8am – 5:30pm CST, Monday – Friday
Since so many families visit during the tournament there are many different accommodations available to the families of tournament players. Whether you want to camp out under the stars in the great outdoors or stay in a cushy hotel there are a number of options to choose.
This is a well rated and reasonably priced local hotel with 4/5 stars on Yelp and all the amenities you would expect from a well managed business hotel. They frequently have baseball related guests and are more than helpful with planning out activities, directions, etc. They offer free wifi, a complimentary breakfast and free parking. They are located a few miles from both the Baseball Hall of Fame and Cooperstown Dreams.
This is another good choice for a mid range hotel. They are a little farther out in nearby Oneonta but Cooperstown Dreams and the Baseball Hall of Fame are both within a 10 minute drive. They are a little bit cheaper than the Best Western and a slightly lower rating at 3.5 out of 5 stars on Yelp. They offer similar amenities to the Best Western such as free internet, a free breakfast and concierge help available for activities.
These are just two of the many hotels and motels in the area for a comprehensive list please visit the official Cooperstown accommodations website.
There are a number of different campgrounds families may choose to stay at in and around the Cooperstown Area. We will also list some of the more popular campgrounds for Cooperstown Dream families and a link to a more comprehensive list. Cooperstown Dreams baseball tournaments are popular so you will want to reserve a campsite at least a month in advance to guarantee you get your first choice.
This campground is one of the closest to the tournament site- about 3 miles away. They offer RV camping, outdoor campsites as well as bunks and cabins that can be rented by the night.
The Cooperstown Family Campground is another popular choice. They are a family owned campground with over 40 years in the business. They offer both outdoor campsites as well as RV hookups and rentals. There are also many other activities offered here from fishing to hayrides.
For alternative campgrounds and information please consult the official Cooperstown camping website.
Now that you know where you are staying, read about what you should pack for your trip!
There are a ton of great places to eat in the Cooperstown/Otsego County area. We have everything from Italian to Japanese, from Spaghetti to Sushi. We will go over some of the better offerings in the Cooperstown area and some resources that will guide you to the best restaurants available. We will list each restaurant by price and quality…all of the restaurants we list will also be family friendly which will help you to weed out the places that might not be so welcoming for little ones.
This is one of the top rated restaurants in Cooperstown. They are located at 149 Main Street within the city limits of Cooperstown. Alex and Ika Restaurant serves both modern American cuisine alongside various dishes from around the world. Their Sesame Salmon with pasta and arugula is to die for while being a relatively healthy choice. If you are looking for something a bit more filling and a bit less healthy their Cheeseburger with caramelized onion is also fantastic. They also have a fully stocked bar which can be good after a long day of sightseeing in the greater metro area. As far as pricing goes they are very reasonable and they are a great choice for both families and individuals to get a great meal at a decent price.
The Italian food at Toscana is some of the best in Cooperstown. Since we are located so close to New York City we have a wealth of fantastic Italian food and Toscana Italian Grill & Bar is among the best of the best and a must see when you are in town. If you are not lucky enough to have great Italian food back home you will not be disappointed when dining at Toscana Italian Grill & Bar. Our family has been going here for years and we have yet to have a negative experience. The bean soup and pasta combo is fantastic- we usually get the penne with meatballs. The wine selection here is also incredible with a ton of different domestic red and white wines alongside some very reasonably priced overseas vintages. If you aren’t a big wine drinker they have a number of beers on tap along with a full bar for all of your liquor needs. They are a little pricier than the average restaurant in town but they are well worth it. Try Toscana Italian Grill & Bar for a night out with your partner or a special night out with the kids.
While your player is competing and enjoying their time there are many activities for both families and parents to enjoy in the Greater Cooperstown Area. Some of these activities are baseball related but not all of them. There are so many things to do in the area and you would truly be short changing yourself and your family if you were to pass them up. Remember that while Cooperstown Tournaments are a once in a lifetime activity for your camper that does not mean that the entire family can’t have the same experience in and around the Cooperstown area. While you should certainly check out the activities listed you should also feel free to explore and get out on your own- the fun never stops in Cooperstown and you never know what you will find!
The NBHF is easily the biggest tourist attraction in Cooperstown and all of Otsego County. The National Baseball Hall of Fame was founded by private interests in 1936 and is one of the main players in the field of baseball history in the United States and the entire world. The Hall of Fame consists of a number of baseball relics and artifacts as well as dedicated honors for those individuals who have contributed in some great way to our national pastime- this includes players, coaches, writers, and anyone that has made the sport better than what it was before. The motto of the National Baseball Hall of Fame is “Preserving History, Honoring Excellence, Connecting Generations.” Visiting the NBHF is a must for anyone who is even a casual fan of the sport.
There are numerous attractions to draw visitors to the museum. The Baseball at the Movies section reviews baseball in film and television while at the same time displaying artifacts from the making of the pictures themselves. The Bullpen Theater has daily baseball themed trivia along with televised games and other movies relating to baseball. There are other sections full of baseball legends and lore and one of the largest collections of baseball memorabilia on the planet. You cannot really come to Cooperstown and not visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame- especially if you are coming into town for a Cooperstown Dream tournament.
If you can’t get enough baseball related fun you should seriously consider a visit to the awesome and amazing Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum. This fun and educational attraction has life sized busts of some of the biggest baseball players ever- from Babe Ruth to Ken Griffey. They are conveniently located in Cooperstown and they actually offer coupons and discounts to families that are visiting for the Cooperstown Dreams Baseball tournaments. They have wax statues, a theater that shows baseball related films and a fully stocked gift shop where you can pick up gifts for folks back home or even something for your own personal baseball collection. If you have time you should also check out the All Star Cafe which has one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches in town- I like mine with tomato soup on the side. They are open Monday-Sunday all year round and they have many special events and showings that are listed on their website’s events calendar.
If you are a little bit tired of all things baseball another fun and more mature getaway is a visit to the Pail Shop Vineyards. They offer some amazing wine varietals here- from Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot. They offer daily wine tastings from 2-5 pm along with tasting menus and full lunch and dinner services. In addition they have special events listed on their website events calendar. They offer summer concerts and special tasting menus by reservation. There are also sommeliers on hand to help you distinguish between wine varietals and help with meal pairings. If you are looking for a more adult oriented getaway in the area you should certainly head out to Pail Shop Vineyards.
While your little one or ones are coming into town for a baseball tournament that does not mean that they are the only ones who get to play a sport during your vacation. If you or your partner happen to be fans of golf or tennis you should check out The Otsego Golf Club. This long time fixture in the Otsego area offers one of the best hill and valley courses in the area and some of the most beautifully manicured lawns in all of New York State. During the summers they have a special which offers 18 holes plus cart rental for only 29 dollars on the weekdays and 34 dollars on the weekends. There are also tournaments that happen intermittently which you can find on their website. For a great day out on the links alongside your partner or just on your own The Otsego Golf Club is a good choice for an outing whether you are a pro golfer or just looking to kill some time.
The Cooperstown and Otsego County area is an amazing place to experience for young and old alike. There are so many different baseball related activities along with other pursuits to enjoy. When you visit us we strive to make sure that your visit is as easy and pleasant as possible and we delight in showing our guests some good old-fashioned small town hospitality with big city charm. So when you are in town for a Cooperstown Baseball Tournament please give some of our many destinations and restaurants a visit- you will not regret it!
Cooperstown is located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountain Range in New York State and the journey here through rolling hills and pastoral scenes is part of the allure of Cooperstown. The city is located in south-central New York State in Otsego County. We are about 70 miles outside of Albany. We are located near a number of highways, airports, and train stations and there are many different ways to reach us.
During the entire baseball camp season Hampton Jitney offers a bus service into town daily. Consult their official site for reservations, schedules and availability.
Adirondack Trailways runs daily buses in and out of the area all year round. Consult their official site for reservations, schedules and availability.
Amtrak runs a service into the nearby Albany/Rensslaer station. This service runs daily the entire year but it is a bit out of the way. You may need to finish up this leg of your trip by bus, rental car or taxi.
There are 3 different major airports that service the Greater Cooperstown/Otsego County area. These airports are located in the cities of Syracuse (SYR), Albany (ALB) and Binghamton (BGM). There are also two smaller local airports that do not offer commercial service- Cooperstown Westville and Oneonta Airport.
Learn about the other activities while you are visiting Cooperstown.
When packing for your aspiring baseball pro there are a number of items that you will need that you may not have to pack for other camps. There are also a number of items you will want to bring for the benefit of the entire family. This packing list should help your camper get the most out of their Cooperstown experience and make the stay more comfortable for everyone else.
Final note. DO NOT forget to put your child’s name on all of the items.
Next section: How do we get to Cooperstown, NY?