1st time baseball hof trip question ?

[Tony2311]

You will have an awesome time. I took my son last year for our first HOF visit from Houston (Biggio).
Airfare: I travel quite a bit for business so we flew from Houston to Albany. Easy flight.
Hotel: We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Oneanta (~30 minutes away from HOF). Make reservations today if you are going to attend. I was a HH member, used points and our hotel was free.
My wife surprised me with a Presidents Circle HOF membership that has some key benefits including free entry into the HOF, HOF ceremonies, early entry, merchandise discounts, etc. It is somewhat costly ($500) however worth every penny - helps you avoid long lines at HOF and reserved seating at HOF ceremonies. We went to the HOF every morning Friday-Monday with almost no one in the HOF for ~1 hour.
- We would get up early, have breakfast at the hotel or drive into Cooperstown. Free parking on all the side streets if you get there early enough - you save $10-$25/per day for parking.
- Comfortable shoes, sun screen, pack a cooler with lunch, fruit, water and eat down by the lake.
- Go to the post office directly across from the HOF on Sunday AM to get all your pieces stamped (HOF postcards, magazines, balls, etc.)
- Doubleday Field, Cooperstown Diner, Schneider's Bakery - all a must. Many cool shops however most are pretty expensive for autos or memorabilia.
- One member on this board has a card show on Main St. during HOF weekend - we went a few times.
- I did not get any autographs since I have all the living HOF'ers. Very costly however you can go up to the players and have a discussion - very open. Let me know if you have any questions - Tony

[Prince Hal]

I live not far and go to Cooperstown often. You can fly into Syracuse or Albany, they are about the same distance. Honestly I would enjoy the induction ceremony from home and make a trip as others have suggested in the off season. The Hall only closes on Christmas and Thanksgiving I believe. The crowds are gone after school starts up and you can see the whole place at your leisure without getting mauled. The best place to stay hands down is the Otesaga. It's not cheap but first class and the views of the lake are spectacular The food is very good too. You can walk from there to the downtown. If you are a golfer they have a wonderful course (Leatherstocking) and the Ommegang brewery is fabulous. The fall is the best time as the weather is usually still very nice and the foliage is great too. Saratoga would be a recommended side trip and the thoroughbreds run late July and all of August. Worth a visit but you will have to stay in Albany since room in Saratoga then is as impossible as Cooperstown during induction. Good luck and enjoy!

[hawaiian bam bam]

thank you for your response, i appreciate it.

I just checked today and there are hotels still avail in cooperstown for $240 a night! i thought for sure they would all be booked up in cooperstown by now, but nope! unless the hotel just didnt update their website availability yet