East Coast Baseball Tours in May 2015

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Wed, Oct 15, 2014 @ 11:21 AM

Yankee Stadium,East Coast Tours,baseball stadiumsOur 2015 tour season kicks off with some Big League Tours fan favorites. Year in and year out, our most popular baseball tours are out East, as they include Fenway Park, the oldest stadium in the Majors; trips to Cooperstown, NY, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame; Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the first of the "retro" stadiums; and of course, Yankee Stadium.

Take a look at these East Coast baseball tours in May of 2015. They run right up to the Memorial Weekend holiday, a perfect way to stretch a holiday and make the most of your vacation.

EAST COAST MAY
The full East Coast May tour starts in Baltimore, offers 5 games in 5 different stadiums, and includes a day at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Click here to see the details.
- Tue, May 19, Oriole Park- Mariners @ Orioles, TBD
- Wed, May 20, Nationals Park- Yankees @ Nationals, TBD
- Thu, May 21, Citi Field- Cardinals @ Mets, TBD
- Fri, May 22, Yankee Stadium- Rangers @ Yankees, TBD
- Sat, May 23, Hall of Fame
- Sun, May 24, Fenway Park- Angels @ Red Sox, TBD
- Mon, May 25, Guests depart

MINI EAST COAST MAY
The Mini East Coast May is a shorter version of the tour above, it begins in Baltimore and ends in New York, and offers 4 games in 4 different stadiums. Click here to see the details.
- Tue, May 19, Oriole Park- Mariners @ Orioles, TBD
- Wed, May 20, Nationals Park- Yankees @ Nationals, TBD
- Thu, May 21, Citi Field- Cardinals @ Mets, TBD
- Fri, May 22, Yankee Stadium- Rangers @ Yankees, TBD
- Sat, May 23, Guests depart

HALL OF FAME MAY
The Hall of Fame May includes Mets, Yankees and Red Sox games as well as a day at the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the details. 
- Wed, May 20, Arrive in NYC
- Thu, May 21, Citi Field- Cardinals @ Mets, TBD
- Fri, May 22, Yankee Stadium- Rangers @ Yankees, TBD
- Sat, May 23, Hall of Fame
- Sun, May 24, Fenway Park- Angels @ Red Sox, TBD
- Mon, May 25, Guests depart

BIG APPLE MAY 
The Big Apple May tour includes Mets and Yankees games with time to explore the City that Never Sleeps. Click here to see the details.
- Wed, May 20, Arrive in NYC
- Thu, May 21, Citi Field- Cardinals @ Mets, TBD
- Fri, May 22, Yankee Stadium- Rangers @ Yankees, TBD
- Sat, May 23, Guests depart

ABOUT OUR TOURS 
One thing you'll notice about our tours - We typically offer a long tour that lasts for 7-8 days, in this case the East Coast tour. We then offer shorter versions of that tour at the same time, such as the Mini East Coast, Hall of Fame and Big Apple Tours. This allows you to choose the tour that best suits you.

Whether you choose a long or short tour, you'll always receive a Big League Tours experience. You'll get:
- Premium seats at all the games,
- Stadium tours, when schedules allow,
- Great hotels in the heart of the city or next to the ballpark,
- Big League Player Experience,
- Sensible itineraries,
- Big League Tours welcome gift, and a
- Big League Tours host!

East Coast: May 19-25 Mini East Coast: May 19-23 Hall of Fame: May 20-25 Big Apple: May 20-23

Topics: east coast baseball tour, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Oriole Park, 2015 Baseball Tours

World Series MVP Ray Knight to Join East Coast Big League Tours

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Thu, Jun 26, 2014 @ 09:35 AM

Time and again our guests tell us that the Big League Player Experience was the favorite part of their tour. That means a lot to us when we've also had great seats, stayed in great hotels, andRay Knight at the plate arranged special stadium access for our guests to say they like the player appearance the most. But we understand...that's why we include it!!

Our East Coast and Atlantic Beltway guests are soon to be treated to the experience, too. On Monday, June 30th, World Series MVP Ray Knight will join our guests at Nationals Park. He'll share stories, field questions, sign autographs and take pictures with our guests. 

Ray's playing career spanned 13 years with the Reds, Mets, Astros, Tigers and Orioles. He twice made the All Star team and was the 1986 World Series MVP with the champion Mets. Knight also managed a couple of seasons in Cincinnati. 

To learn about our upcoming 2014 Tours, click the link and check out the details. There's still time to join us this season, but you'll need to hurry!! Wish you were on these tours? We have another set coming up in August. Here are the links for those tours. 

East Coast: August 1-9, 2014

Hall of Fame: August 1-6, 2014

Atlantic Beltway: August 6-9, 2014

Topics: east coast baseball tour, baseball trips, MLB tours, Nationals Park, Mets

East Coast Tour, May 2014: Boston, New York, DC, Baltimore & Philly

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Tue, Oct 22, 2013 @ 03:10 PM

Fenway Park,Yawkey Way,Red Sox,Boston,baseball trips If you're a baseball fan and you have a bucket list, then this East Coast Tour is for you. You'll start this tour in Boston, home of Historic Fenway Park. The game should be a night game so arrive early and see some sites before we head over to the park and enjoy all the fun around Yawkey Way.

You'll leave mid-day on Saturday to make the trip to New York where you will have the evening on your own and plenty of time to explore Manhattan from your Midtown hotel. Sunday we'll head to Yankee Stadium, for, what we expect to be, an afternoon game when the Yankees are hosting the Pirates. We'll head back to Manhattan after the game and you'll have the evening on your own in the Yankee Stadium,group tours,baseball stadium tours,baseball trips,baseball road tripscity.

You an option on Monday to direct the itinerary the best way for you and your companions. You can choose to spend the day in the city or take the day-trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Tuesday will allow you more time to see some sites in the city and then we'll head out to Citi Field to see the Dodgers and Mets game.

After 4 great nights in New York, the tour will head to Washington, DC on Wednesday. We should arrive early afternoon in the district and get checked into the hotel, which will give us plenty of time to get over to Nationals Park for the game between the Reds and Nationals. 

Oriole Park at Camden Yards,Baltimore baseball tour,baseball road tripOn Thursday, we'll take a short trip up the road to Baltimore. We'll be staying near Oriole Park at Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor. The game will probably be an afternoon game which will give you time to grab dinner at one of the restaurants nearby.

We'll most likely take a tour of Oriole Park Friday morning before heading to Philadelphia for you final night of the tour. It's a short trip to Philly, where we'll be staying in the heart of the city - close to sites like the Liberty Bell and Freedom Hall and close to Citizens Bank Park

Along the way, there will be stadium tours, an MLB player Experience and other Big League Tours extras. You could also consider coming into Boston early or staying over in Philadelphia. Let us know if you'd like to customize your tour in anyway. 

East Coast: May 16-24, 2014

Topics: east coast baseball tour, baseball road trip, baseball tour, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Oriole Park, Camden Yards

2014 Baseball Tours Featuring the Hall of Fame

Posted by Doug Lawson on Mon, Oct 21, 2013 @ 08:59 PM

Each season, tours that feature the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Musuem are some of our most popular. In 2014, we have several tours that offer an opportunity to visit the Hall.  

You can select the Hall of Fame option on The Classics Tours, and most of the Big Apple Tours. Our East Coast Tours in May and June/July also have a Hall of Fame Option. In August, the East Coast and Hall of Fame Tours will visit the Hall of Fame and stay overnight in the Cooperstown area. Below are the links to all of the tours that feature the Hall of Fame in 2014.

 

East Coast: May 16-24, 2014

 

The Classics: May 16-21, 2014

 

Big Apple: May 17-21, 2014

 

East Coast: June 28 - July 6, 2014

 

The Classics: July 1-6, 2014

 

Big Apple: July 1-5, 2014

 

East Coast: August 1-9, 2014

 

Hall of Fame: August 1-6, 2014

 

Please feel free to call or email with any questions. I hope you will join us on a luxury baseball vacation in 2014. Don't forget... book by Dec. 15 and get 5% off your tour.

 

Topics: east coast baseball tour, baseball tours, baseball vacation package, baseball hall of fame, baseball road trip, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Green Monster, New York City

2013 Summer Baseball Tours

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Thu, Aug 22, 2013 @ 11:00 AM

Where has the time gone? We've been putting the finishing touches on our baseball vacationMidwest Tour guests at Wrigley Field packages and hosting the tours. We're now looking up and realizing that we're in the midst of our final tour for the 2013 season. Yikes!

We'll catch up with our blogging activity to share with you some of the details and great fun that we had on the road this summer - starting with our Midwest to our West Coast to the East Coast and several variations in between.

While we're doing that, you can also check out our Facebook page with pictures and some highlights of our tours: https://www.facebook.com/BigLeagueTours.  

Topics: west coast baseball tour, east coast baseball tour, baseball vacation package, Midwest baseball tour, 2013 baseball trips

Big League Tours Releases 2013 Baseball Tour Packages

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Thu, Nov 29, 2012 @ 04:32 PM

Baseball Tour Operator Offers Its Largest Selection of Baseball Vacations

Luxury baseball tour provider, Big League Tours, begins its eighth year by announcing its largest selection of baseball tours offered to date. The official announcement came at aChris Welsh (center) with Doug Lawson (left) and Glenn Dunlap (right) at the launch party for the 2013 baseball tours launch party held at the company’s new headquarters outside of Indianapolis. Chris Welsh, former Major League pitcher and current Reds broadcaster, was on hand to assist company President and Founder Glenn Dunlap in introducing the luxury tour packages. In addition to its traditional Multi-City Tours, Big League Tours is offering shorter Destination Tours and Getaway Day Tours in 2013.

The Multi-City Tours include trips to some of the country’s greatest cities and visits to multiple baseball stadiums. Travelers will not only sit in the best seats and stay in great hotels, they will also enjoy other great features such as stadium tours, player meet and greets, and special stadium access. Highlights include the East Coast, Hall of Fame, Midwest and West Coast Tours. Details at www.bigleaguetours.com/2013-baseball-tours/multi-city-tours/

“Without a doubt, our most popular trips each year are the tours that include Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, The Baseball Hall of Fame and Wrigley Field,” shared Glenn Dunlap, President and Founder of Big League Tours. “But, we have also seen an increase in demand for tours to the West Coast, so fans can see AT&T Park, Dodger Stadium and PETCO Park. We believe we have met that demand with a variety of tours including our Full West Coast, Southern California, and Baseball on the Bay Tours.”

The Destination Tours have been designed for travelers who would like to spend time in one city, enjoy some baseball games and events, and take advantage of custom tour options. Dunlap states, “Taking place on mostly long weekends, these tours will give our guests lots of flexibility and suit the needs for avid, as well as casual, baseball fans.” Highlights include tours to New York, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, and Chicago. Details at www.bigleaguetours.com/2013-baseball-tours/destination-tours/

For the first time, Big League Tours is offering Getaway Day Tours. Getaway Day Tours are one- day excursions in some of Big League Tours most popular baseball cities. As with all Big League Tours, guests will enjoy luxury accommodations and lower level infield seats for the game. The 2013 season will feature Getaway Day Tours in New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, and Miami. Prices for the Getaway Day Tours start at $500 per person based on double occupancy. Details at www.bigleaguetours.com/2013-baseball-tours/getaway-tours/.

Big League Tours helps fans get closer to the game by securing lower level seats, arranging stadium tours and player experiences, and providing first-class hotel accommodations. Flexible itineraries allow fans to experience the best of the best in the greatest baseball cities across the nation. 

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About Big League Tours

Big League Tours helps fans of all ages experience baseball from a new perspective- from inside the game. Unlike other tour companies, Big League Tours not only takes care of the buses and games for a baseball tour, but also provides all the extras to turn tours into true sports vacations loaded with unique baseball-related events. For more information, contact Big League Tours at www.bigleaguetours.com.

Topics: multi-city baseball tour, east coast baseball tour, bucket list, baseball vacation, baseball tour

Big League Tours travel season in 31 photos- Midwest and HoF Tours

Posted by Kayla Wininger on Thu, Sep 27, 2012 @ 04:08 PM

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

Topics: Red Sox, Boston, Citi Field, Milwaukee, Yawkey Way, east coast baseball tour, baseball stadiums, ballpark tours, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Yankees, Brewers, Chicago, Yankee Stadium, Reds, Great American Ball Park, company outing, hall of fame, Cooperstown, Baseball, Cubs, ballparks

Navigating New York City 101—Baseball Vacation Style

Posted by Kayla Wininger on Tue, Sep 25, 2012 @ 12:39 PM

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!

manhattan

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. 

yankee stadium

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 11th 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!

Topics: baseball vacations, Citi Field, travel, New York, east coast baseball tour, ballpark tours, Yankees, Yankee Stadium, New York City, Baseball

Hall of Fame Tour Travelers Pick Up a New Glove?

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Tue, Jun 05, 2012 @ 12:01 PM

Later this month and again in July, we'll host a couple of groups of baseball tour travelers to one of our favorite destinations, Cooperstown, New York. Our tours will spend the day at the National Baseball Hall of Fame - looking into the past of the nation's favorite sport. 

Here's a fun video about a man who's looking to change an important element of the game - the baseball glove. Looks to me like our guests will have to swing into his shop to check out what he's been developing...

Our 2012 Hall of Fame Tours include games at Citi Field, Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park as well as a full day in Cooperstown. For more information or to join us for the baseball vacation pacakge, visit the Hall of Fame 4 webpage.

Topics: Boston, Citi Field, New York, east coast baseball tour, baseball tours, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, MLB road trips, hall of fame, Cooperstown

In the News: Big League Tours Featured in the Indianapolis Star

Posted by Glenn Dunlap on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 @ 05:17 PM

The following article appeared in the Indianapolis Star today. It's a very nice feature of our company history and the unique baseball trips that we offer. 

Big League Tours arranges special trips for baseball fans

It took awhile, but Glenn Dunlap has figured out how to pitch deluxe package tours to major league baseball fans.Ron Kittle meets with fans prior to a game at US Cellular Field

Sell East Coast games to West Coast fans. Schedule frequent tours to historic Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. And promise customers short bus rides, stays in convenient downtown hotels and meet-and-greets with ex-big leaguers.

"It's inevitably one of the most popular things our guests experience," Dunlap said of the drop-in visits he arranges with former baseball stars. "It just gives you a different perspective when you talk to (ex-Pirate) Dave Parker about hitting and you are standing on the field."

Dunlap's Indianapolis company, Big League Tours, expects its formula to produce its first profitable year this season, after the recession of 2007-09 threw his 6-year-old business a curve.

Based on pre-bookings, sales this year should be 10 percent to 20 percent higher than his best year of 2008, said Dunlap, who works a day job as a business consultant for startups.

Dunlap's tours aren't for the faint of wallet, which is one reason the recession hit the business hard.

Big League Tours' most popular option (offered four times this year) is a combo package of games at Fenway Park in Boston, and New York's Yankee Stadium and the new home of the Mets, with a stop at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., thrown in. The cost: $2,440 per person, including hotels and meals.

Dunlap found he can market to a sub-section of baseball fans he dubs "stadium hunters," who want to visit as many of the 30 major league ballparks as they can, often taking children, spouses or parents along for a family bonding experience. To keep logistics simpler, Dunlap limits tours to 15 to 20 people. Repeat visitors make up 40 percent of bookings, which tells him his concept is a hit.

Ron Kittle, a former slugger for the Chicago White Sox and other teams who does public appearances for the White Sox, has spoken to several of Dunlap's tour groups.

"He's created a pretty good reputation for himself," Kittle said of Dunlap. "It's great what he offers."

Fans especially like the ballpark tours and early admittance to the stadiums that Dunlap arranges, Kittle said. "Not everybody gets a chance to be in a stadium and see things up close. Nowadays, with security procedures, it's hard to get in early."

This year, Dunlap added two one-day bus trips, both leaving from Indianapolis to see the Cincinnati Reds play. He's marketing the day trips to companies to give to employees as motivational rewards.

So far, Dunlap sees little demand for spring training tours, despite rising fan attendance at spring training camps.

Dunlap is tour guide for some of his trips and hires three guides to handle the others.

The business gives Dunlap, a baseball fan since boyhood, the chance to pursue his personal goal to visit all 30 major league parks. He's up to 24, with two set to be added to his list in 2012.

What: The business offers baseball vacation packages to major league baseball games. Thirteen baseball travel tours are offered this year.
Headquarters: Indianapolis.
Owner: Glenn Dunlap.
Founded: 2006.
Customers: Forty percent are repeat customers. Less than 5 percent are from Indiana.
Trivia: The company has had only two rainouts in six seasons.
Online: www.bigleaguetours.com.

You can learn more about our 2012 Baseball Tours by following the link.

Topics: baseball road trips, east coast baseball tour, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, MLB tours