National Baseball Hall of Fame

Whether you're a fan of baseball or don't know much about the sport and are curious to learn more about it, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown is the mecca you've been looking for.

For most all of my life, I've lived within an hour or two of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but has never visited.I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did because my husband is the baseball lover in our family, but I was pleasantly surprised.

It might seem that admission to the National Baseball Hall of Fame is a bit on the pricey side, but once you realize all you have access to, you'll understand that the price is completely fair. What I really liked was that they'll stamp your hand after you pay and that allows you to walk in and out through the day. So, if you need a little fresh air break or want to run out for a bite to eat, you can and don't have to pay to re-enter the museum.

My family visited on a Saturday afternoon and followed the recommendation of an employee to start our self guided tour on the second floor. I love history and so this was the perfect place for us to kick off the tour because this floor takes a look at the history of the game including the roles of women, Latinos and African Americans. I particularly enjoyed the "locker room" section of the museum where one can peek into lockers from various teams with outfits worn by players in actual games as well as special game memorabilia.

The third floor of the museum showcases the evolution of both ballparks and marketing tactics used by teams. Also on the third floor is a Hank Aaron exhibit. But the section with all of the souvenirs was hands down my favorite.

Our tour concluded on the first floor with the Hall of Fame, which really is what made the museum famous in the first place. This wasn't my favorite spot, although the marble columns and oak walls were impressive. However, this was my husband's favorite spot and I enjoyed watching him get excited to spot various plaques featuring hall of famers from his favorite team.

Parking is hard to come by in Cooperstown and on most streets it's limited to two hours and that time limit is enforced.You'll have to feed a meter if you park on the street. During the summer season, parking is free in the Blue Lot just south of the Village on State Route 28, the Yellow Lot: just northwest of the Village on State Route 80 and in the Red Lot: accessed from Glen Avenue (Routes 28/80) near Maple Street. While parking is free, the cost to ride the trolley is $2.00 per person and can be used for unlimited rides on a given day. Parking in the trolley lots is available from 8:30am-9pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. If you have a lot of people in your group, it might not be a bad idea to look into the $10 lot across from the firehouse on Chestnut Street. This is where we parked and we didn't have to worry about feeding a meter or paying for a trolley, although that probably would have been fun. If you'd like to delve further into the parking options, you can do that here.

Be sure to take your camera with you because...get this...flash photography and video recording is actually encouraged and Wi-Fi is offered for free so that you can Facebook, Tweet and Instagram your photos and video.

If you're taking someone who needs a stroller or wheelchair, both are allowed. If you need a wheelchair and don't have one, you can get one for free on a first come, first served basis. Just be sure to let visitors services know you need one when you pay for admission. If you have trouble with stairs, there is an elevator you can take.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame is open 7 days a week, but is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Summer hours (May 24th through the day before Labor Day) are 9am to 9pm. Regular hours (Labor Day through Memorial Day Weekend) are 9am-5pm.

Learn more about visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame including ticket prices here.