Here are five tips that I want to pass on to you from my first trip to Cooperstown, New York:

1. If you are driving, follow these directions to Cooperstown and avoid Route 7 directions. A drive through some of the smaller towns before you get to Cooperstown can be depressing, since many towns are struggling economically.

2. Unless you want to see every shop on Main Street, visiting Cooperstown during the off-season is okay. There isn’t as much that’s open, but the Museum won’t be jam-packed.

3. If you have children, visit the Farmer’s Museum. The baseball museum gives them a look back at sports history, and the Farmer’s Museum will show them what it’s like to step back in time.

4. If you do visit in the off-season, make sure you go to the store for snacks or a late-night meal in your hotel room since not everything is open late at night.

5. I really need to buy a GPS (I have one on my phone, but could use a better one). (Spoiler alert to 2023: I have a great one on my phone now! So worth it. LOL)