Cooperstown

Mike and I have visited Cooperstown twice, and look forward to going back there again. We’re hoping to do so this fall…September/October is a really nice time to go. The summer crowds are gone, and the weather is still nice enough to walk around in the village.

If you go, I highly recommend that you stay at the Cooperstown Bed & Breakfast. First of all, this is a very easy walk to Main Street, the Hall of Fame museum (which is why we go there, after all!). Parking is scarce, even during the off-season, so if you can just walk to stuff, you’re better off. This B&B has ample, off-street parking behind the house, and your car will be safe there.

The house itself is beautiful…see for yourself on their website. But what really makes your stay memorable is the hospitality of the innkeepers, John & Linda Smirk. They are good people, and you can tell that they truly love what they do…welcoming guests. John is a Y*****s fan, but he’s one of the good ones out there, so we can forgive him for that. But Linda once told me that she was secretly rooting for the Red Sox, as she was getting sick of the Y*****s winning all the time!

Linda is also a most excellent baker, and there is a never-ending stream of cookies, muffins, scones, brownies, and other yummie baked goods coming from her kitchen. There is always something to snack on, at any time of the day, and there is always coffee and tea as well. You can enjoy this in your room, on the porch, or in the comfortable living room, while watching a ball game on TV. When you check out, she will send you home with a large plate full of goodies.

And the breakfasts…to die for! John and Linda do a full breakfast every day…bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes, French toast, cereal, fruit, juice, coffee, tea, as well as a selection of the aforementioned baked goods. This is pretty much an “all-you-can-eat” deal, and I guarantee that you can skip lunch and go until dinner before you start to get hungry again. All of this food is included iin the price for your room, which, I might add, is very reasonable.

Just forget about trying to stay with them for Induction Weekend, if you’ve not stayed with them before. Since there is limited space, they only accept reservations for this event from people who’ve stayed with them more than once in the past.