Planning for Road Trips

Posted by Big League Tours on Mon, Jan 16, 2012 @ 04:13 PM
USA Today recently printed an article, "How to Plan Your First Road Trip." The author provides nine pointers that would be a good idea for you to incorporate if you're taking family tours or sports vacations of any kind. Here's are the highlights:

Overview
The iconic road trip seems to be reserved for young people, heading out with a few buddies and nary a care in the world. But first road trips can occur at any age and can last from a couple of days to an entire summer. Planning any trip requires a little care and consideration, but in the case of a first road trip, it is especially important to be thorough and leave leeway for the unexpected.
  • Step 1 - Purchase roadside service insurance.
  • Step 2 - 
Bring your car in for a once-over.
  • Step 3
 - Keep a small kit of safety supplies with you.
  • Step 4
 - Buy a paper map.
  • Step 5
 - Make a list of places you want to see and prepare a realistic time line.
  • Step 6
 - Plan overnight stays.
  • Step 7 - 
Record a hefty playlist for your MP3 player.
  • Step 8
 - Keep a small cooler stocked with beverages and a couple of snacks.
  • Step 9 - 
Allow time for the unexpected.
This looks like a great list if you have time to do this on your own and you're interested in looking up all the details for your baseball road trips. But what occurs to me is that we've already done all this work for you at Big League Tours when you purchase one of our baseball vacation packages. That's one of the things our clients tell us they love the most - the fact that they can show up for the tour and everything is taken care of for them.

Topics: sports travel and tours, baseball trips, baseball travel, sports vacation

East Coast Here We Come

Posted by Big League Tours on Mon, Jan 16, 2012 @ 04:10 PM
June 12, 2011 - Our group arrived in Philadelphia on Friday from their respective homes to start the longest of our MLB tours for the season, our East Coast Tour. This is the granddaddy of all trips with games in Philly, Baltimore, DC, both teams New York, and Boston. We'll also have a free day in DC to explore the nation'sThe Liberty Bell after the Polanco grand slam capitol and we'll make a trek to the birthplace of baseball, Cooperstown, New York.

A few of our guests arrived early enough to take in the game on Friday night (because six games in 8 days isn't quite enough!!). So we shuffled out of our downtown Philadelphia hotel to Citizens Bank Park to see the Phillies host the Cubs.

The game seemed like the Phillies were going to runaway with it quite easily, especially after Placido Polanco hit a grand slam to make the score 7-0 and light up the liberty bell in center field.

But the Cubs made the game interesting by scoring five runs in the seventh and giving the Phillies fans reason to get even roudier. Ultimately the Phillies held on for the win. (Box score and wrap up here.)

As with all the baseball tours I host, I'll keep checking in from the road to let you know how things are going. Should be fun!

Topics: Washington D.C., Boston, Citizens Bank Park, Baltimore, baseball trips, Phillies, baseball tours, baseball travel, Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Cubs

Baseball Tour Package Weekly Feature

Posted by Doug Lawson on Tue, Jan 10, 2012 @ 09:42 AM

Baseball on the Bay (includes Seattle)

Like several of our tours this season, this baseball vacation package was created based on the requests of our fans.
Safeco Field
Baseball on the Bay, June 29-July 3
We're expecting beautiful weather and exciting baseball on this late June/early July tour to the Bay area. First, though, we'll start in Seattle to catch the Red Sox as they take on the Mariners. From there, we'll jet to San Francisco and check into one of the finest hotels in downtown. That evening you'll be treated to a San Francisco food tour courtesy of BLT.

On Sunday, it's back to baseball and our MLB player experience. There will be plenty of time to explore the city on your own after the 1:05pm game. And then, on Monday, you'll have more time to venture out before we make the short trip to Oakland to see the A's take on the Red Sox. If the schedule allows, we will also add behind the scenes tours of the stadiums.

AT&T Ballpark
Featured Tour Special- Book by the end of the day on Jan. 14 and receive $200 off per room booked. *
Use coupon code 200BAY when booking your tour.
CLICK HERE to reserve your spot. 

*some restrictions apply/not valid with any other offer


We're excited to present this baseball tour for the first time. Below are the links to the tour page, brochure request and stadiums. We hope you will join us.

Baseball on the Bay Tour Page

Baseball on the Bay Tour Brochure Request

AT&T Ballpark

The Oakland Coliseum
 
Safeco Field

Topics: stadium tours, baseball vacations, sports travel and tours, baseball trips, baseball travel, baseball vacation package, sports vacation, AT&T Park, MLB road trips

Barry Larkin is Headed to the Hall of Fame

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Tue, Jan 10, 2012 @ 07:00 AM

Cincinnati native and long-time standout for the Reds, Barry Larkin received the fateful call fromBarry Larkin the National Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday as he will be inducted into the Hall in 2012. MLB.com writer, Mark Sheldon, listed Barry's accomplishments in his article, "Hall of Fame Rolls Out Red Carpet for Larkin."

Larkin played 19 seasons -- all with the Reds -- from 1986-2004. He had a lifetime average of .295 with 198 home runs, 960 RBIs, 2,340 hits, a .371 on-base percentage and 379 stolen bases. He was also a 12-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove winner, a nine-time Silver Slugger winner, a member of the 1990 World Series championship team and the 1995 National League Most Valuable Player.

In 1996, Larkin became the first shortstop in Major League history to be a 30-30 player when he had 33 homers and 36 steals during that season. Outside of the numbers, Larkin was also considered a man with intangibles and leadership. He was honored with the role of team captain in 1997.

Congratulations to Larkin for the recognition that he's receiving for his amazing career!

Want to visit the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York? Join us on one of our Hall of Fame Tours or our full East Coast Tour. Each of them include stops in the little village credited as the birthplace of baseball.

Topics: baseball vacations, baseball trips, Reds, hall of fame, Cooperstown, Cincinnati

Nationals Park in Washington, DC

Posted by Big League Tours on Tue, Jan 03, 2012 @ 05:38 PM
Guests arriving at Nationals ParkJune 16, 2011 - Not to jinx it, but so far we've managed to dodge the rain for all the games on our tour. In fact, as we left our hotel in Washington, DC to go to Nationals Park, it started to rain slightly and then the skies opened up and poured. But the rain stopped about an hour before game time and allowed the teams and groundscrew to get ready for the game on time.

While we've had other baseball tours to NationalCenterfield bar at Nationals Parks Park over the last couple of years, I personally haven't been back since it's inaugural year in 2008. The community around the ballpark, while it still needs some work, has improved immensely in the 3 years since my last visit.

Here are some photos of our guests arriving at the ballpark and some photos from around the stadium. Couldn't help but take some photos of the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument from inside the park, too.
Capitol Building from inside Nationals ParkWashington Monument from inside Nationals Park

Topics: Washington D.C., Nationals, tour operator, sports travel and tours, baseball trips, ballpark tours, big league tours, group tours, Nationals Park, Baseball

Happy New Year from Big League Tours!!

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Sun, Jan 01, 2012 @ 09:00 AM

Looking Forward to 2012! (And New Baseball Tours!!)

Here's wishing a Happy New Year to all the baseball and travel fans we have have come to know over the last six baseball seasons. It's been so much fun combining two things that I love so muchPrivate group tour of Yankee Stadium and offering them to you. It has been a privilege to serve each one of you!

As we head into our seventh season of offering baseball tours, we just want to say how grateful we are for the past six years and how much we're looking forward to a fantastic 2012. We invite you to connect with us on the way!

Have a great year and we'll see you at the ballpark!!

Topics: baseball trips, ballpark tours, big league tours, sports vacation, group tours

Free Hotel Night on All 2012 Baseball Tours**

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Mon, Dec 26, 2011 @ 10:15 AM

EARLY BOOKING PROMOTION - EXTENDED!!!

Private stadium tour at Fenway Park

We've been getting such tremendous feedback on our Early Booking Promotion that we've decided to extend it until the end of the year!! Book your baseball vacation package with us by December 31, 2011, and you will receive one free extra hotel night per room.  That means you can go to your first destination a day early, or stay a day after your tour, and Big League Tours will pick up the room!!

Check out our 2012 Baseball Tours and book your package this week to extend the trip and lock-in your free hotel night!

**Some restrictions apply.

Topics: sports travel and tours, baseball trips, baseball travel, baseball vacation package, MLB road trips

Baseball Tour Holiday Promotions and Tour Spotlight

Posted by Doug Lawson on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 @ 02:10 PM

Book before Dec. 23 to get your extra hotel night

Folks have been booking early to take advantage of our free hotel night promotion.  For example, we've had travelers from the West Coast select to arrive a day before their Midwest 2 Tour begins so they won't be rushed after their cross country flight. We've also had a family choose the early arrival option on their Chicago/Milwaukee so they can have a day to check out the sites in Chicago.  The promotion ends Dec. 23.  Call or email us with any questions.

 

Still time to get a Big League Tours' gift pack under the tree

A Big League Tours' trip is a great gift for the holidays.  Any true baseball fan would love to travel with Big League Tours in 2012.  Plus, you can get a Big League Tours gift pack for them to open up on that special day.  Just book your tour by the end of this week (Dec.16), and let us know you want a gift pack.  We'll send it out right away and only charge for the shipping.


Tour Spotlight:  Hall of Fame Tours

Grand hall at Yankee Stadium This season, Big League Tours is offering four tour packages that visit the most popular destinations in baseball.  Our Hall of Fame Tours include games at Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Citi Field and a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  We always provide great, lower level seats; an MLB player experience; first  class hotels; and the flexibility to enjoy your trip.  Click on the tour listings below to see the details.

Hall of Fame Tour 1

Hall of Fame Tour 2

Hall of Fame Tour 3

Hall of Fame Tour 4

Topics: group travel, baseball trips, baseball tours, baseball travel, baseball vacation package, ballpark tours, Fenway Park, Yankees, Yankee Stadium, hall of fame

Final Destination for Our Tour: Fenway Park

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 02:45 PM
July 1, 2011 - Saturday morning the 18th, we loaded up the motorcoach and made our way to Boston. For some of the folks on our tour, this will have been the 6th game in 8 days. For others, it would be their third game in four days. But one thing they had in common, all were very excited to get to Boston to see the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

We arrived in Boston early in the afternoon and checked into the hotel. Our guests then had a few hours to go explore the sites around bean town. Our hotel was located near the start of the Freedom Trail so many folks started there and explored as much as they could in the time that we had.

My wife and I met some friends at Tasty Burger, a great little burger joint within view of Fenway Park. The food was fantastic. We had classic double View from our seats at Fenwaycheeseburgers and split a 50/50 (half fries, half onion rings). This will be a permanent stop on all the baseball tours I host in Boston.

Here's a photo from our seats. I kept waiting for a foul ball to roll up the screen above us, hit the face of the upper deck, and then fall into my outreached hand, but no such luck. I think only one or two foul balls were hit up there all night. Maybe it was the style of the pitchers that night? Or, could have just been the way the game was going. Here's the link to the box score on MLB.com.

This is still my favorite ballpark in all of the Majors. It's size, character, atmosphere inside and outside the park, history, and fans all make it a great place to visit on our MLB road trips.

Topics: Red Sox, Boston, sports travel and tours, baseball trips, baseball tours, baseball travel, Fenway Park, MLB tours, MLB road trips

Our Dream Trip

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 02:00 PM
June 23, 2011 - The accommodations and seats on our recent baseball trip were excellent. Glenn, our tour director, went out of his way to assure we were comfortable. The parks visited were excellent, as well as the baseball stadium tours. The variety of transportation was very good, although the subway travel was a bit tiring. Trip to Hall of Fame was excellent with ample time to see all. Bus selection was excellent. Train trip from Washington to New York was interesting. Glenn did an excellent job in guiding us. The player interface was interesting. Would we go with BLT again? Absolutely!

Name: John H. Gulick
City: Anaheim
State: CA
Country: USA
Your Trip: East Coast-Touch Em All

Topics: stadium tours, New York, baseball trips, baseball stadiums, big league tours, testimonials, hall of fame