Rain.....softly falling, much needed rain! Hallelujah! Normally I hate rain. My mom laughs at me because I hate it, especially going out in it. I'm not one of those low maintenance, wash 'n go gals so I am not a big fan of rain......except for today. I'm so happy to see the rain - not just for my lawn and the poor dehydrated trees with their crispy leaves, but because I need an excuse to stay home and get caught up. I hate staying home when the weather is nice. The sun beckons me to give in to my wanderlust, camera-in-hand and as much fun as that is, it doesn't really allow time for things like household chores, or even things I enjoy, like blogging. When browsing through photos from the past couple of months, I was reminded of one such day when we surrendered to our wanderlust, a day I planned to blog about....but life happened, and that post was never written - until now. So, without further delay, come along with me as I take you on a little trip to the historic village of Cooperstown, NY.
Almost everyone is familiar with Cooperstown. It is well known, especially for its famous Baseball Hall of Fame, which opened in 1938, and where my third cousin, Leo Durocher was inducted in 1994. Cooperstown is also the home of author, James Fenimore Cooper and Abner Doubleday, civil war officer and supposed inventor of baseball.
Nothing against the institution of baseball, but the Hall of Fame is not what brings
me to Cooperstown. On this particular day we had two things on our agenda....1) lunch at the Otesaga Resort and 2) a boat ride on the Glimmerglass Queen. It was a beautiful day. The sky full of big, puffy clouds. We arrived just in time for an early lunch and we easily got a table on the veranda of the Otesaga's Hawkeye Grill. This was our second time dining at the Hawkeye and since our visit last year, I was anxious to return.
I ordered the Dark Truth Stout Bacon Burger and opted for fresh fruit over fries. Considering the burger was bigger than my face, that was probably a wise decision. It was just as amazing as it looks, even though I ate it with a knife and fork and left most of the roll behind.
John ordered the Adult Grilled Cheese which was packed with cheese and arugula and came with a side soup. The soup, which looks more like stew, was minestrone and John says it was delicious. Two for two, it seems one can't go wrong with a meal at the Hawkeye and the view isn't too shabby either.........
After lunch we moseyed on down the road to the Cooperstown's Lakefront Hotel where the Glimmerglass Queen is docked. Because it was a weekday, there were plenty of spaces left on the 1:00pm cruise! We purchased our tickets ($16 each) for the narrated, hour-long cruise. The boat was immaculate and nicely furnished with canvas director chairs and tables inside, but I opted to stand outside where I could enjoy the view, unobstructed by glass, and take photos.
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| I should have asked our female Captain why the water in Lake Otsego looks so green....anybody know? |
From the boat, we had great views of the Otesaga Resort ....
And the Fenimore Art Museum...
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| Hard to read, but notice that the Glimmerglass Queen was built right here in Albany, NY. |
It was still early in the day when we finished our cruise, so we decided to check out the Fenimore Art Museum. In order to best describe what you'll find inside the Fenimore Museum, let me quote Wikipedia...."
The Fenimore Art Museum (formerly known as Fenimore House Museum) is a museum located in Cooperstown, New York, USA, operating under the auspices of the New York State Historical Association. It presents changing and permanent exhibitions of American Folk Art, North American Indian art and artifacts, Hudson River School and 19th-century genre paintings, and American photography.
The Museum was moved to its present location — Cooperstown, New York overlooking Lake Otsego — in 1939 due to a gift from Stephen Carlton Clark. Much of the American Fine Art Collection was donated by Clark, a generous art connoisseur.
The museum also has a great deal of material associated with James Fenimore Cooper,
Cooperstown's most famous native son, and his family. This includes
furniture, portraits and paintings, personal effects and books owned by
Cooper, as well as manuscripts and first editions of his writings."
I have to confess I am not a big history buff, but the museum is really beautiful as are the exhibits. My favorite part of the Fenimore (call me shallow) was the back veranda and the view it offered. Meticulously manicured and stunningly landscaped, all one can imagine when standing there is how awesome an event on these grounds must be!
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| Visible far out on Otsego Lake , you can see the Glimmerglass Queen sailing by. |
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A visit to Cooperstown is never disappointing. If you're thinking of taking a trip, the Glimmerglass Queen sails until Columbus Day. While you're in the area, check out the Farmers' Museum - another beautiful and educational stop for young and old. Check out my post featuring them last year, as well as the fascinating history behind the hand-carved carousel animals....links provided below. There are so many fine places to visit just a short drive from the Capital District. You just have to walk out your door and surrender to your wanderlust! Happy Travels. Come back soon to Life As I See It!
To read earlier Cooperstown posts:
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