Head into the city for the day and leave the kids at home!  Big League Tours is now offering Getaway Day tours that give you one day and one night away from normalcy.  Enjoy the city and take in a baseball game at your favorite stadium.

Sit back and relax at Fenway Park, Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium.  Looking to try something new?  Maybe a day in San Francisco or Miami is more your speed. 

Our Getaway Days are a great option for baseball fans with a passion for travelling.  Add a night to your baseball vacation and spend an extra day enjoying the city you love! 

Book your vacation by November 21^st and you’ll save 5% on your getaway!

Get ready for a new type of Big League Tour!  We’re adding weekend trips that are perfect for the busy baseball fan’s schedule and provide a long weekend getaway to visit your favorite team!

You’ll enjoy two baseball games and an entire day to vacation, exploring everything the city has
 to offer.  We’ll make it to all of the favorite destinations like New York and Chicago but also give you the chance to see baseball stadiums in great summer cities like Denver and Boston.

It’s about more than baseball on these trips and you’ll enjoy extra features that aren’t offered on ANY other tours like:

• Double Decker Bus Tours
• Brewery Tours
• Alcatraz Tours

Our Destination Tours are great for fans wanting to take a baseball tour but can’t quite commit to a large tour like the West Coast or East Coast. 

Save your spot on a tour before November 21^st and you’ll save 5% off of your trip package!

It’s time to reevaluate your baseball bucket list and start planning for the 2013 season!  Big League Tours has made it easy to tour as many ballparks as possible with our Multi-City tour packages, built for any baseball enthusiast!

Looking for a baseball trip to the West Coast?  East Coast?  How about the Midwest?  You’ll find 17 Multi-City tours taking you to cities like Boston, Miami, Chicago and over to California to see San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles. 

Join us on our East Coast baseball tour where you’ll see 12 teams, six ballparks AND the National Baseball Hall of Fame, all in eight days!  What makes our tours so special is that you’ll be engulfed with baseball action and still have time to explore in Boston, New York and Washington D.C.

Already visited the East Coast Stadiums?  Maybe these tours are what you need to complete your bucket list:

• Midwest Tour 1 – June 5-12, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee & Minneapolis
• West Coast Tour – June 11-18, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco & Oakland
• Southwest Tour – June 15-19, Denver, Dallas & Houston
• Southeast Tour – July 11-14, Atlanta, St. Petersburg, Miami

For our travelers who have a tight schedule, we’ve made it easy to fit a tour into your busy life!  See our tours by month to find the perfect baseball vacation for you and your family.

Book before November 21^st to save 5% off your Multi-City tour!

Mark your calendar baseball fans, we’re throwing a party and you’re invited!  For those of you who have been waiting for the release of the 2013 tour schedule, this is an event you won’t want to miss. 

Join Big League Tours and Reds sportscaster Chris Welsh on Thursday, October 16^th between 4:30PM and 8:30PM for the formal launch of the baseball tours for the 2013 season. The 2013 baseball tour schedule is jam-packed with opportunities to visit your favorite stadium and check some items off of your bucket list!

Guests will be welcomed with a ballpark themed buffet and giveaways throughout the evening. Winners will also be announced for a Grand Prize Getaway Day for two!

Can’t make it to the party but still want to enter the Grand Prize drawing?  Just click here and sign up for your chance to win.

Whether you're interested in planning a company outing or a weeklong baseball vacation, you won't want to lose your spot in these grand slam packages! RSVP to the event today and get full event details by clicking here. 

Get your friends together and we’ll see you at the party!

Since joining the Big League Tours crew in early summer, I've had the amazing opportunity to lead two tours. The first time I was the co-pilot with Martha Ellen in Chicago/Milwaukee and the second I was flying solo with the group in New York, Boston and Cooperstown. 

As the 2012 MLB season wraps up, I thought this would be a great time to share some of my favorite pictures from the trips this summer (I also threw in a few from the corporate outing we hosted). My iPhone is my best friend and I love snapping shots of absolutely anything and everything! FYI- My iPhone is far from professional so ignore some of the blurry stuff and just imagine the great times everyone was having!

Join me while I recount the amazing people I've met and wonderful places I've been thanks to Big League Tours.

There will be plenty of photos to come next year so stay tuned, hopefully your face will even be featured in a few! Sign up for our 2013 Tours and be the first to recieve the schedule once it's released!

Follow us on Facebook (Big League Tours), Instagram (BigLeagueTours) and Twitter (@BigLeagueTours) to view our other photos!

Music: Sweet Caroline- Glee Cast

We know one thing about people who purchase a Big League Tours package, they love to travel! Something else we know; travelling the world can’t even prepare you for what New York City will throw your way. With two ballparks and countless other baseball attractions, it’s crucial to make sure you know the best way to explore the city before you head out on your own.  

Here’s the run down of “Navigating NYC 101”:

Using public transportation is a MUST:

Ride the subway at least once!

When you first enter a station you’ll want to purchase a MetroCard from a self-service machine. Fares are (as of 9/25/12) $2.25 each way and usually allow you to switch lines without paying another fee, just make sure you don’t exit the station. I would recommend a minimum of $5 every time you add money to your card in case of an emergency. MTA is the subway system in NYC and the fastest way to get from point A to B. 

Once you get your card, enter the turnstiles by sliding your card through the machine, look at the image on the machine so you know which way to place your card. After you swipe the card, you’re remaining balance will show on a small screen and you can now enter through the turnstiles.

Now that you’re inside you’ll look for the colored circles with the number or letter of the line you want to take. Subway lines are color-coded depending on where they go and you’ll want to pay close attention to if the signs say “Uptown” or “Downtown”.  Uptown heads north and Downtown south. If you aren’t travelling to Queens or Brooklyn, these are the main things you’ll need to know about directions. If you accidently get on the wrong train, exit at the next stop and consult a map on how to get back to where you were. 

Subway doors close quickly so make sure you’re ready when the train arrives. 

NOTE: If you have an iPhone, maps will provide you with which line you should travel to get to your destination. 

Directions to Yankee Stadium from the Grand Hyatt Hotel

-Walk to Grand Central Terminal on 42nd Street

-Take the 4 Subway towards Woodlawn (Uptown)

-Exit at 161st Street/Yankee Stadium

-Walk 500ft. to Yankee Stadium

Note: Returning you'll take the 4 (downtown) to Grand Central Terminal/42nd Street 

Hail your first cab in NYC.

You’ll see cabs everywhere you look; it really is just like the movies! Be aggressive because they’ll take advantage of tourists without thinking twice!

So here’s how it works… Cabs with their lights on are available, just step off the sidewalk, stick out your arm, and they will come. Hailing a cab from a sidewalk may make them think you’re unsure. Be aggressive and you shouldn’t have a problem. 

When giving your location to the driver, it’s important that you seem very sure of where you’re going so they don’t try and take you the long way. 

For example, say you’re trying to spend your afternoon at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse to grab a few souvenirs. Try this:

I’m headed to 11^th Street between University Place and Broadway.

This way the driver knows that you know exactly where you want to go.

Throw on your walking shoes.

Walking in New York City is the best way to take in the sights as you travel to your destination. It also gives you some time to people watch. The concierge desk always has great directions but don’t forget to grab a map just in case you end up somewhere you hadn’t planned on!

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So there you have it. My main suggestions for exploring NYC like you've been there a dozen times. They may seem simple but it’s easy to get lost in a city of more than 8 million people. New York City has an endless amount of baseball destinations outside the stadium; take advantage of them without getting lost!

Check back in the next few weeks to see a list of our 2013 Tours and get signed up for the trip of a lifetime in one of America’s most exciting cities!

If you’re anything like me, your app library needs a little spicing up every now and then.  With the release of the iPhone5 and iOS6 upgrade, I’ve been getting rid of old apps and downloading new ones that make my daily life just a little bit easier.  It got me thinking, “What apps are out there that would make diehard baseball fans go crazy?”  Here it comes, I’m throwing at you my Top 6 Apps for Baseball Fan (I couldn’t pick just 5):

6. iScore Baseball Keeper

Keep track of your favorite MLB Teams stats or share your sons little league game with family members around the world.  Comparable to GameChanger, another statistic tracking app, iScore lets you go back at any time and change a part of the game.  You can also share your play-by-play with others, letting them watch the game from beginning to end. 

5. Yahoo Fantasy Baseball ‘12

Described as the “Best fantasy app for MLB on the market” by iPhone user ZZZLoan, Yahoo Fantasy Baseball ’12 can perform most of the functions that you would use online.  It provides real-time fantasy updates, allows you to manage your lineup, track matchups, drop and add players and sends you breaking news on players.  Compared to other fantasy baseball apps, you’ll want to go with Yahoo!

4. Ballpark Envi

If it’s your first time going to a stadium or you’re a history buff, make sure to download this app that includes all current stadiums as well as many past stadiums.  With pictures from around the stadium, you’ll get a great idea of the layout before game day.  Some stadiums also offer seating charts so you’ll know just where you’re sitting.  In addition to the images you’ll get plenty of info to learn more about the parks.  Looking to go on our Hall of Fame Tour?  Check out all of the old stadiums before visiting Yankee Stadium and Citi Field!

3. ESPN Radio

If you’ve previously ignored this app because of the cost, you no longer have to worry because it’s free!  Since August 20, 2012 ESPN Radio has allowed users to listen to SportsCenter, download podcasts and choose from more than 35 ESPN Radio Stations for FREE!  User reviews have been skyrocketing since the change but make sure you get it now because the free offer only lasts until December 31, 2012. 

2. MLB Pre Play

This app gives you a fun alternative to just texting your friends about the game.  Make your game predictions before they start or challenge a friend to a play-by-play game.  It’s a game within a game that’ll have you bragging about winning even if your team loses!  “When I’m at the ballpark with friends we do this all the time,” RonSwansong iPhone user said “especially with players we love or hate!”

1. MLB At the Ballpark

This is a must have when heading out to the ballpark!  Check-in when you get to the park and you’ll find some special promotions and deals that you may have otherwise missed.  Keep up-to-date with social media surrounding your team all from within the app.  My favorite feature?  If you’re in Philly, Houston, Phoenix or Miami, you can skip the line by ordering food from your phone, all you have to do is pick it up!  No delivery options yet, unfortunately.  More ballparks will likely be adding this optionin the near future. 

So there you have it, my Top 6 Apps for Baseball Fan.  As the 2013 tour schedule is being hammered out, I’ll keep searching for ways to better improve your trip with Big League Tours and maybe by next year they’ll be delivering food to our seats!  Make sure to sign up for our 2013 tours and be the first to get the schedule when it’s released!

Didn’t see your favorite baseball app?  Share it with us in the comment section!

Looking for a way to ditch your cubicle and get outside for a day?  One of the best parts of our job is working with companies who enjoying spoiling their employees with some staff bonding and baseball!  Lucky for Indy companies, their location is perfect for a weekday getaway to Chicago or Cincinnati.

This month we hit the road with Service Concepts who awarded more than 30 employees from around the state a day outing to see the Cincinnati Reds.  I don’t know many people who can classify jumping on a bus, having an unlimited lunch buffet and watching a MLB game as a bad day at work!  

Here’s what Mandy K. had to say about the event:

“Attending a Cincinnati Reds game with my coworkers was so much fun! Big League Tours made the day so enjoyable. All we had to do was get on the bus, sit back and relax! Everything was wonderful — from the coach bus ride there, to the unlimited buffet lunch and the special meet-and-greet with former Reds player Chris Welsh, who now announces games for the team. The day was well planned, and it was a great way to spend time with coworkers outside of the office. The stadium was awesome, with a beautiful location overlooking the Ohio River. I can only hope our company will consider taking another Big League Tours trip in the near future!”

Sharing the day with Mandy was also special for me; we went to a high school with less than 250 students TOTAL and hadn’t seen each other for more than four years!  Words can’t describe my surprise when I stepped on the bus and heard “GO JUGROX” from the back of the bus.  Wondering what the Jugrox are?  You’ll have to find that one out on your own.

High school reunions aren’t guaranteed on future trips but everyone here at Big League Tours can guarantee your company outing will be just as successful as this one!

Interested in planning an outing for your sales team or management staff?  Now’s the time to start planning for next year.  To set up a company outing for your crew, email me at kayla@bigleaguetours.com for more details.

I headed to the East Coast for my first Big League Tours adventure, flying solo! Although I could have spent days enjoying the city, it was down to business when the wheels hit the ground at Boston Logan.  enway will always hold a special place in my heart since it was the first Major League Baseball game I ever attended. I was glad to be back and start sharing what I knew about the stadium with our guests!

After meeting BLT Host and permanent Boston resident, Mike G. for some secrets of Fenway and a little confidence boost, it was time to hit the hotel and meet my guinea pigs!  I’m thrilled to say that my first ever tour group couldn’t have been more fantastic. Within the first five minutes, the Australian’s had the whole group rolling with laughter while comparing their accents to the Texans on the trip.

We quickly learned that we’d be helping each other a lot over the next week as most of the group learned how to ride a metro system! Once we made it to Fenway the group was off exploring the stadium and checking out one of the best gift stores in MLB.  Secret #1 that I discovered, the Bleacher Bar is a must! Enjoy a cheap (for a sporting event) beer while watching batting practice from the outfield!

Secret #2 of the trip, be selective when you try to escape the heat in the Yankee Stadium gift shop, they aren’t all air-conditioned! I’m not sure what he was doing, but the weather god wasn’t looking down on us in New York. With temperatures in the 100’s on Wednesdays and 60’s on Friday at Citi Field, I thought I was back in Indiana’s crazy weather.

The heat and rain couldn’t keep our die-hard fans away, especially the Lantz’s who had seen every stadium in the country prior to the addition of six more. With a tour of Yankee Stadium and private meet and greet with 1969 World Series Champion, Art Shamsky, they were thrilled to see more than just a game.

Outside of the scheduled events, our group became very close and spent most of our free day exploring New York City together. With a trip to Lombardi’s Pizza, the first coal oven pizza place in the United States, and then the World Trade Center Memorial, the off time was definitely used for more than testing the pillows in the hotel room. 

When I joined the Big League Tours crew in May, I kept wondering if I’d get the chance to join the group on the road or if Glenn and Doug would keep me locked up staring at a computer for eight hours every day. Luckily, a few weeks in, they finally decided they liked me enough to assist Martha Ellen for part of the Midwest Tour. I’m an Indiana girl but I’ve gained a few friends throughout the past four years of college so I was thrilled for a little work and a little play in the Windy City.

Being a tour guide may be classified as work, but let’s be serious, is attending baseball games and staying in luxury hotels really a job? Anyway, at the beginning of my adventure I felt like others thought I was just the daughter of someone on the tour instead of the person leading the tour! I guess that’s what happens when you’re fresh out of college?

Back to baseball…  I’ll admit it, I’m pretty much a newbie to the whole baseball world and Wrigley Field was only my second MLB stadium so I was thrilled to see that Wrigleyville had the same atmosphere as the area around Fenway Park. Lots of baseball loving, beer drinking fans that are sure to enhance your experience!

For me, the atmosphere makes your experience and both Wrigley, Miller Park and US Cellular all managed to impress me. From the people at Wrigley, to the craft beers and spending the day with Ron Kittle at Miller Park in addition to the fireworks at US Cellular, they all provided me with great memories of my first trip with Big League Tours.  

Of course there’s more to it than just the baseball, the people travelling with us were one of a kind and by the end of the trip I felt like I’d gained a second family. One of the best memories was celebrating an 87^th birthday with Walt, our favorite grandpa that everyone wanted to steal by the end of our trip. The more the merrier was definitely a true statement with the group of 20 that joined us. Check back in October for our 2013 Baseball Tours schedule to see when we'll be hosting the Midwest Tour again!

Thanks every for making my first trip a true success!

Kayla