3 Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice in Cooperstown
In the Northern hemisphere, Summer Solstice is celebrated on June 21st each year. If you ask me, there is no better place to spend the longest day of the year than Cooperstown, New York and no better excuse to start your weekend early. There is endless natural beauty in Upstate New York and Cooperstown is especially fortunate to be home to Otesgo Lake, the Susquehanna River and beautiful rolling hills. Let’s talk about 3 fun and adventurous ways to spend your Summer Solstice (long) weekend this year….
Go Sightseeing on Two Wheels! 
Begin your morning bright and early with a bike ride through the beautiful Cooperstown countryside. Wake up with the sun, breath in that fresh summer air and listen to the birds singing while you head out on a two-wheeled adventure. Whether you have your own bike or you need to rent or buy one, Woodland Cycles is your one-stop shop. They are a full service bike shop located in Milford, just 10 miles south of Cooperstown. Bring your bike for a spring tune up or choose from a variety of high quality bikes that are available for rent or purchase.
Otsego County is a beautiful place to cycle, just keep in mind that some of the back country roads tend to be narrow and have little to no shoulder making it incredibly important to follow cycle safety procedures. Owner and operator, Mike Renyolds, is a long time cycle enthusiast who would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have as well as offer route recommendations perfectly suited for you.
Explore the Water and Soak in the Sun!
Since we are celebrating summer solstice, we know you want to take in every second of the sunshine and beautiful summer weather, so why not ride your bike to the next part of the adventure? Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Sales now has three brilliantly placed locations where you can rent canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. There are just a few decisions you need to make… sitting or standing? Single or double? Which body of water would you like to explore?
If you are feeling ambitions you can easily ride your bike to all three of their locations. The first and original location is the home 
base for Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Sales, it is just 4.5 miles South of Woodland Cycles. This location, in Portlandville, is the perfect option if you are hoping to explore the Susquehanna River and quaint and quite Goodyear Lake.
In 2017, Canoe & Kayak Rentals opened their second location at Brookwood Point, just 11 miles North of Milford and 2 miles North of Cooperstown. Brookwood Point is the ideal option if you are interested in explore the Southern end of Otsego Lake and the mouth of the Susquehanna River. You can check out views of the village, the Otesaga Resort Hotel, even get an up-close view of the Kingfisher tower.
The third and final location at Glimmerglass State Park is a brand new addition this year, opened in spring of 2018. Glimmerglass State Park is an excellent choice for a day-long adventure. The park offers hiking trails, biking trails, a beach for swim, picnic areas with charcoal grills and covered pavilions, camping areas and of course a place to rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. This location is the option for you if you are hoping to explore the Northern end of Otsego Lake. You can paddle over to sandy beach to collect some stray golf balls or check out Otsego Lake’s notorious “Sunken Island”.
Whichever option you choose make sure to pack sunscreen, bring plenty of water, both of which you can stock up on at Church & Scott Pharmacy in Cooperstown, and be sure to wear your life vest. A safe adventure is a fun adventure!
Wind Down and Watch the Sunset with a Nice Cold Brew! 
After a full day of biking, floating and soaking in the beautiful views, what sounds better than a farm-to-table dinner, a nice cold local craft beer and a round of trivia hosted by quirky quiz master, DaveO, who will be sure to test your knowledge of random facts and share a laugh or two?! The new Red Shed Taproom, just a down the road from Brewery Ommegang, offers all of these things in a quaint country setting. In 2017, Red Shed Brewery opened the doors to their new taproom where they host trivia on Thursday nights and live music every Saturday. This weekend be sure the catch The Mopar Cams live beginning at 7:00pm on Saturday. Their beer garden is the perfect place to wind down at the end of a long day and watch the sunset over the rolling hills.
The 2018 Summer Solstice is looking to be a day of perfection. The sun will rise at 5:22am and set at 8:41pm with not even a chance of rain the entire day. It will be what we like to call a “Chamber of Commerce Day” here in Cooperstown. Spend your weekend with us and don’t forget to share your adventure, we love to hear from you! Post your pictures on Instagram using #wearecooperstown or tag the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce on Facebook. Happy Solstice!
About the Author: Hanna Joy Bergene, Director of Marketing and Events, Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce
Hi, I’m Hanna!
I am a born and raised Cooperstownian who is deeply, madly in love with this AMAZING small town and the beauty of Upstate New York! I am currently serving as the Director of Marketing and Events at the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce where I have the pleasure of working with over 400 small local businesses.
It is my goal to share my knowledge and passion for Cooperstown and deliver to you some insider secrets. Cooperstown has been named America’s Most Perfect Village and I want to show you why. Whether you’re from across the country or just a few minutes down the road, I hope I can inspire you to come for a visit, or maybe even call this place home!