DiningScenic By-Ways And Tours
Some ideas for tours by land, lake, walking and more! Cooperstown would become an area of "great resort," wrote James Fenimore Cooper in 1837, and it has, indeed. This village of 2,100 year-round residents welcomes around 500,000 visitors a year to enjoy the scenery, recreational opportunities, and history.
To understand James Fenimore Cooper's passion for the beauty of Otsego Lake and the surrounding mountains, don't miss a cruise on the Glimmerglass Queen, a luxurious tour boat that docks at the LakeFront Motel & Restaurant. The narrated tours depart hourly from 11 am until 6 pm, so you can choose a mid-day or late afternoon look at the lake.
The railroad was a primary means of transportation in the not-too-distant past, and Cooperstown boasts a scenic ride to and from Milford (nine miles) and shorter rides several times a week. The first train departs at 11 am, but call the Cooperstown-Charlotte Valley Railroad (607-432-2429) to make sure you're "all aboard!" on their schedule.
For historical and architectural walking tours, contact Paul Kuhn (607-547-6181) of Guided Tours of Cooperstown. You'll learn why the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located in the Village of Cooperstown, as well as other historical tidbits and architectural facts, from experts!
And, for Things That Go Bump in the Night, experience the village's eerie history by hearing about our haunted houses and learning about our ghostly sightings with Cooperstown Candlelight Ghost Tours (607-547-8070).
Daily walking tours of the village also depart the lakefront area at 2 pm daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day Weekend, hosted by CooperstownWalks! (cooperstownwalks.com) Each tour is a leisurely two-mile walk filled with information about historic homes, landmarks and sights - the "other side" of Cooperstown.
US Route 20, in the northern part of Otsego County, transverses the United States from Massachusetts to Oregon. Our little part of Route 20 is a designated Scenic By-Way. You can take in breathtaking beauty and unique shopping opportunities from Cherry Valley to Richfield Springs. Along the Cherry Valley section of Route 20, don't miss the The TePee, a tee-pee shaped building, and in Richfield Springs, to the west, don't miss the antique stores.
To the south, the City of Oneonta was once home of the world's largest railroad roundhouse. Although the roundhouse was torn down years ago, the city's architecture and robust downtown area echo the influence of two colleges that call Oneonta "home," as well as the city's commitment to preserving its past. The Greater Oneonta Historical Society schedules walking tours during the summer months, so contact them at oneontahistory.org to see if their schedule fits yours!
While you're in Oneonta, don't miss our eclectic art museums and the Wilber Mansion, with a gift shop and various galleries. Two Artwalk Oneonta tours are scheduled for 2006, one on July 21, the next on October 6.
Both Cooperstown and Oneonta have trolley services, so if you don't feel like walking or driving, and want to see the area - take a trolley!
Other lake experiences include boat rentals on Otsego Lake at Sam Smith's Boat Yard in Cooperstown, and/or "captain your own ship" on Otsego, Canadarago or Goodyear Lake by contacting Time Out Boat Rentals (607-287-7737). C.P.'s Charter Service (315-858-3922) offers fishing and private historical sightseeing tours on Otsego and Canadarago lakes.
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