Our day began at 06:45 in Oneonta, NY with a typical mediocre hotel breakfast we scrounged from the lobby downstairs, but it only got better from there! We drove about 35 minutes north to Cooperstown, NY, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. This has been on Dad’s (and my) bucket list for years, so we were thrilled to finally make it. Mom, not so much.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Cooperstown Diner
Around 13:00, we wrapped things up at the Hall of Fame and headed down the street to a literal hole-in-the-wall dive called Cooperstown Diner, a tiny restaurant famous for their giant burgers. We each got a cheeseburger (though Mom got the junior size) and milkshakes. Mom got a vanilla shake and Dad and I got chocolate malts.
Whiteface Mountain
After lunch, we drove a while longer through upstate New York through Saratoga Springs to the Adirondacks. We headed to Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, NY, home of Lake Placid and host of the 1980 Winter Olympics and the Miracle on Ice. We drove the Veteran’s Memorial Highway (commissioned by FDR in 1935) up Whiteface Mountain, stopping for several scenic overlooks.
After finally making it to the top, Mom and Dad enjoyed the view while I undertook the frigid, windy hike to the top of the mountain. The views were extraordinary, and we could see Lake Placid and much of the Adirondacks in 360-degree fashion.
Lake Champlain Ferry
We descended the mountain, stopped for gas, and headed towards Lake Champlain. There is no bridge across the northern part of the lake, so we had to take a ferry across, which thrilled Mom.
The Skinny Pancake
After a quick 20 minute boat ride, we arrived in Vermont. We drove to downtown Burlington and ate a crêperie called The Skinny Pancake, and ordered a few small plates to split. We got poutine, a pizza crêpe, a butter-sugar crêpe, and a strawberry/Nutella/cream crêpe. All were pretty good, but we were so tired all we could think about was getting to the hotel.
Conclusion
We finally arrived at our hotel and retired for the evening. Tomorrow, we explore northern Vermont and venture into the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
