A ballpark bucket list trip is to travel what the round-tripper is to the game itself. An absolute home run. Even if you’re not fully enamored with baseball, aligning your travel to check off major league ballparks scores in most every way. Why? You’re off to 30 of America’s most robust urban centers… and everything in between. Ahh… so it’s not just the baseball.
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Everything in Between
Take, for example, our trip to California’s four MLB ballparks (sorry Sacramento). An overdose of baseball? Sure. But the… everything in between… was spectacular.
But let’s not throw a curve ball. An appreciation for America’s Pastime, however dated that yesteryear phrase may be, can be the thread that pulls together the best of sightseeing, travel and entertainment. How’s this travel talk sound? Gas Lamp Quarter. Santa Monica Pier. Fisherman’s Wharf. And the Chevez Ravine finale. Translated in baseball speak, we traveled to baseball games in San Diego, Anaheim, San Francisco, and yes, back to Los Angeles. And remember, we saw everything in between. OK, not even close to everything, but a California eyeful.
We chose our sites, traveled at our pace, stopped or didn’t at our leisure and made memories driving the Pacific Coast Highway. As much as any baseball destination, that specific drive was always on my bucket list. A winding two laner between ocean and mountain is hard to beat. Neither driving nor baseball is absolute top tier with the better half, but beaches and natural beauty are a double play for her. So, the blend of baseball and travel, especially in California, is that proverbial grand slam for everyone.
North or South It’s All Good
Planning began when the MLB schedule was released and our fav team scheduled for the West Coast in spring weather. Yes, the Chicago White Sox are in a worst to first revival year, but who knew when we booked flights before Spring Training? The Sox actually had separate May road trips to Southern and Northern California, so we had our pick. Most travel gurus recommend driving PCH north to south… the left lane is not between you and the ocean. We opted for San Diego to San Francisco primarily based on who was playing when and where.
San Diego is Top Ballpark
Best ballpark, beaches, weather. You can debate the ballpark if you prefer a century-old stadium in Boston or the Northside of Chicago, but that’s all. Where else can you go whale watching before a night game? Or a Zoo like San Diego’s, the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier, and your choice of beach options. PETCO Park is truly unique. The left field seating really is built into an old warehouse building in contrast to a modern non-cookie cutter look throughout the ballpark. No kidding… Jack-in-the-Box sits atop the right field foul pole. The Sox won the series and split the two games we saw with the Padres.
San Diego Ballpark Bucket List Tips
- Hotel in the Gas Lamp Quarter – walk to the ballpark
- Research restaurants – incredible variety of tremendous food options
- Get some sun – hard to miss great ship, shore, beach and more
Anaheim Deserves Some Love
Weaving our way from San Diego to this almost LA home of the Angels made for a great day trip. La Jolla seals, ocean-front hiking, In-N-Out burgers. You can’t miss the 230-foot tall Big A sign at Angel Stadium, dating back to 1966. You can probably name Major League Baseball’s two oldest ballparks and maybe the third, too. Fourth? What used to be Anaheim Stadium and home of the California Angels is one big, mid-century ballpark. Abundant freeways, parking, and available seats make this an easy stop. Chicago’s Munetaka Murakami homered again, the Sox won, and we elected to drive to Santa Monica for the night.
Anaheim Ballpark Bucket List Tips
- Buy tickets strategically online – ample options available
- Secure tickets 15 rows up from dugout steps – catch a baseball, coax an autograph
- Overnight where next day’s sightseeing begins – Santa Monica Pier 45 minutes away
Between Ballpark and California Coast
With two ballparks in the bucket and two to go, the baseball schedule sent us north from greater LA toward the Bay area. We signed off from baseball for a couple of days. Stops along the journey… Reagan Presidential Library, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, Carmel by the Sea. And the best of the Highway 1 … driving over Bixby Bridge and through Big Sur. America the beautiful is literal here. Again, it’s everything in between and the blend that make all of this work.
San Francisco Wins for Scenic Ballpark
Oracle Park, as it’s known now, has no equal in the picturesque category. You’ve seen it… big Coke bottle sign and oversized glove, ballpark on the bay, boats nestled nearby, kayaks circling beyond the right field wall waiting for a home run ball to splash down. The Giants are not raining a lot of homers these days, but the setting, fan base and excitement are real. With no Sox to see, we tried one of those last-minute ticket apps to save some dollars. I’d give it a B- at best. Tickets were not $6 as promoted, but again, it was a Friday night and decent crowd. The Giants beat the Pirates as Rafael Devers homered sending San Franciscans home happy.
San Francisco Ballpark Bucket List Tips
- From Nob Hill – walk downhill to Oracle, but not back up
- Never show up at a Bay side outdoor event without sleeves – the month matters not
- Arrive early and hang out atop the right field wall – bay one way, baseball the other
I Love LA and the Dodgers
Not me. Remember, I’m a Southside guy. But everything about Dodger Stadium sings the unofficial city song (I Love LA) loud and clear, true to their blue. Of course, when you cheer for a two-time defending World Series champion with sights set on a third… you can sing and say what you please. We drove from Northern California through the Central Valley… incredible contrast of farmland… back to Los Angeles just to finish the bucket list. Our fourth and final California ballpark in a week came on Blake Snell Bobblehead Night.
Opposed to Angel Stadium, getting to the Dodgers’ revered home is like a secretive journey into a ravine you can’t know until you’re there. What you learn right away, you’re not going alone. Dodger Stadium is MLB’s biggest, seating 56,000 and fans show up. And out. If you don’t like blue, you’ll be… blue. It’s crowded and lively. We were satisfied with some nosebleed seats just to complete the bucket list. Blake Snell pitched on his bobblehead night, lost to the Braves, and went on the injured list (more blue).
Los Angeles Ballpark Bucket List Tips
- Show up with a pre-purchased parking lot QR Code – navigating traffic is a thing
- Find the Dodgers gift shop – even non-fans like championship souvenirs
- Nachos in batting helmet are good – but get the blue helmet
Bucket List Success and Redeye Reality
We exited Dodger Stadium bobbleheads in hand, off to LAX and a Saturday night redeye to Charlotte. Cleaned up and caffeinated, we were off to Sunday church. What a trip. We ran down miles and memories in a week (eight days), and the ballpark bucket list proved to be a great road map. It was our kind of travel – see it, enjoy it, keep moving. You can pace your ballpark bucket list trip to your liking… just get out there soon. The season’s half over and the White Sox are, at the moment, in first place… meaning anything is possible.
