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Take me out to the ball game; make your next vacation a grand slam - Baseball Vacations

Travel America, July-August, 2003 by Randy Mink

AS BASEBALL FANS, WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH to live just outside Chicago, one of only two U.S. cities--the other being New York--with two major league teams. But every summer our family embarks on a mini-road trip to see how the national pastime plays in other locales, building a vacation around games and behind-the-scenes stadium tours. I guess you could say we "collect" ballparks.

Combining our passions for baseball and travel, we flew out to Denver last August to see our beloved Chicago Cubs battle the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, a dazzling brick stadium built in 1995. Fearing we might stick out like sore thumbs with our Cubs shirts and caps, we soon felt at ease at the sight of other Cub loyalists around us on the right field side. In fact, when Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa hit a grand slam, it seemed that more than half the crowd stood and cheered. Apparently, a lot of Midwestern travelers had the same vacation idea.

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Coors Field, like other urban ballparks, is a key city attraction, a real focal point. In Denver's case, the stadium was a catalyst in the development of the trendy LoDo (Lower Downtown) area, once a neglected warehouse and railroad district. Today LoDo abounds with restaurants, bars, and art galleries, not to mention young urban pioneers who have moved into converted loft buildings that blend in with the red-brick facade of retro-style Coors Field.

This summer we plan to visit Cincinnati to catch a Reds game and tour their brand new home, Great American Ball Park. Two years ago my son Jeremy and I made the two-hour drive to Milwaukee to watch the Cubs play the Brewers at spanking-new Miller Park, a retractable-roof marvel. A year before, he and my wife went to the Detroit Tigers' Comerica Park in its inaugural season.

When we're in a city during off-season, we still take a stadium tour (usually available year-round) and visit the team's souvenir shop, where Jeremy adds to his collection of baseball memorabilia. On a business trip in Seattle this past January I had a free afternoon, so I toured SAFECO Field and picked up a Mariners pennant and T-shirt for Jeremy.

Of the major league cities we've visited, Denver is our favorite. Coors Field is family-friendly, LoDo has a hip feel, and downtown hotels are within easy walking distance of the ballpark. Nearby, thrill rides await at Six Flags Elitch Gardens, America's only downtown theme park.

Soon after checking in at Hotel Teatro, Jeremy, my wife Karen, and I strolled over to Coors Field and caught the 11 a.m. tour of the 50,000-seat stadium. Our guide took us into an exclusive suite, the press box, and Rockies' dugout. In the upper deck, a single row of purple seats (a team color) sits exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level. As on most stadium tours, we were allowed on the edge of the field but told not to touch the grass.

Jeremy and I would do more exploring the next day before and during the Cubs game. We're always on the lookout for what makes a ballpark unique, comparing it to historic Wrigley Field, our hometown park of choice. Though Wrigley has a magical charm, it's antiquated, lacking the bells and whistles (like video scoreboards) that distinguish state-of-the-art stadiums unveiled in the last decade.

One popular diversion at Coors Field is looking down on the center field bullpens, landscaped in rustic Colorado style with river boulders, pine and spruce trees, and a waterfall. Adjacent fountains shoot skyward before the game and during the seventh inning stretch, and also for a Rockies home run or win.

After surveying this little chunk of national park-style "wilderness" we bounded up to the Rockpile, an affordable bleacher area that towers over center field, for panoramic views of the stadium, city, and Rocky Mountains; tickets there are only $4 for adults, a mere $1 for seniors and children.

Coors Field caters to families with a playground, gift shop, and food stand just for little buckaroos, plus a family section that provides booster seats and serves no alcohol. Another crowd-pleaser: Team mascot Dinger, a purple dinosaur. Behind the bullpens, fans of all ages can test their pitching and batting skills in the Interactive Area. In the Fantasy Broadcast Booth, would-be announcers can do a half inning of play-by-play commentary and take home the recording.

Because food and drink is such a big part of going to the ballpark, we like to check out the refreshments and see what's different. At Wrigley Field it's mostly hot dogs, hamburgers, and pizza, so at Coors we jumped at the chance for some exotic fare at the concourse's sausage kiosk. Choices included chicken Parmesan, andouille Cajun, habanero cheddar, and Louisiana hot sausage.

Wrigley Field, a relic dating back to 1914, is one that ballpark collectors and nostalgia buffs put high on their must-see lists. From its vine-covered brick walls to old-fashioned green scoreboard, Wrigley offers a pure baseball experience. Until 1988, there were no night games; even now, in the tradition that baseball was meant to be played during the day, night dates are limited in number. Many weekend games sell out before the season even begins. Stadium tours are available on selected dates.

Take me out to the ball game; make your next vacation a grand slam - Baseball Vacations

Travel America, July-August, 2003 by Randy Mink

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