back from this little three-day / two night trip. Was really, really fun.

We stayed at the Otesaga... man, what a place. It's pricey (off season, we paid about 239 per), but it was definitely worth that. Probably the nicest hotel we have ever stayed in, very friendly staff, excellent breakfast - just a first class experience.

The HoF was great. It's smaller than I remember, but we still took a good 2.5 hours. The collection of World Series Rings is really nice - don't remember that being there before. I spent 20 minutes just looking at the different rings / details of each. My wife liked it, too.

We ate in town twice - dinner at an Italian place right in the middle of town (Nicholetta's),which was very good, and lunch at the Doubleday Café (which wasn't.) We also started our trip with lunch at brewery Ommegang - great food, interesting beers, and a really nice store. We spent about $100 on take-home beers and accessories.

Less bars in town than I seem to remember. But the Otesaga has an awesome (and huge) outside firepit table / bar that's really cool. Bartender pours a pretty heavy double, too. Was nice talking to the staff about the players that stay there. Yogi is a favorite, for sure. Tons of shops, but like mentioned, almost all are baseball related (with a lot of overlap). Tons of autographed balls, even by marginal players - seems like any major leaguer who came into town autographed a few. There's a fantastic used bookstore in town - if you like books, count on spending at least an hour in there.

There's also a Farmer's Museum right outside of town that's good for another 2-3 hours (especially if you have kids), and great farm market / cider mill (fly creek, I think?) about 15 min away. So a nice weekend trip. The whole place is really empty this time of year, which is nice - you can park right in front of the Hall.