Cooperstown 2022!
We were lucky enough to make the pilgrimage to Cooperstown this summer, 2022! What a great experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering, it was the trip of a lifetime. Our family of four traveled from San Diego to Oneanta by flying into Albany and out of New York City. Our team had a reservation for the last week of June which brought great weather and was the perfect way to kick off the summer!
I have 2 boys and we did the outbound trip without my husband. With the time change, it was worth it to stay our first night in Albany. We stayed at a Courtyard by Marriott (Albany Airport) which was easy in and out, very clean and convenient. Since we landed near midnight, they offer a shuttle which was very convenient and safe for a late night arrival.
We spent our first day in Albany walking around the capital and adjusting to the time change. Having one day under our belt before the boys checked in was well worth it.
The drive to the park was full of excitement and anticipation. We had packed nearly everything we own and when we finally got there it was like we were all going to summer camp. The only time families are allowed in the bunks is at check in. It was a fun opportunity to help the boys get organized and to see where they would be for the next four days. We purchased flat sheets (2) for each of the player and coach bunks. In retrospect, we should have just done long fitted sheets for each bunk. The sheets were thrown in the trash at the end of the stay. Once all of the teams are checked in, the teams and the families make their way to the fields for the opening ceremonies. All of the teams march in, families dress up in spirit wear, the kids throw candy and the families cheer from the sidelines. After the parade the teams disperse for the competitions. This goes into the evening and is tons of fun. The players and the siblings have all started their pin trading by this time, the excitement is palpable. We bought a cooler, speaker and wagon off of a leaving team. Facebook groups are a great resource for this trading. We used all 3 every day!
Games begin the following day and depending on weather delays, they are usually during the day but they could be delayed late into the night. The weather runs the gamut from warm and sunny in the days to rainy and cold at night. Bring jackets, sunscreen and bug spray! Day 3 is when the coaches and players get tired. It was very valuable to have a house at that point. We brought the players home to sleep, shower and eat a real meal. It took them a while to decompress but once they did, they all crashed. The park is a bit of a cruise ship in that if there is any sickness going around, it is an easy spread. Most of our players got sick. Some of them went to their parents homes to sleep it off which also made it valuable to have a house. Everyday, we brought a fresh supply of ice and drinks for the players and coaches. We also brought lunch from off campus so they had some variety.
After 2 days of pool play the playoffs begin. Once in pool play, you could be eliminated on Day 4. We were lucky enough to make it to the end of Day 5 but some teams were done earlier. Day 6 and the closing ceremonies are well worth staying and watching. The competition is fun and exciting to watch and none of us were ready for the trip to end.
Primary Tips!
We stayed at the Cooperstown All Star Village in Oneanta. The park was absolutely beautiful and the town was great!
Hotel Near Albany, NY, Airport | Courtyard Albany Airport (marriott.com)
Fathead: Online Source of Officially Licensed & Custom Wall Decals
Bring great pins! Trading is a real thing and the kids love it. They use towels to store the pins - Personalized Baseball Softball or Tennis Towel Pin Towels - Etsy
Rent a house! Having a kitchen and refrigerator was very handy.
Join a Facebook group to see what discussions are taking place.
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