My husband and I are in the early planning stages of a New York driving trip. We are going to give ourselves two nights in Cooperstown to see the Hall of Fame and the town. We have a 7 year old and 2 1/2 year old. I'm getting nervous about finding a place to stay. I don't want an upscale B&B where the kids could be out of place, and I don't want to rent a rustic, far-from-everything cabin or stay in a bad motel on a highway. Just a nice hotel near town, price not really an object. Any other suggestions of things to do places to eat etc. would be welcome. I don't mind doing my own research but it's hard in the beginning when you're trying to whip a vacation plan into shape and you have nothing and are clueless. Thanks in advance.

Personally, I think two nights may be more than you need. Our son, now 15, is a complete baseball fanatic. We visited Cooperstown on August 7th, 2000 which was his 11th birthday (without a doubt, his most memorable birthday to date). Of couse, he loved the Hall of Fame. But, on the whole, we were not particularly impressed with Cooperstown. My husband and I had taken his parents there at least 20 years earlier in the fall of the year. We'd remembered it as a pleasant, smallish town. Visiting in August, it was downright zooey. Admittedly, we didn't really try to do anything other than visit the Hall of Fame, a few souvenir stores and have dinner that night.

We stayed at a small, non-chain motel a few miles out of town on a lake. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name. But it was pleasant.

And the countryside around Cooperstown is really beautiful. I suspect that had we visited at another, less busy, time of year, we might have had a much different feeling about it. Of course, our son would return in a heartbeat! We live in Illinois and our daughter goes to school in Western Massachusetts. Everytime we visit her college we pass fairly close to Cooperstown. It just kills him that we pass that close and won't stop!

Holiday Inn has a new property in Cooperstwon- I think it is a Holiday Inn Express and it gets very very good reviews (check www.tripadvisor.com)
I checked this out a few wks ago thinking we might go for Bogg's induction. How silly of me for thinking that- the thought lasted about two hours. But that Holiday Inn looked like a great place to stay.
Hopefully we will make it up there ourselves someday.

If your worried about hotels, try staying in Utica, 30 minutes north. It is a small city with many hotel choices. Cooperstown, In my opinion, you do not need to spend more than 1 day there. The only attraction is the hall of fame, and maybe some of the gift shops along the Main Street. There is really noting around to do. It is just a normal little rural New York Town.

I agree with the other posters, Cooperstown really only rates one day even for a baseball fanatic unless your there for induction weekend. There is absolutely nothing else in that small town.

Kids that age might like Farmer's Museum. More things you can touch and do rather than just looking at baseball stuff in plastic cases. (I am a baseball nut, but although awed by the history of Hall of Fame, did not find it all that interesting after a few hours.)

Will have to differ with poster who suggested staying in Utica - while risking offending loyal residents of Utica, we found it to be one of the worst cities we have ever stayed in. Unless it has had a downtown revival in the last 5 years, the downtown area has met the fate of many other small cities - lots of vacant storefronts and creepy people. Just out of downtown, however, there are the usual strip malls, chain restaurants, chain hotels which work fine for traveling families.

Since you are in early stages, wondering if you are then heading to Niagara Falls and possibly Toronto - fits in great with Cooperstown trip without adding too many miles and lots to see and do for families. Also have advantage of Canadian-US dollar exchange rate.

You might try the New York State Park website. Our family camped at a glorious state park just outside of Binghamton. The park had cabin rentals, a terrific beach, and was only a short ride from Cooperstown. I would also keep your allotment of days in the area, there are a number of quaint towns and villages worth spending "strolling" time in.

Thanks for everyone's replies. We are planning on flying into NYC and spending a few days, then driving to Cooperstown. I had thought two nights would be ideal in order not to rush through the HOF, but I'm rethinking that after reading everyone's replies. I think I want to head to Niagra Falls after that, and I've been interested in the threads raving about the falls. I am starting to do more NY State research and am open to all input. We really like to drive and explore. We live in Southern California; we even considered heading to Boston or something as part of this trip. I love early vacation planning. There are so many options. But it's overwhelming too. Thanks again everyone.

Are you locked into flying into NYC? With kids that little, I think there may be better options, unless you are set on seeing NYC. Depending on length of your trip, you will be doing a lot of driving - especially if you are flying RT into NYC.

You could fly into Boston, head to Cooperstown, Niagara Falls, Toronto and return to Boston via more northern route thru Canada.

Or you could fly into Toronto, head down to Niagara Falls, Cooperstown - and then spend some time in NY State.

Or you could fly into Buffalo and do similar itinerary.

If you want to see NY or Boston, then, obviously, these cities are good choices into which to fly - but might be too much for one trip with little kids.

You could also fly to Albany, NY
ALB

When our kids were younger, we took them to Cooperstown for a couple of nights. We stood outside of Cooperstown (can't remember where but I think it was a Holiday Inn). I agree, there's not a whole lot to do, but during August, they have tournament games at Cooperstown Dream Park, which is good for a couple of hours of fun. We also spent one day at one of the lakes in the area.

Have a great time at the Hall of Fame - my grown kids still talk about it!

In reply to the airport/flight questions, we are probably going to take Jet Blue from Long Beach. That gives us the chance to plan the trip in legs, so we could fly into NYC and out from another airport.

your Jet Blue airport options would be from Cooperstown Syracuse NY (SYR) or Rochester (ROC)and Boston Mass is 0nly 1hr 30 minutes from Cooperstown

Sorry typo Boston is 4 hr 30 min Syracuse is only 2 hr 30 min from Cooperstown

I realize that this is an old posting, but I feel a need to reply. Cooperstown, I agree has only the Hall of Fame, but it is such a pretty little town. Flying into NYC to go to Cooperstown might be a bit much for the kids...that's a long drive. Syracuse would be your best choice, and I don't think it's a 2 and half hour drive, at least it doesn't feel that way. I personally don't care for Niagara Falls...too touristy and expensive. But it is a pretty site to see. Toronto is a 4 hour drive from Syracuse, so it will be longer from Cooperstown. I love Toronto, but I don't think it's a good choice for small children...the zoo is O.K., nothing great and there is the Hockey Hall of Fame, but you have to love hockey (which I do).
Near Rochester there's an amusement park, called Darien Lake...might want to consider that.
All this info is probably moot, I'm sure by now you have your plans made.
But I wrote this just in case anyone does a search and needs info on Cooperstown.
O.K. I'm done rambling...

Isn't Derian Lake Amusement Park close to Buffalo, mrsd2?

I'm pretty sure it closer to Rochester...but Rochester and Buffalo are only an hour apart.