Take Me Out to as Many Ballgames as Possible: A Five-Stadium Tour with Teens
Jul 18th, 2008, 11:57 AM
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Take Me Out to as Many Ballgames as Possible: A Five-Stadium Tour with Teens
Here's a mini-trip report of our baseball "vacation", which included six states, five ballparks, four colleges, three museums, two countries and one Wonder of the World.
A million thanks to all the Fodorites on this board who helped with tickets and logistics.
WHO WE ARE:
2 arts-obsessed adults and 2 sports-obsessed male teens, 14 and 17, normally used to vacationing in exotic destinations. But this time we asked for the boys' input.
ITINERARY:
Because of our ever-changing work schedules, all arrangements were made at the last minute, about a week (or less) before we left. (And, yes, we are aware that what we came up with was geographically illogical.)
Four flights and an 1100-mile road trip turned out the best way to get in the kids' favorite teams, plus visit the classic, must-see stadiums (we had already been to Fenway last year):
LAX to Atlanta (2 nights - Braves vs. Seattle)
Chicago (1 day, no nights - Cubs vs. White Sox)
NY (3 nights - Yankees vs. Reds)
Cooperstown (1 night)
Niagara Falls (1 night)
Detroit (2 nights - Tigers vs. Rockies)
Cleveland (1 night - Indians vs. Reds)
WEATHER:
Severe thunderstorms everywhere. Every day was a nailbiter - would our game be canceled? But luck was on our side. All games were played and we only experienced one two-hour rain delay, which turned out to be great fun.
PROS:
- Family bonding
- Finally able to use our Delta miles (for most legs, a week before the trip), because nobody else wants to use SkyMiles to go to Atlanta or Cleveland.
- Packing was easy:
1 - One lightweight gortex rainjacket
2 - One umbrella
3 - One nice outfit for NY
4 - Two grungy outfits for everywhere else
- Did I mention Family Bonding?
CONS:
- Everybody wants to do it again next year
NEXT: PROCURING TICKETS
A million thanks to all the Fodorites on this board who helped with tickets and logistics.
WHO WE ARE:
2 arts-obsessed adults and 2 sports-obsessed male teens, 14 and 17, normally used to vacationing in exotic destinations. But this time we asked for the boys' input.
ITINERARY:
Because of our ever-changing work schedules, all arrangements were made at the last minute, about a week (or less) before we left. (And, yes, we are aware that what we came up with was geographically illogical.)
Four flights and an 1100-mile road trip turned out the best way to get in the kids' favorite teams, plus visit the classic, must-see stadiums (we had already been to Fenway last year):
LAX to Atlanta (2 nights - Braves vs. Seattle)
Chicago (1 day, no nights - Cubs vs. White Sox)
NY (3 nights - Yankees vs. Reds)
Cooperstown (1 night)
Niagara Falls (1 night)
Detroit (2 nights - Tigers vs. Rockies)
Cleveland (1 night - Indians vs. Reds)
WEATHER:
Severe thunderstorms everywhere. Every day was a nailbiter - would our game be canceled? But luck was on our side. All games were played and we only experienced one two-hour rain delay, which turned out to be great fun.
PROS:
- Family bonding
- Finally able to use our Delta miles (for most legs, a week before the trip), because nobody else wants to use SkyMiles to go to Atlanta or Cleveland.
- Packing was easy:
1 - One lightweight gortex rainjacket
2 - One umbrella
3 - One nice outfit for NY
4 - Two grungy outfits for everywhere else
- Did I mention Family Bonding?
CONS:
- Everybody wants to do it again next year
NEXT: PROCURING TICKETS
Jul 18th, 2008, 12:45 PM
#3
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CONS:
- Everybody wants to do it again next year
Ha! That's a "pro" in my book. (We've done this twice, although not last minute -- once to Tigers, Cubs, White Sox, Milwaukee and Cleveland, and once to Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Phillies and Orioles. We've also been to lots of other stadiums but not on concentrated trips).
(P.S. This year we're bonding with our kids in Egypt!)
- Everybody wants to do it again next year
Ha! That's a "pro" in my book. (We've done this twice, although not last minute -- once to Tigers, Cubs, White Sox, Milwaukee and Cleveland, and once to Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Phillies and Orioles. We've also been to lots of other stadiums but not on concentrated trips).
(P.S. This year we're bonding with our kids in Egypt!)
Jul 21st, 2008, 10:02 PM
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Thanks, everyone.
dmlove - It sounds as if you approached your tour rationally, sticking to one area of the country. We were all over the place...But it turns out that added to the fun.
dmlove - It sounds as if you approached your tour rationally, sticking to one area of the country. We were all over the place...But it turns out that added to the fun.
Jul 21st, 2008, 10:35 PM
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PROCURING TICKETS:
Because we didn't finalize our plans until about a week before the trip, we ended up getting tickets in just about every way possible.
Braves - Stubhub
Cubs - Craigslist
Yankees - Ebay
Tigers - Cousin's boyfriend
Indians - Ticketmaster
All transactions were easy - and all seats were excellent. If anyone wants to know exactly where we sat, I can ask my husband. (I have a limited baseball vocabulary, but I believe Cleveland was the only place where we did not have field level infield seats.)
The Yankees tickets were EXTREMELY pricey, but worth every penny because they were under an overhang that protected us from the elements. We stayed dry during the rain delay, which turned out to be entertaining, watching the ground crew guys rolling and unrolling the tarp, wrestling with it as it blew around in the wind. (I'm asssuming that the new stadium will have a more high-tech way to cover the field.)
The best seats were in Detroit. My husband and I missed that game, but our kids went with someone who had incredible season tickets - two rows behind the visitors' dugout. (That's where my younger son caught a ball.)
HOW WE RATIONALIZED SPENDING AN ARM AND AN LEG ON TICKETS:
- Last chance to see Yankee Stadium
- Saved a lot on dinners by eating multiple hot dogs
- Skipped the theater and shopping in NY
- Rented a Honda Accord for the road trip portion of the trip. Not great for the back, but impressive on gas mileage - Used only three tanks of gas for 1100 miles.
NEXT: HOTELS
Because we didn't finalize our plans until about a week before the trip, we ended up getting tickets in just about every way possible.
Braves - Stubhub
Cubs - Craigslist
Yankees - Ebay
Tigers - Cousin's boyfriend
Indians - Ticketmaster
All transactions were easy - and all seats were excellent. If anyone wants to know exactly where we sat, I can ask my husband. (I have a limited baseball vocabulary, but I believe Cleveland was the only place where we did not have field level infield seats.)
The Yankees tickets were EXTREMELY pricey, but worth every penny because they were under an overhang that protected us from the elements. We stayed dry during the rain delay, which turned out to be entertaining, watching the ground crew guys rolling and unrolling the tarp, wrestling with it as it blew around in the wind. (I'm asssuming that the new stadium will have a more high-tech way to cover the field.)
The best seats were in Detroit. My husband and I missed that game, but our kids went with someone who had incredible season tickets - two rows behind the visitors' dugout. (That's where my younger son caught a ball.)
HOW WE RATIONALIZED SPENDING AN ARM AND AN LEG ON TICKETS:
- Last chance to see Yankee Stadium
- Saved a lot on dinners by eating multiple hot dogs
- Skipped the theater and shopping in NY
- Rented a Honda Accord for the road trip portion of the trip. Not great for the back, but impressive on gas mileage - Used only three tanks of gas for 1100 miles.
NEXT: HOTELS
Jul 22nd, 2008, 10:41 AM
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sounds great, I've always been a football fan, however our church organized a trip to watch the rangers, and for $3 i thought we would give it a try, the Ballpark in Arlington, really was beautiful, and I might learn to appreciate baseball!!
Jul 22nd, 2008, 12:00 PM
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This is great, crosscheck! 
I love your posts (and we have 14 and 17 year old boys so I can relate even though baseball is not their favorite). We are in the midst of college visits and may be giving up our thoughts of an "exotic" trip for next summer because the boys are leaning towards a hiking/rafting/outdoorsy family road trip (probably Alberta/BC).
Thanks for posting.
I love your posts (and we have 14 and 17 year old boys so I can relate even though baseball is not their favorite). We are in the midst of college visits and may be giving up our thoughts of an "exotic" trip for next summer because the boys are leaning towards a hiking/rafting/outdoorsy family road trip (probably Alberta/BC).
Thanks for posting.
Jul 25th, 2008, 08:38 PM
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DISCLAIMER:
Because of a work crisis, I ended up missing the first two stops on the trip - Atlanta and Chicago, and met the rest of the family in NY. It was very difficult getting any details from the boys, so please forgive me if this report is not accurate.
ADVANTAGE:
All rooms, except NY, were extremely reasonable (some under $200 for junior suites).
ATLANTA - The Ellis House
Chose this downtown boutique hotel because it looked cool and offered a Braves package (which we ultimately did not use.) Mr. Crosscheck said I would have loved the suite but would have hated the view, which was of a brick wall.
HOTEL EVACUATION:
Several hours after the boys arrived, an alarm sounded and the hotel was swiftly evacuated. Turned out that alarm was triggered by excessive smoke in the kitchen.
EERIE COINCIDENCE:
The boys later found out that the hotel, once called the Winecoff, in 1946 had been the scene of the deadliest hotel fire in American history, known locally as "Atlanta's Titanic."
CHICAGO - No Hotel
Everyone loved the novelty of flying in and flying out just for the game. Boys left Atlanta at 8:30 AM, arrived at Midway at 10:30, took the El to Wrigley and checked their luggage at an oversize parcel room right at the field. After the game they got back on the El and headed to O'Hare, arriving in plenty of time for their 7:00 PM flight to NY.
NEW YORK - Affinia 50
All-suites hotel on 50th and 3rd. Not fancy (halls desperately need new carpeting), but has wonderful club room and is an excellent value. We had a one-bedroom apt. with a full kitchen, large enough for entertaining. Minutes from the Lexington line (No. 4 Train), which goes to Yankee Stadium.
COOPERSTOWN - Otesaga Hotel
Grand lakefront resort. Booked the day before our arrival (Saw online that there was plenty of availability). Was able to get out of the "mandatory" meal plan (which would have been way too formal for us - jackets required for men.) Didn't have time to properly make use the facilities - boats, pool, etc., but breakfast on the lake was lovely.
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE - Pillar and Post Hotel. This Ontario town, for which the word "quaint" was invented, is the perfect antidote to the cheesiness of Niagara Falls (where, shockingly, the Canadian side was more tacky and embarrassing than the American). Couldn't get a room at the Prince of Wales on the town square (which had been recommended) - Our place was part of the same Vintage Hotel Group. Offers huge junior suites and a nice spa with a natural hot spring, where we spent the whole morning.
DETROIT - Stayed in Grosse Pointe with relatives. Most relaxing part of the trip.
CLEVELAND - Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Classic hotel built in 1918. Way too elegant for a baseball tour (is this getting to be a theme?), but the price was right and the entire 10-minute walk to the stadium was through an indoor mall! Our fellow guests were all underdressed Cincinnati fans.
NEXT: THE GAMES
Because of a work crisis, I ended up missing the first two stops on the trip - Atlanta and Chicago, and met the rest of the family in NY. It was very difficult getting any details from the boys, so please forgive me if this report is not accurate.
ADVANTAGE:
All rooms, except NY, were extremely reasonable (some under $200 for junior suites).
ATLANTA - The Ellis House
Chose this downtown boutique hotel because it looked cool and offered a Braves package (which we ultimately did not use.) Mr. Crosscheck said I would have loved the suite but would have hated the view, which was of a brick wall.
HOTEL EVACUATION:
Several hours after the boys arrived, an alarm sounded and the hotel was swiftly evacuated. Turned out that alarm was triggered by excessive smoke in the kitchen.
EERIE COINCIDENCE:
The boys later found out that the hotel, once called the Winecoff, in 1946 had been the scene of the deadliest hotel fire in American history, known locally as "Atlanta's Titanic."
CHICAGO - No Hotel
Everyone loved the novelty of flying in and flying out just for the game. Boys left Atlanta at 8:30 AM, arrived at Midway at 10:30, took the El to Wrigley and checked their luggage at an oversize parcel room right at the field. After the game they got back on the El and headed to O'Hare, arriving in plenty of time for their 7:00 PM flight to NY.
NEW YORK - Affinia 50
All-suites hotel on 50th and 3rd. Not fancy (halls desperately need new carpeting), but has wonderful club room and is an excellent value. We had a one-bedroom apt. with a full kitchen, large enough for entertaining. Minutes from the Lexington line (No. 4 Train), which goes to Yankee Stadium.
COOPERSTOWN - Otesaga Hotel
Grand lakefront resort. Booked the day before our arrival (Saw online that there was plenty of availability). Was able to get out of the "mandatory" meal plan (which would have been way too formal for us - jackets required for men.) Didn't have time to properly make use the facilities - boats, pool, etc., but breakfast on the lake was lovely.
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE - Pillar and Post Hotel. This Ontario town, for which the word "quaint" was invented, is the perfect antidote to the cheesiness of Niagara Falls (where, shockingly, the Canadian side was more tacky and embarrassing than the American). Couldn't get a room at the Prince of Wales on the town square (which had been recommended) - Our place was part of the same Vintage Hotel Group. Offers huge junior suites and a nice spa with a natural hot spring, where we spent the whole morning.
DETROIT - Stayed in Grosse Pointe with relatives. Most relaxing part of the trip.
CLEVELAND - Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Classic hotel built in 1918. Way too elegant for a baseball tour (is this getting to be a theme?), but the price was right and the entire 10-minute walk to the stadium was through an indoor mall! Our fellow guests were all underdressed Cincinnati fans.
NEXT: THE GAMES
Jul 25th, 2008, 09:05 PM
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"It was very difficult getting any details from the boys, so please forgive me if this report is not accurate."
I have a husband and a son. I understand!
Actually, that's why, after asking advice from Fodorites on their NCAA trip to Detroit in late March, I didn't try to post a trip report. Just pulled up the original post and added a few details.
So I admire your courage in attempting to cover that part of the trip!
I have a husband and a son. I understand!
Actually, that's why, after asking advice from Fodorites on their NCAA trip to Detroit in late March, I didn't try to post a trip report. Just pulled up the original post and added a few details.
So I admire your courage in attempting to cover that part of the trip!
Jul 29th, 2008, 09:04 PM
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kelliebellie,
We visited only four schools on this trip (more about that later). But for college visit reports and a satirical look at the process in general, check out my college angst blog (click on "March" for highlights and lowlights of our eight-state spring break tour):
www.theneuroticparent.com
CAPH52,
I haven't yet posted the details about the games we saw because I lack the skills to describe sporting events, especially ones I didn't attend. I will solicit the help of Mr. Crosscheck and report back tomorrow.
We visited only four schools on this trip (more about that later). But for college visit reports and a satirical look at the process in general, check out my college angst blog (click on "March" for highlights and lowlights of our eight-state spring break tour):
www.theneuroticparent.com
CAPH52,
I haven't yet posted the details about the games we saw because I lack the skills to describe sporting events, especially ones I didn't attend. I will solicit the help of Mr. Crosscheck and report back tomorrow.
Jul 30th, 2008, 05:07 AM
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okay, when I find a moment I am so sitting down with a nice cup of tea and diving into the blog. At first perusal it appears hilarious! My brother-in-law is applying to colleges soon too. I have to e-mail this to his mother. If only there was some real life reason to study beer pong. Perhaps an Olympic sport someday?
