Now is the perfect time for a getaway to Cooperstown, N.Y. This picturesque little town is famous for the Baseball Hall of Fame, but there is much more to it for those who seek an autumn escape from urban living.
Pamper yourself
Check in at the Otesaga resort and let the relaxation begin. This historic hotel was built in 1909 and offers fine dining, grand ballrooms, a lounge, an 18-hole golf course, a heated pool and a terrace overlooking Lake Otsego. The hotel was once used as a school for girls and is said to be haunted with the pitter-patter of little feet and the laughter of children. “Ghost Hunters” once paid a visit to the resort and deemed the third and fifth floors to have the most supernatural presence. Don’t worry though — they’re said to be friendly spirits. www.otesaga.com
Taste the season
Really get into the season with an apple-picking trip to Middlefield Orchard. Let your inner child run wild through the rows as you fill your bag with dozens of varieties of apples or hunt for pumpkins. Don’t leave without sampling the homemade jams. www.middlefieldorchard.com
Eat like an aristocrat
Eat in Otesaga’s main dining room for a formal five-course experience with dishes like New Zealand rack of lamb or veal Osso Bucco. Or head down to the Hawkeye Bar & Grill for Seafood Fra Diavlo or a casual burger and fries. Enjoy live music and dancing into the late night hours at Templeton Lounge.
Drink like a Belgian
Spend the afternoon tasting Belgian beers at Brewery Ommegang. Sample a range of ales from the light and crisp Witte to the dark and spicy Abbey. See how the beer is made on a tour or snack on moules and frites in the newly built Cafe Ommegang. www.ommegang.com
Get spooked
Head to the Farmer’s Museum after dark for their Things That Go Bump in the Night ghost tour and let your imagination run wild. You can also take a walking candlelight ghost tour through Cooperstown and hear the eerie history of the town’s oldest homes. Brave tour-goers will walk through the Christ Episcopal Church Graveyard. Make sure you look up into the trees — you never know what you might see. www.cooperstownghost.com, www.farmersmuseum.org
