An Historic and Fine Arts Tour

Here are some suggestions for planning visits to historic sites, museums and fine arts museums and shops.

Built in 1856, the Fly Creek Cider Mill celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. Visiting this rambling rustic landmark, beautifully decorated with flowering baskets, creative use of space and plantings, is a great way to start your day. Check out the Mill's unique inventory of gifts, hard cider, apple wines, NYS cheeses, and more than 40 samplings of salsas, spreads and specialty foods. Cider Mill Bill and his staff look to greeting you with a hot cup of coffee or cider and a hearty donut when they open at 9 am!

Next it's back to Cooperstown, where you'll visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, located on the village's quaint Main Street. Dedicated in 1939, the Baseball Hall of Fame is the first sports Hall of Fame in America. Over the years, the Hall acquired adjacent buildings as its collections and exhibits grew, and in 2005, it re-dedicated the museum and building after a $21 million renovation. Not to be missed by museum experts, and baseball fans, especially.

The Otesaga Resort Hotel, an Historic Hotel of America built in 1909, is located on Lake Street, going toward your next two stops. This stately hotel, a Cooperstown icon, overlooks the shores of Lake Otsego, made famous by James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales.

You'll visit The Farmers' Museum, an intimate living history museum depicting rural life in New York State circa 1845. About 40 buildings make up an active rural village and working farm where you'll find interpreters, craft demonstrations and hands-on activities side-by-side with heritage animals and plants. The Empire State Carousel, a beautifully hand-crafted, full-sized merry-go-round, is the highlight of the Country Fair at the museum.

You might want to grab a bite to eat at the Herder's Cottage, or at Fenimore Café, across the street at Fenimore Art Museum.

Across the street is Fenimore Art Museum, one of the nation's premier art institutions and home to an exceptionally rich collection of American folk art, American Indian art, decorative art, photography and much more. "Grandma Moses: Grandmother to the Nation" is one of the museum's featured exhibitions from May 27 - December 31, 2006. Formal gardens overlook Otsego Lake, and a short walk to the shores of the lake brings you to an authentic Indian Bark Lodge, which shows how the Iroquois lived in 1750.

If you're struck by the beauty of Fenimore Art Museum's gardens, you'll love Brookwood Gardens, a short drive north of the museum. One of the oldest summer estates on Otsego Lake, Brookwood is a horticultural delight.

For panoramic views of Otsego Lake, pull into Three Mile Point, once owned by James Fenimore Cooper and a public park currently owned by the Village of Cooperstown.

As you mosey north along Route 80, you'll pass the majestic Alice Busch Opera Theater, home to Glimmerglass Opera, an internationally-acclaimed summer festival. This 900-seat theater was designed by Hugh Hardy of Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates. Unusual sliding walls allow the audience to enjoy the fresh air and country views that surround the building. (Ticket sales 607-547-2255)

Historic Hyde Hall is your next stop, located at Glimmerglass State Park on the northern shores of Otsego Lake. Hyde Hall is a stunning reminder of a bygone American era when families of English aristocracy established vast estates in the former colonies. The house itself may well be the finest example of neoclassic country mansions anywhere in America. You can see firsthand the ongoing restoration and learn the history of this magnificent 50-room mansion and the family that built it. Hyde Hall is a National Historic Landmark and a NYS Historic Site.

The cute little Village of Cherry Valley is located about 10 minutes from Hyde Hall. The village was the scene of a massacre in 1778, but lives on today with a delightful mix of fine dining and unique retail venues, including the Plaid Palette, a one-of-a-kind resource for Irish products.

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