Find Warm Climates, Baseball Heroes at Spring Training
February 22, 2007. Need an excuse to get away to a luxury vacation rental in Arizona or Florida ? The regular baseball season doesn't start until April 1, but teams begin spring training on Monday in these sunny states.
Pauline Frommer told CNN.com fans can score tickets for $5-$25 apiece and can get unusually close to their sports heroes. That kind of opportunity has become so popular with sports fans that one town, Lakeland, Florida, sees its population swell by one-third during the training season. The extra tourism pumps $25 million into the local economy, she said.
With fewer people at these pre-season games, your chances of catching a fly or foul ball also increase markedly, she said. Thanks to the thin air at higher elevations in Arizona, balls often get hit higher and farther. And at rookie camps, you just might see the next big star get his chance to hit the big leagues.
A spring training trip provides the perfect opportunity for a guys' trip, or some father-son bonding. Pair the vacation with some amusement parks or spa visits, and the whole family can find something to enjoy.
For ticket information, visit Major League Baseball's Spring Training website.
