January and February are the biggest travel planning months of the year, so if you are ready to book a trip, consider blending in a great vacation with your love of sports:
For the Love of Museums: Depending on where you’re traveling to, there might be a sports museum to tie into your visit. For example, on my way to a concert in Worcester, Massachusetts, I found The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts. If you’re visiting New York, there is the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen. If you’re heading to Toronto, Canada, check out the Hockey Hall of Fame and if you’re swinging by California, hang 10 at the International Surfing Museum. These museums are great to bring the whole family and immerse yourself in the history of the sport. Check out this website for a list of museums and Halls of Fame.
Some of the teams have their own halls of fame as well, such as the Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame at http://www.packers.com/lambeau-field/hall-of-fame/visit.html
Here are a few other notable museums and halls of fame:
- Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum: http://baberuthmuseum.org.
- Roger Maris Museum, http://www.rogermarismuseum.com/.
- Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum, http://www.hankaaronstadium.com/
- Ty Cobb Museum, http://www.tycobbmuseum.org
- Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, http://yogiberramuseum.org/
- Batter Up! It’s spring training time and you can vacation and catch your favorite team getting ready for the season. If you’re a New York Mets fan, you’ll be heading out to Port St. Lucie, Florida to watch the team get ready, but if you’re a fan of the Oakland A’s, make reservations in Mesa, Arizona.
Baseball Hall of Fame Classic Weekend in Cooperstown, NY – come and watch the inductions! (Oh, and you’re interested in watching Derek Jeter get into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, tune into the interview that we did with Jay Smith of Sports Travel and Tours when he talks about Jeter and what you need to do to see his induction ceremony.) In the meantime, plan for the Sports Travel and Tours weekend on Friday, May 27, 2016 to Sunday, May 29, 2016. The weekend will be highlighted by the Hall of Fame Classic Game held on historic Doubleday Field featuring many of your heroes from yesteryear serving as coaches and managers with a roster of recently retired players.
Football: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH: Plan early for this August event as it’s sure to sell out. Sports Travel and Tours runs special programs for events such as these. For example, their vacation package runs from August 5 to August 8 and includes accommodations, tickets to select events, including seats for the NFL/Hall of Fame Game.
How about a cruise with your favorite football team. From the Green Bay Packers website: “The Green Bay Packers and Fox World Travel are teaming up to offer the ultimate Packer fan travel experience featuring present and past team leaders. There’s something for everyone on these hand-selected vacations designed for travelers seeking a unique, all-inclusive experience. It’s not all football – you’ll enjoy history, architecture, art and culture along with amazing dining and accommodations.
Join Mark Murphy from April 10-17, 2016 for the Burgundy & Provence River Cruise, or join Ron Wolf from May 18-25, 2016 for the Castles Along the Rhine river cruise. Both trips are full of Packers fan exclusives and a fantastic getaway for couples as well as single travelers. For more information, visit www.gofox.com/packers or call 888-367-2571 today!
Celebrity Cruises announced their New England Patriots’ Cruise with 7 Legendary New England Football Alumni. This 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise includes Ft. Lauderdale; Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica; Labadee, Hispaniola; Ft. Lauderdale and includes Kevin Faulk, Scott Zolak, Steve Nelson, Patrick Pass, Joe Andruzzi, Troy Brown and Matt Chatham! For more information, visit http://www.celebritycruises.com/htmlpage/new-england-football-alumni-cruise
Soccer: Want to see the final of the Champions League? Well, arrivederci! Milan is the destination for the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final to be to be on May 28, 2016 and will be played in Italy. This final match will mark a fourth installment of the event in Milan at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Make it Your Own: I know one person who has visited almost every baseball park in America, while another wants to see every horseracing track across the country. What do you want to do? Start planning your baseball road trip or your once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the Super Bowl next year.
