This summer I am fortunate enough to be interning at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY, which for baseball fans is essentially the promised land. I am so grateful to be working in a place that celebrates one of the things I love most, and over the past five weeks of my internship I've managed to explore some of the surrounding area. What I haven't explored, I've read about and fully intend to visit at some point, so if you're thinking of traveling north of Manhattan this summer, here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. The Baseball Hall of Fame, obviously.

I cannot possibly contain my love for this institution in a short blurb here, but there is a reason that this hall of fame is so widely respected and cherished. It provides a graceful, meticulously curated setting to honor what is still America's pastime, and does so with immense love and care. If you have an appreciation for baseball, museums, or connecting with loved ones about the things they love, visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame will be a vacation to remember.

2. Lake Otsego

I've enjoyed spending as much of my spare time by Lake Otsego as possible. It is the most serene view I've ever had the pleasure of being near for an entire summer, and I intend to continue using the lakefront park in Cooperstown as a way to collect my thoughts and relax on a beautiful day. No matter how nice the weather is, every day is more beautiful when spent by this lake.

3. Many caves and caverns

About 45 minutes away from SUNY Oneonta are two very cool caverns to visit, Howe Caverns and Secret Caverns. I visited Howe Caverns earlier this summer, which was a really cool way to learn all about caves and take a fun boat tour in 90 minutes. If you're down for a shorter tour but want to touch the cave as much as you like, Secret Caverns may be more up your alley. I still intend to visit it at some point later in the summer, and it's also apparently full of cool hippie art, which brings me to my next point...

4. The Museum at Bethel Woods

If visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame is a pilgrimage for baseball fans, then visiting this museum all about the Woodstock festival is probably a type of pilgrimage for classic rock fans. The music that this museum highlights is from my favorite period in popular music history, and the arts center surrounding the museum is home to many exciting concerts throughout the summer. It's a bit far from where I'm staying this summer, but if you're into learning about arguably the most famous music festival ever, this is an essential stop on your upstate NY visit.

5. Breweries, cideries, wineries, oh my!

I've had the pleasure of touring Brewery Ommegang and Fly Creek Cider Mill this summer, which are friendly for visitors that are under 21 and also provide tasting opportunities for visitors over 21. These are two stops along the Cooperstown Beverage Trail, which also features Bear Pond Winery, Cooperstown Brewing Company, Cooperstown Distillery, Pail Shop Vineyards, Rustic Ridge Winery, and Butternuts Beer and Ale, along with a shuttle to take you from place to place. I have no doubt that this beverage trail would provide a full afternoon of tasting fun for any drinking aficionado.

6. The National Museum of Dance

This museum is located in Saratoga Springs, NY, about two hours from Oneonta. Though I have not danced much in college, I spent much of my life taking many types of dance and would love for the chance to see a beloved pastime immortalized in a beautiful museum. If you have any interest in dance or visiting Saratoga, as I do, this museum is a must-see on your trip to upstate NY.

7. The Glimmerglass festival

This is an arts festival taking place in Glimmerglass State Park, and it features mainstage musical productions, talks with famous authors and composers, and new operas being performed all summer throughout June and July. I love any chance to see live theater or music, especially in as beautiful a setting as this, and I am so glad that this festival provides such a strong arts presence in the Cooperstown area over the summer, which with its rural location could easily feel like a barren wasteland for the arts for someone used to living 40 minutes from Broadway.

8. Lots and lots of hiking trails.

I am not big into exercising if I don't have to, but it's hard to travel far in upstate NY without passing a spot for a beautifully scenic hike. Just to name a few, there are hiking trails in Glimmerglass State Park, Storm King State Park, the Finger Lakes, and Lake Placid, among many other locations. I guarantee that even if you don't look forward to sweating outside for several hours, go hiking on a cooler day and you won't regret the majestic views you'll undoubtedly see.

9. You're not actually too far from many big cities.

Where I am near Cooperstown is about a 4 hour radius from Philadelphia, Boston, and New York, so if you're looking to travel to upstate NY this summer, there are many cool cities you can visit along the way from any direction! This is very convenient for interns looking to take weekend trips and parents from afar looking to make a real vacation out of their visit to their child.

10. Ziplining: It's not just for tropical rainforests.

I had the pleasure of ziplining at Hunter Mountain, normally a ski resort, a few summers ago with my family. I still dream of one day ziplining through a rainforest canopy, but this visit provided quite a thrill for someone like me who does not normally define herself as a "daredevil." If you're looking for a full day of safe, adventurous fun, ziplining at Hunter Mountain will definitely prove worthwhile.

11. It's just so beautiful up here, wherever you look.

One of the things I've loved most about my internship this summer is appreciating the incredibly scenic drives to and from work every morning, as well as the breathtaking countryside views wherever I go. Upstate NY, as I like to say, is full of farms and empty space, but that empty space often consists of rolling hills and gorgeous lake views.

If you're looking to travel somewhere in the north that does not feel like you're in the Northeast or if you're looking to escape your hectic home life for a weekend, upstate NY, particularly Otsego county, is the place to go.