Cooperstown, on Lake Otsego, was established in 1786 by Judge and Congressman William Cooper. He bought about 10,000 acres of land, then sold plots with a 10-year salvage plan that would become the first planned community in the United States. His son, James Fenimore Cooper, has written about life in this Iroquois border region, becoming America’s first international bestselling author with “The Leatherstocking Tales” and “The Last of the Mohicans”.

Today, Cooperstown is a charming one-stop-shop that offers visitors a slice of Americana. It was recognized as one of the “25 Best Small Towns in America” by Architectural Digest Magazine (2018) and one of the “Most Charming Small Towns in America” by MSN.com.

Almost 300,000 people annually visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located on Main Street in downtown Cooperstown. Allow two to three hours or more to explore the history of the sport and its many magical moments.

Get deeper into the spirit of the game at Doubleday Field. The stadium named in honor of Abner Doubleday hosts matches several times a day between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Most are free and open to the public.

Cooperstown Bat Company manufactures professional grade professional bats for players of all ages, using woods such as maple, ash and birch. It also offers personalized bats for gifts for all occasions. The company has a retail store on Main Street in Cooperstown. To see how bats are made, visit the CBC factory at 3152 County Road 11 in Hartwick.