Tips for Driving to Cooperstown?

[Ursa Major]

A little out of the ordinary inquiry here. Ursa Minor, Mrs. Major (the Majorette?), and I are finally going to go to Cooperstown next month. We're going directly from New York City and are trying to figure out the best way to drive there. So far, I've read at least four different route suggestions for when to turn off after driving up I-87:

1. Turn left onto Rte 28 at Kingston and take 28 all the way through the middle of the Catskills to Cooperstown.

2. Go further north on I-87 and turn left onto Rte. 23 about Hudson and wind through the north edge of the Catskills.

3. Again take the Rte. 23 exit at Hudson but veer right at Cairo and take Rte. 145 North until you connect up with I-88.

4. Take I-87 all the way up to Albany, and double back on the throughway that way.

Which way would you guys suggest we go? Plus points for the Catskills scenery, but minus for roads that are too windy, as Ursa Minor gets a little carsick at times.

Many thanks for helping us out on our dream trip.

[Ursa Major]

We're leaving for New York on Tuesday. Last call for driving tips to get to Cooperstown? Good places to eat there?

[BlueBlood]

Wish I could tell you, but I've never been. I've been studying the maps of the area a lot lately since I'm moving out to Syracuse...I'll see if anything pops up.

[Captain Cold Nose]

The Tunnicliff Inn is popular. So is the Lake Front, pretty good seafood place on the lake.

Dining in Cooperstown has seemed to be underwhelming to me in the couple visits I've paid there. In terms of directions, I come from the West, via the Thruway to 28, so I'm not much help to you there in regards to what's best for you.

How long are you going to be there?

[BlueBlood]

Let's hope he's there long enough to install the Ron Santo plaque.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Let's hope he's there long enough to install the Ron Santo plaque.

You want him there for 2-3 years? Because that's about how much longer I think Santo will be out.

[BlueBlood]

Maybe he can use a blowtorch on the Evers plaque and make the face look like Santo?

[Captain Cold Nose]

Maybe he can use a blowtorch on the Evers plaque and make the face look like Santo?

Better bring extra cash for bail, Ursa.

[Ursa Major]

Thanks for the tips. We'll just be driving in from Albany on Wednesday morning (8/13/08) and doing the day there, then returning to NYC on the following morning. We'll ask around about places to eat, but that will be a secondary consideration.

We decided to take it safe and drive up through Albany so we're not trying to navigate Catskill roads in what could be inclement weather in the evening. We'll probably take a chance on some route through the Catskills depending on the weather in order to get back to New York.

We just saw the Daniel Day Lewis version of Last of the Mohicans and thought it made the area look pretty, then discovered as the credits rolled that the exteriors were apparently shot in North Carolina! Oh well.

Sneaking in a Ron Santo plaque (or altering one to add him)??? Well, maybe if I've got Ryne Sandberg there checking for guards for me.

[Yankwood]

My tip is: Go to the bathroom when you see a rest stop before Herkimer. Once past a certain point on the NYS Thruway and with all the winding roads and hills once you exit, you may be in trouble if you have a grapefruit sized prostate like I do.

[Ursa Major]

My tip is: Go to the bathroom when you see a rest stop before Herkimer. Once past a certain point on the NYS Thruway and with all the winding roads and hills once you exit, you may be in trouble if you have a grapefruit sized prostate like I do.
Ahh, for those of us over fifty, THAT is an MVP (Most Valuable Post). Thanks, YW.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Thanks for the tips. We'll just be driving in from Albany on Wednesday morning (8/13/08) and doing the day there, then returning to NYC on the following morning. We'll ask around about places to eat, but that will be a secondary consideration.

We decided to take it safe and drive up through Albany so we're not trying to navigate Catskill roads in what could be inclement weather in the evening. We'll probably take a chance on some route through the Catskills depending on the weather in order to get back to New York.

We just saw the Daniel Day Lewis version of Last of the Mohicans and thought it made the area look pretty, then discovered as the credits rolled that the exteriors were apparently shot in North Carolina! Oh well.

Sneaking in a Ron Santo plaque (or altering one to add him)??? Well, maybe if I've got Ryne Sandberg there checking for guards for me.


The area is pretty. Because there isn't much to do in Copperstown itself once you see the museum and go to the shops, we decided to drive down to Oneonta. Now, Oneonta isn't much, there's a small college and the actual Soccer HOF (Copperstown has an auxilliary) is there. But the area is very scenic.

[Ursa Major]

Just got back from our trip, and I thought I'd offer some follow-up advice. As you may recall, my family and I were going to go to Cooperstown from New York City and were trying to figure out the best way to drive there from the different route suggestions I'd seen as to when to turn off after driving up I-87. We went up the "safe" way :

Take I-87 all the way up to Albany, and double back on the throughway that way.

... and returned the "riskiest" way:

Turn left onto Rte 28 at Kingston and take 28 all the way through the middle of the Catskills to Cooperstown.

Well, it turned out that both ways are just fine, but on balance I'd suggest taking the allegedly risky way, going all the way on Route 28. First, it's probably the quickest, as it's got the shortest driving distance. Second, you can't get lost, because you stay on one route all the way, which dumps you off in the middle of Cooperstown about 300 yards from the HOF.

And, third, there's no real risk, as it's a wide two-to-four lane highway all the way, not particularly windy (Ursa Minor read through much of the route and wasn't car sick at all), and even though we had some rain en route, there was no problem whatsoever. Fourth, Route 28 takes you through some nice little towns in the Catskills. You actually pass within about three miles of Woodstock, for those of a certain age who want to re-live that memory (or go pay homage to it if they missed it).

By the way, suggestions re Cooperstown:

We stayed at the Mohican Motel, which was within walking distance of the HOF (a big plus, as parking is about $15 per day otherwise) and by far the cheapest place in town. It was perfectly serviceable.

Good places to eat:

Home Plate Cafe: huge portions of good comfort food and it's open late (if you're staying at the HOF til its 9:00 p.m. closing time).

Doubleday Cafe: very reasonably priced-breakfasts and nice atmosphere. (Waitresses wore Tshirts that say "A drinking town with a baseball problem.")

Thanks for the tips y'all in helping to make it a once in a lifetime experience for us. I hope you all get a chance to make the pilgrimage. Even Mrs. Major -- who is a casual baseball fan at best -- got caught up in all the history.

Just for fun, here's a picture of Ursa Minor and me proudly wearing our New York Giants hats circa 1951 standing in front of the actual hat and shoes worn by Bobby Thompson when he hit his "Shot Heard 'round the World" against the Dodgers in October 1951:

http://s95294420.onlinehome.us/userfiles/ShotRoundWrlda.jpg

And, for those who haven't seen the main gallery where the HOF plaques are displayed, well . . . it's sort of like walking into a cathedral. Here's a picture of it (that's U. Minor and Mrs. Major in the middle).

http://s95294420.onlinehome.us/userfiles/Gallery.jpg

[BlueBlood]

I always wondered what the plaque situation is like...when Cooperstown, the Football Hall of Fame & the Rock Hall amongst others continue to add names while already hosting hundreds, it's only fitting that there be a large enough area to accommodate each. Otherwise, you're giving incredible disservice to the most important part of a Hall of Fame. Thanks for that photo. Also, great tips. The second I get a car, I'll turn it into a weekend excursion (or a long day trip).

[Captain Cold Nose]

Sounds like you had a great time, Ursa.

In Cooperstown. Cooperstown. Not Copperstown, even though I keep typing it that way. Cooperstown.

The Doubleday Cafe does sell those shirts, I've seen them around here in Ohio.

[Brooklyn]

I just saw this post, and was about to respond, then read down and realized I'm too late. Since I'm too late anyway, I thought I'd throw out one more way - taking RT 17-W in Harriman. 17W/23/28 are all about the same distance / scenary, so if 23 was a one-road, straight shot, then I think you made the right choice coming home.

Albany is probalby a half hour out of your way, so I wouldn't have advised that, unless you always wanted to see the capital building.

Sounds like you had a great trip. My little one is far from age to go yet, but I can't wait until she is older an I can take her (I only hope she is interested!)

[Ursa Major]

I always wondered what the plaque situation is like...when Cooperstown, the Football Hall of Fame & the Rock Hall amongst others continue to add names while already hosting hundreds, it's only fitting that there be a large enough area to accommodate each.In the main gallery room in the near part of the picture, plaques for inductees from 1937 to about 2002 are on the walls of the side cubicle areas. The original 1936 inductee plaques are in the center of the wall at the far end, just into the next room; the newest inductee plaques are on the side panels in that far room. There appears to be room for about ten more years of inductees, then they will have to re-configure it somehow.

I was surprised that there isn't any separate display of memorabilia or highlights for each member beyond the plaque itself. Each member may well be highlighted somewhere else in the Hall's museum (say, within the display for his team or of the Negro Leagues), but not necessarily.
Albany is probably a half hour out of your way, so I wouldn't have advised that, unless you always wanted to see the capital building.Mapquest says it's about 20 minutes further. We went that way because our flight into JFK was to arrive at 5:30, and we knew that we couldn't make it to Cooperstown until too late to get into the small motel we'd chosen. Because Albany was only 90 minutes from Cooperstown and had motels that would stay open late (the Catskills doesn't have a Motel 6), it seemed to make sense to drive up to Albany, crash there for a relatively cheap price (at the Day's Inn there), and then get up early the next morning to drive up to Cooperstown. Plus, driving through the Catskills late at night with rain threatening didn't seem like a good idea; sacrificing a few minutes to be able to stay on the Interstate for our late night driving was worth it.
My little one is far from age to go yet, but I can't wait until she is older an I can take her (I only hope she is interested!)We saw quite a few young girls, though those under age 10 seemed to be squirming a bit. Because it's all about the history, even a youngster who enjoys the game may not get the thrill that UMinor and I did when we glanced down at a display case and saw the glove that Willie Mays used to make the famous "over the shoulder/head" catch on the Vic Wertz drive in the 1954 World Series. What might make sense is to get the combined $22.00 ticket (regular HOF admission is $16, which is a steal) and let her spend a couple of hours in the HOF and then have Mom take her up the road a mile to the Farmer's Museum or the Fenimore Cooper Museum, which are of a bit more general interest (while you of course stay at the HOF and wallow in history some more).

[Brooklyn]

I...and let her spend a couple of hours in the HOF and then have Mom take her up the road a mile to the Farmer's Museum or the Fenimore Cooper Museum, which are of a bit more general interest (while you of course stay at the HOF and wallow in history some more).

I would, of course stay in the HOF while they disappeared. However, I don't foresee my wife wanting anyhting to do with this trip. My daughter is only 2, so I have many years of family baseball watching to groom her for such a trip.

[STLCards2]

Check out the Agricultural Museum outside of town. It is very interesting.

[csh19792001]

Check out the Agricultural Museum outside of town. It is very interesting.

Anyone who goes to the Hall should definately stop at the Otesaga Hotel. Absolutely beautiful, right on Lake Otsego. Incidentally, several scenes from the movie "Cobb" were shot there.

Also, if possible (coming from anywhere to the east) take Rt-31 down the east side of Lake Otsego. It's a very scenic drive, especially in the fall.

[Ursa Major]

Actually, we'd planned to go down Rte 31 but missed the turnoff for it, and we ended up coming down Rte 80 along the west side, which was pretty in its own right.

Brooklyn, I think even a 2 year old can enjoy the Farmer's Museum (I assume that's the same museum as SLCards2 refers to as the "agricultural museum") -- there's a lot of outdoor farm equipment, barns and other exhibits. And, through September, the Fenimore Cooper museum has a display of wooden carousel horses. To get the wife to go along with the plan, perhaps you can mention these attractions and make it a trade -- you get a day in Cooperstown, and then she gets some shopping time in Manhattan.

[STLCards2]

Brooklyn, I think even a 2 year old can enjoy the Farmer's Museum (I assume that's the same museum as SLCards2 refers to as the "agricultural museum") -- there's a lot of outdoor farm equipment, barns and other exhibits. And, through September, the Fenimore Cooper museum has a display of wooden carousel horses.

Yeah, that's it!:)