Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Ah, summer.
School is out, the sun is shining and there is no better time to vacate the premises.
Trust me, around these parts, we start making a run for it just as soon as the calendar flips to June. Nary a week passes during the summer solstice without at least one member of the Tribune-Herald sports staff taking some time off for vacation.
Like most folks, I require the refreshment and renewal that comes with getting away from the job every once in a while. But taking an all-out vacation from sports? No way, man.
If you’re a legitimate sports fanatic, why deprive yourself of your passion just because you’re headed to another part of the country? If anything, that’s the ideal time to feed the beast.
As someone who never fails to have a ball — be it football, basketball or baseball — while traveling, allow me to offer a few tips on how to plan the perfect sports vacation.
Do your homework: Research your destination thoroughly in advance to discover what sports-related venues it has to offer. Who’s the local team? Are they playing at home during your visit? These are critical questions to answer if you want to squeeze in a ball game (or two) while on your journey.
Perhaps there’s a cool sports-related museum nearby. Obviously everyone knows about Cooperstown and Canton, but why not make a stop at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum if you’re rolling through Kansas City, or pay homage to the Sultan of Swat at the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore?
And don’t fret if your vacation doesn’t take you to the big city. Minor league teams and ballparks are abundant in smaller towns, and one of the perqs of taking in a minor-league sporting event is that it provides major relief to your wallet.
“Hire” a guide: No, you don’t have to track down and pay a local to taxi you around town. But before you ever leave, venture to the bookstore and invest in a travel guide.
I won’t be an advertising shill and proclaim any one brand better than the other, but I’m a big believer in travel guidebooks as an invaluable resource of information you might not learn otherwise — or until it’s too late. Usually written by locals, these guidebooks are chock full of helpful nuggets. Want to know the best place to park for a Yankees game? Care to learn the most promising postgame watering hole in Seattle? They’ll tell you.
I’ve got a gut feeling that you’ll eat well, too. (One look at my gut would suggest why).
Mix in some culture: Look, your vacation doesn’t have to be wall-to-wall ball games and fantasy sports camps. It’s probably best to soak up the sports in moderation, especially if you’re traveling with family. If your spouse is not a hockey junkie, for instance, it might be a good idea while on that trip to Toronto to throw her a bone and head to the art museum one afternoon rather than taking in your third Maple Leafs game in five days.
Every two years, some fantasy football buddies and I take a “road trip” to an NFL game. But even when traveling with a group of pigskin-craving carnivores, it’s wise to vary your itinerary. Sure, we had a great time taking in games at Qualcomm in San Diego and at Dodgers Stadium in L.A., but just as fulfilling was a tour of the USS Midway, a retired Naval aircraft carrier.
Besides, culture will throw you a nice fat curveball now and then. While in Baton Rouge on business a few weeks back, I squeezed in a bit of sightseeing, including a stop at the old Louisiana state capital building downtown. Besides admiring the castle-like architecture and reading up on the state’s political history, I was delighted to discover that the building also housed the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Pistol Pete Maravich — now there was a real work of art.
Shop around for tickets: Don’t immediately go to the local team’s Web site to purchase game tickets. Browse around. There are scores of ticket peddlers all over the Internet, and you may be able to land a better deal from a season ticket holder who’s looking to make a few extra bucks.
However, don’t wait until the last minute. You don’t want to be standing outside the stadium a half hour before kickoff holding a sign reading “I Need Two.”
Get off your butt: Your vacation doesn’t have to be a spectator sport. Get out of that seat and join the action.
Play one of the dozens of golf courses in Myrtle Beach. Get your pickup game on at Rucker Park in New York. Run the “Rocky Steps” in Philadelphia. Hike a mountain or two (especially if your name is John Werner).
Basically, break a sweat. Vacations should be relaxing, but that doesn’t mean they have to be 100 percent sedentary.
Besides, you’ll have time to relax later.
Like when you go back to work.
bcherry@wacotrib.com
757-5714
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