New York: Cooperstown, Family Vacation Ideas - Baseball, Soccer, and Opera. Recognized as the town where the first non-organized baseball game was played in 1839, Cooperstown is a legend. It is also the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Each summer at the end of July new players are inducted into the Hall of Fame and thousands of fans congregate in Cooperstown for the event. Skip the crowds and craziness, the town offers families a chance to enjoy America from baseball and soccer to apple pie and pizza.

It’s hometown, USA. When planning to attend an induction it’s wise to make your plans as early as possible as the available rooms fill up quickly. However, Cooperstown is charming all by itself, nestled in the Hudson Valley and full of historic sites. And, for all the die-hard baseball fans just walking around Cooperstown will reveal the opportunity to pursue and purchase trading cards, posters and souvenirs for baseball fans of all ages. Bonus point: Around induction time many old inductees are available around town to sign autographs and share stories.

Go for the home-run. The Baseball Hall of Fame is an expertly arranged museum. There are three levels to explore and, of course, tons of information about the great American pastime. One of the sections includes a timeline of the history of baseball beginning with Abner Doubleday’s first game in 1839 to the present day game – a great way to visualize how far baseball’s come since that first game in Cooperstown. There are also plenty of well-displayed artifacts dealing with all the different eras of baseball. Truly historic special events like the 1998 homerun chase between Sammy Sosa and Mark McQuire, and Hank Aaron's homerun chase of Babe Ruth are showcased. The museum is very kid-friendly. There are interactive screens with information about players throughout baseball’s history, a batting cage where aspiring hall-of-famers can have their pitching speed clocked and even a scavenger hunt. Bonus point: Museum tickets purchased after 7:00 pm are good for the following day. This allows families to catch the nighttime movie and browse some of the plaques and then have an entire day to explore the specialty exhibits.

All new and totally fun. First opened in 1939, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was established to document and exhibit the vast history of our National Pastime and its impact on American culture. After three years and a $20 million renovation the museum has with expanded exhibits, improved access for those with special needs, added technology and upgraded preservation capabilities. New exhibits already installed include the Sandlot Kids Clubhouse, an interactive area for parents with young children.

Experience the game. The Baseball Experience treats visitors to a completely digitized 13-minute multimedia show and a new exhibit about modern-day baseball called Today's Game, featuring items from recent history of each of the 30 major league clubs. The newest is an exhibit on the ballpark experience - Sacred Ground. Other new exhibits are also being planned for the next two years.

National Baseball Hall of Fame. 55 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326. 1-888-HALL-OF-FAME(425-5633), 1(607) 547-7200 or www.baseballhalloffame.org

More Fun

The Farmer's Museum. This living history facility provides great opportunities for families to time-travel together. On site they have a living history village, exhibitions on life in the Hudson Valley, and even a time-travel baseball event. The Leatherstocking Baseball Club demonstrates the game as it was played in the 1800s - no gloves and a remarkably soft ball. One mile north of Cooperstown on SR-80. 1(607) 547-1400 or www.farmersmuseum.org

National Soccer Hall of Fame. Just a short distance from Damaschke field is an entire museum dedicated to the internationally loved sport of soccer. There are World Cup uniforms and trophies as well as a video room. America's oldest soccer ball is also on display the museum. 18 Stadium Circle, Oneonta. 1(607) 432-3351 or www.soccerhall.org

Cooperstown Bat Company. The retail store downtown is definitely worth a look, and as a bonus not far north of the city is the factory – which is open to the public. There visitors are invited to learn how bats are constructed and can see the white ash before it becomes a bat. 1 (607) 547-1090 or www.cooperstownbat.com

Glimmerglass Opera. With voices that soar, costumes that astound and a sense of spectacle the Glimmerglass Opera is a must for any music-loving family looking to end the day in a classical way. Eight miles north of Cooperstown on SR-80. 1 (607) 547-2255 or www.cooperstown.net/glimmerglass

Details

Cooperstown General Tourism Information. www.cooperstown.com or www.cooperstown.net

Pioneer Sports Cards. 106 Main Street, Cooperstown. 1(607) 547-2323.

Baseball Nostalgia. Doubleday Plaza. Cooperstown. 1(607) 547-6051.

Doubleday Batting Range. Located next to the Doubleday Field the Nation’s first public batting range has facilities where families can take a few swings in the batting cage, time their fastballs, eat and get customized Cooperstown headlines. Doubleday Plaza, Cooperstown. 1 (607) 547-5168.

Eating Places

Sal's Restaurant and Pizzeria. The best pizza not just in town but maybe in the entirety of Hudson Valley. 285 Main Street, Oneonta.

Doubleday Café. A Main Street Diner with attitude, tasty muffins in the morning and great hotdogs at lunch. 93 Main Street, Cooperstown. 1 (607) 547-5468.

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Information provided by the Kamps Family. Images courtesy of ThisIsCooperstown.com Copyright FTF 2009.