Suwanee to Cooperstown Trip Draws Closer

Note: This is the fifth article in a series about taking a youth baseball team to Cooperstown, N.Y.,  for a weeklong summer tournament.  Previous articles covered an , , the  , and .

The Suwanee teams attending this year are: 

• Collins Hill Green,  coached by Ted Kallgren - June 25  
• North Gwinnett Black, coached by Pat McGuire - July 2  
• North Gwinnett Red, coached by Todd Smith - July 2  
• Collins Hill Black, coached by Mickey Strope - July 23

It's 943 miles from Suwanee to Cooperstown, N.Y. That’s about 15 1/2 hours of driving time. At $4 a gallon, that’s about $160 in fuel one-way for a gas hungry SUV or minivan getting 24 miles per gallon.

So let’s talk road trip. Think back to your college days when you couldn't wait to hit the road with your friends and enjoy new places and good company. OK, so maybe you're not 21 again and you’re not headed to a Florida beach, but upstate New York may be a once in a lifetime trip for many and brings its own prospects for excitement.

Some participating families might look to cut down on drive time by flying. There are two primary choices when flying: Albany or Syracuse. Each is about an hour and half to two-hour drive from Cooperstown. So no matter how you stack it, you’re looking at a good road trip to get from Suwanee to the baseball dreams park.

Suwanee families are choosing a variety of ways to fill their travel itineraries for the trip. Some families are combining the trip with summer vacation destinations before or after the baseball tournament. A quick survey of the families revealed the following:

• The Coyne family from North Gwinnett Red is planning a trip to New York City after the tournament to watch a Yankees game.
• The Williams and Nowlins from North Gwinnett Red plan to stop in Washington D.C. and take in the historical sights of our nation’s capital.
• The Corn family from North Gwinnett Black is attending a baseball tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the week before Cooperstown. That's a serious trip of surf and turf.
• The Sine family from North Gwinnett Red is combining the trip with a visit to other relatives that live in the area.
• The Small family from North Gwinnett Black plans to visit Boston after the tournament ends and watch a Red Sox game.
• The Eller family from North Gwinnett Black hopes to hit Niagara falls after the tournament and possibly take a thrilling speed boat ride up to the falls for a closer look.

There are a variety of lodging options available to families staying in the Cooperstown area. Some families choose to rent an entire house or individual rooms. Other options include bed and breakfast rooms as well as apartment rentals. 

The Lewis family from North Gwinnett Red is taking a RV and using a nearby RV camp. After the tournament they plan to visit relatives in Maine.  The Small family from North Gwinnett Black is opting for convenience of location and will stay at the Best Western hotel near the park entrance.

The coaches and players stay on park grounds in barracks (see photo). 

How's that for a summer road trip? It's sure to have hot dogs, apple pies, and maybe even a Chevrolet. Suwanee families are ready to get those wheels moving for an experience that will be filled with sights, sounds, memories, and some American classic baseball. So tip your hats and wish them luck. Check Suwanee Patch for updates on the teams during the week they travel.

Play Ball!