Baseball Vacations: If You Plan It, They Will Come

Baseball truly is America’s game. It brings generations of fans together to either watch a Major League game or cheer on the little league or high school players in the family. With so many things beyond the game to explore, and the phrase “road trip” inexorably connected with Major League Baseball, little league outings and summertime family travel, now is an excellent time to start planning a family adventure that will “knock it out of the park” with your team players.

For starters, why not look into a travel service specializing exclusively in baseball-related travel? This is where Triple Crown Travel Baseball Tours steps up to the plate. The family-run company fashions tours and itineraries incorporating numerous ballgames in various cities, quality hotels within walking distance of the stadium, deluxe motor coach travel with plush seating and visits to various historic and cultural points of interest associated with “America’s Game.”

“Our business model grew out of an idea that many other baseball fans also share, a goal of visiting all 30 MLB Ballparks,” said founder Darren Zinser. “Baseball is unique in that the ballparks themselves are often as big of a draw as the game itself. We saw an opportunity to combine my experience of both working in the sports industry, along with travel planning, to start a travel agency that specializes in baseball tours. Our baseball tours are truly bucket list vacation trips and we take great pride in making these tours as seamless and as stress free as possible.”

© Glamping Hub

GlampingHub.com, meanwhile, offers high-end “glamping” accommodations in close proximity to some of the country’s favorite baseball teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indian, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. Dwellings range from vineyards and a Malibu beach to repurposed boats, cabins and grain silos.

We Are the Champions

Zinser, indeed, is correct a baseball-focused vacation far transcends the game or even a series of games, starting with the stadium and branching out into nearby cultural attractions and local institutions.

Photo: Glamping Hub

Cooperstown, N.Y.: The National Baseball Hall of Fame is the ultimate museum monument with its 40,000-plus items of memorabilia, from baseball cards to myriad artifacts and players’ belongings. Children can tackle the museum’s engaging scavenger hunt and visit the Sandlot clubhouse, an interactive zone just for kids. If you plan a summer trip, keep in mind the annual induction ceremony for new hall of famers is in July.

Chicago: Wrigleyville, the perennially trendy neighborhood surrounding Wrigley Field, has always been a hit — even in the years when the Chicago Cubs missed out on playoffs and championships. Now, new players take the field. Big Star boasts an expansive 87-seat patio that overlooks Wrigley. Around the corner, guests of the soon-to-open Wheelhouse Hotel will find the family-friendly Union Full Board pizza and adjoining upscale cocktail lounge Tinker to Evers (named after the famous Cubs poem written by Franklin Pierce Adams). Union extends to the fifth story with an expansive open-air rooftop that overlooks the hopping ‘hood, available for private event bookings as well as an amenity for hotel guests.

Boston: Built in 1912, Fenway Park has old-school hallmarks like its narrow seats and a hand-operated scoreboard. But it’s also a spectator’s dream, with bleachers close to the action and bullpens in plain view of the fans. Take advantage of a Fenway Park tour (available year-round on non-game days), providing a look at the inner workings of the park and a running commentary on the history of Fenway and its legends.

Louisville, Ky.: The Louisville Slugger has turned out baseball bats since 1884, and the factory tour allows kids of all ages to see how raw wood becomes a bat. The museum holds a bounty of memorabilia, including the bat carved with a notch for each of Babe Ruth’s home runs, and the Slugger used by Joe DiMaggio in his 56-game hitting streak. Leave plenty of time to pore over the wall featuring thousands of players’ signatures burned onto Louisville Sluggers.

South Williamsport, Pa.: The contains numerous Little League mementos, including President George W. Bush’s Little League roster and jerseys worn by Gary Sheffield and Derek Bell in the 1980 Little League Baseball World Series. If you visit Williamsport in August, you can attend the World Series games for free.

Kansas City, Mo.: The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum outlines the history of the Negro Leagues from its beginnings to the breakthroughs of Jackie Robinson.

Oakland, Calif.: The home of the Oakland A’s features many home runs in family fun. Activities include a behind the scenes tour of the Oracle Arena and Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum; world-famous fried chicken sandwich at Bake Sale Betty’s; the “CatchRESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom” exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California; and numerous sports-oriented street murals.

St. Louis, Mo.: Busch Stadium offers the best of baseball tradition with a great view from every seat, authentic ballpark dining and a wide variety of off-field activities for pre- and post-game entertainment. The Ballpark Village entertainment district features dining, entertainment and the Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum.

Marietta, Ga.: This Atlanta suburb is the actual home to the Atlanta Braves and SunTrust Park (opened 2017). Its equivalent to Chicago’s Wrigleyville is The Battery, with numerous restaurants and boutiques. It is also close to historic Marietta Square and its historic sites and small-town charm.

© Craig Makepeace @ytravelblog