Best known today as the Home of Baseball, Cooperstown and the Otsego Lake area are rich in history and, unlike many places, much of this heritage remains intact. Thus, the Cooperstown area is said to offer us "a step back in time." You will not find any fast-food restaurants or chain stores here. A majority of the original buildings are still in use, serving as small shops, offices, banks, and other businesses. Each of the nearby villages—Cherry Valley, Springfield, Milford, Hartwick, and Index—has its own incredible architecture and its own story to tell. Otsego Lake is the famed Glimmerglass in the writings of Cooperstown's favorite son, James Fenimore Cooper. The area also boasts the Glimmerglass Opera, the Leatherstocking Golf Course, and historical museums, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame.