A road trip is a perfect time to bond with friends and experience moments you would not otherwise have the opportunity to. Sometimes a reason for a road trip can be hard to justify. For a baseball fan there are plenty of reasons to fill up the car with gas and head onto the highway. These are ten road trip ideas every baseball should consider taking at some point in their life.
A Trip to Fenway Park
The ancient cathedral of baseball lure in Boston, Fenway Park usually comes first on the list of baseball parks for fans to visit. The Boston fans have given this stadium its own personality. A change from the modern stadiums, only by visiting this park can you truly understand why Red Sox fans are so obsessed with selling out the park.
A Trip to Wrigley Field
The same that can be said about Fenway Park can go for Wrigley Field in Chicago. Home to the Chicago Cubs, this is another destination at the top of ballparks to visit. A community that has made this more than an old stadium with ivy on the outfield walls, the traditions taking place each game is worth the trip alone. You may even get lucky and see someone famous sing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ during the 7th inning stretch.
Cooperstown
Located in upstate New York is the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. This is more than your usual sports road trip. Going to Cooperstown is a pilgrimage. For true die hard baseball fans you will think you have died and gone to heaven. Cooperstown has the Hall of Fame at the end of the street with endless memorabilia shops surrounding it. This is truly a paradise for fans of the game.
Cooperstown on Hall of Fame Weekend
Visiting Cooperstown at any time is magical, but going there on Hall of Fame Weekend is even better. Many living Hall of Famers come into town to sign autographs and pay tribute to the new players entering the elite class. While it may be much busier at this time, it is definitely worth it to see the fanfare.
Spring Training
Escaping the colder weather in other parts of the country is always good. Add to it that you will be attending near-exclusive practices and games of major league players at small venues and you have a great road trip all planned out. Whether you go to Florida or Arizona, spring training is something baseball fans need to spend at least a week in March enjoying.
A Minor League Team in Every League
You might be amazed at how many different minor league teams they are at different levels and in different leagues. While the game does not change, the atmosphere can. From the Eastern League games to the ones in the Cactus League, they all have a different experience. Take in the games and the local city culture on each trip. These parks have more of a town experience than the major league teams in major cities.
The All-Star Game
The All-Star Game comes around only once a year and in each the location is different. While you can take in the game when it’s local, why not make it a reason to travel to a new city? Other events taking place that weekend make this an even more attractive event. The Home Run Derby, the Futures Game, and Celebrity Softball Game will give you plenty of reasons to go to the stadium.
The World Series
We never know where the World Series will take place until the League Championship Series wraps up. You may have to hope one of the teams in the finals is within driving distance in order to plan it out. It doesn’t take being at Game 7 to experience the World Series to its fullest. Even a boring game by World Series standards is one worth watching live.
Opening Day
You can usually make it to opening day at your home ballpark. The suggestion here is to see the opening game somewhere else. There’s a lot of hope on the first day of the season. Batting averages are all at .000 and everyone starts with a clean-slate. Some years when the first game takes place overseas you may even have an excuse to grab the passport for your trip.
Follow Your Favorite Team Around
Like a groupie to a rock band, following your favorite team around for a road trip or even longer can be an experience you will never forget. You will have the opportunity to truly feel like a member of the team and know what it’s like to be on the road for days at a time.
