Fall Retreat in New York

In the heart of New York’s northern Catskill Mountain region, Cooperstown offers a scenic getaway for fall-loving families. Fly or drive to one of America’s favorite villages for an onslaught of seasonal fun and outdoor activities. Whether seeking fall foliage and seasonal haunts and attractions, expect quaint rural countryside at every turn.

For the Love of the Game

Baseball fans and history buffs will be happy to explore the National Hall of Fame and Museum. Upgrade to the VIP Experience, available this fall for a limited time. The two-day experience brings guests behind the scenes, after hours, for private tours. Enjoy a library archive tour and presentation with the kids, and take advantage of the membership included, which allows free visits year-round. Take a seat in the Grandstand Theater, enjoying Generations of the Game, a new film experience detailing more about the history of America’s favorite pastime.

Woman at Bat Statue, outside National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum © Steven Cukrov | Dreamstime.com

Artistic Celebration 

Any art fans in the family? Direct them to the Fenimore Art Museum, showcasing some of the nation’s finest Native American art, American folk art and Hudson River School paintings. Exhibits rotate, seasonally, including “Puzzles of the Brain: An Artist’s Journey through Amnesia.” This incredible personal piece details artist Lonni Sue Johnson’s own journey through brain damage, on exhibit Oct. 15–Dec. 30.

History and Cultural Flair

A seasonal favorite, The Farmers’ Museum boasts daily fun and nightly frights for all ages. Located deep in the rural beauty of Cooperstown, The Farmers’ Museum brings colonial ways and farming practices to life with demonstrations, exhibits and exciting events in the 19^th-century Historic Village. Bring the little ones trick-or-treating in the Sleepy Hollow-themed historic village, Oct. 27, 1–5 p.m., or bring kids of all ages for a theatrical performance of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart and lantern-lit tour. Ghost tours include a variety of fun for adults, kids and teens, all with a spooky twist, Oct. 12–13, 19–20 and 26–27, 5:30–9:30 p.m. Hear all the ghost stories of the region’s sorted and long history.

Old-Fashioned Refreshments

Between the region’s naturally beautiful and peaceful landscape, Cooperstown enjoys a centuries-old history of sports, art, spooky farms and good old-fashioned brews. Bring the older kids along for a tour of Brewery Ommegang for some unique brews — including a Game of Thrones-themed selection — and Cooperstown Distillery for local spirits. Can’t choose? Hit all 37 miles of local libations along the Cooperstown Beverage Trail.