Sticking with the Baseball theme...The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York is a great family destination. The Hall itself is a wonderful walk through the history of the game but the surrounding shops, restaurants, and townspeople are what makes this such a great place to take the kids. We visited for one night en route to our first Newport Folk Festival when our daughter was a mere 5 months old. She was already a fan of the game of baseball (well, she liked looking up at the brilliant green outfield grass on the television). We had a great time just wandering the streets of the quaint village. There are a couple of baseball bat companies that do custom engraving on real full size (or mini) bats while you wait: The Cooperstown Bat Company and the Where it all Began Bat Company. We purchased mini bats for $11.95 each, which includes one line of engraving, from "Where is all began" for each of our nieces and nephews as holiday stocking stuffers. If you cannot make it all the way to Cooperstown, but think these bats would make a great gift for the little one(s) in your life, have no fear - you can order online from their Yahoo store.
While passing through the Cooperstown area, we stayed in a KOA Campground Kabin a few miles north of town, for $50, as all the Bed & Breakfasts and hotels in and around Cooperstown were sold out (the Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson tour, which we were also in town to attend, was kicking off at the Hall's Doubleday Field that weekend making accommodations scarce).
This was a fun experience, in a cute little wooden cabin with parking right outside the door, which could have slept up to two adults (in the double bed) and two kids in the bunk beds. However, we did not enjoy the greatest nights sleep. Having never stayed in such a place, we were woefully unprepared for two major facts: 1) there were no sheets on the bed and 2) it gets REALLY cold at night in upstate New York, even in August. We had blankets for our daughter and her pack-n-play, so she was set, but me and the Mrs. were quite uncomfortable and teeth-chatteringly chilly the whole night through. Allow our one night in the outdoors to be a lesson to those venturing into a KOA Kabin: pack, at the very least, a fitted sheet and some warm blankets - regardless of the season!Admission into the Hall of Fame is reasonable $14.50 for adults, only $5 for kids 7-12, and those under 7 are free. If you are someone with any military experience, active or retired, you will also be admitted for free.
Even having spent a mere single night in the lovely village of Cooperstown, we would whole-heartedly recommend this as a weekend destination for any family with at least a mild interest in the game of baseball. There certainly is much more to see and do in that part of the state aside from baseball, such as boating, antique shopping, the National Soccer Hall of Fame, wine tasting, fine dining, among others. Visit the wonderful official site of the town for more info on activities and all various lodging options. Currently there is a coupon giveaway for a free pin and discount booklet.
Other baseball related museums around the country:
National Constitution Center - Philadelphia PAThe brand new, beautiful Center presents the SPORTS - Breaking Records, Breaking Boundaries exhibit until August 20th.
Negro League Baseball Museum - Kansas City MO
This shrine to The Negro League shares it space with the American Jazz Museum. While in K.C. check out the huge bust of Charlie "Bird" Parker. It looks terrific at night.
Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum - Baltimore, MD
Located a stones throw from the Orioles' Camden Yards (still an amazing park after a decade in use), this museum makes for an easy stop before or after an O's game.
A large list of Other Baseball Museums across the United States, from USAToday.com
Jeff
Out With The Kids
http://www.outwiththekids.com
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