In my humble opinion, there is nothing better than a good baseball trip. A good prerequisite would be that you are a fan of baseball, or at least a fan of the American tradition. One of the biggest obstacles to road trips is the pressure it can put on your budget. However, a baseball road trip, if done right, doesn’t have to cost that much. There will be more information on that later. Here are some ideas for a great baseball road trip:
Midwest
If you live in the Midwestern United States, Wrigley Field is the most historic ballpark that is within easy reach. If you have never visited Wrigley Field, you should make sure you go there. The second oldest ballpark still in use, Wrigley is like stepping back in time. Ivy running up the brick walls in the outfield, and you’ll notice the lack of a giant screen and other amenities we’re used to in newer stadiums. If you haven’t already guessed, I’d make sure you plan a trip to the Midwest around a visit or two to Wrigley Field.
Another idea for a trip to the Midwest is to visit the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. This is about 5 hours from Chicago, but it’s also a great place to catch a game. While you’re in St. Louis, check out the Gateway Grizzlies minor league team. Tickets are cheap and have a menu item that appears in Chowdown Countdown and Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel. You can bite into the taste of a bacon cheeseburger where the bun has been replaced with a Krispy Kreme doughnut. St. Louis is also home to 3 of the top 100 heart hospitals; in case the Krispy Kreme burger overwhelms you.
At this point, you’re also just a short drive from Kansas City, where you could watch the Royals play. You can also go from Chicago to Milwaukee, or just go to the south side of Chi-town and watch the White Sox play a day or two later. Chicago is also convenient to Cincinnati, with just over a 4-hour drive. The good thing is that all these cities have more to offer than just baseball, as if you needed to do something more.
East Coast
Every baseball fan needs to take a good baseball trip to the East Coast. Although the classic Yankee Stadium is now a memory, you can visit the New Yankee Stadium, which is one of the most beautiful ballparks in all of baseball. Love them or hate them, everyone loves to watch a Yankees game. If you’ve been to New York, you can also catch a game at Citi Field, which is the New York Mets’ new ballpark. It’s always a good money-saving idea to watch multiple ball games when the teams are so close together. Maximize baseball while minimizing the cost of gasoline; Perfect!
Once you’re in New York, I’d say Fenway Park in Boston is also a must see. This is home to the Green Monster, the massive green wall in left field, and is the oldest active ballpark. Even if you don’t like baseball, you’ll like Fenway. The atmosphere is unique, the fans are intense, and the place is full of character. If you’re going to the East Coast on a baseball road trip, go to Fenway first.
Other options worth exploring are the cool Camden Yards ballpark in Baltimore and the new Washington Nationals stadium in DC This is another 2 birds with one stone opportunity. The parks are close enough to stay in the same hotel for 2 nights and travel to each stadium each night.
