Category: Sports Trip

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Guaranteed (Fun) Rate Field

As the school year came to a close in 2024, my wife and eldest daughter went on a service trip to Nicaragua, starting on Memorial Day weekend and lasting for 8 days. To keep the wander lust as bay, Clara, JR and I decided to take a short jaunt to Chicago and catch a White Sox home game.

If you are asking why in the world did we choose the White Sox, the answer is pretty straightforward. For one, it is a direct flight from NOLA to Chicago, which made traveling with a three year old a lot easier. Two, we had never been, and I would like to see a ball game in home stadium of every team. Counting the ChiSox, I am up to fourteen.

We were in Chicago for less than 24 hours total, but we had a great time. There’s so much to do there, that we could go back again and have a completely different experience.

What We Did

Stax Cafe: We arrived quite early, and the game didn’t start until 1:10 pm, so our first stop was at Stax for pancakes. There are at least two of these in Chicago, and I was very impressed. They have a very diverse menu for breakfast and for lunch, and have several options for kids. All three of us got pancakes, and while JR, who is a bit of a pancake snob, said they weren’t the best he’s ever had, they were definitely above average. We were all very satisfied.

Maggie Daley Park: This is a great public play area right off the water in downtown Chicago. It has a lot to offer, and while we didn’t have a ton of time, we managed to get in 18 holes of mini golf and about 45 minutes on the playgrounds. There’s a lot more to do in this area, and it has great options for kids. We probably could have spent the whole day there. The only drawback is that parking is kind of confusing and kind of expensive.

White Sox Game: If you were too suggest that the White Sox stadium has the worst name in baseball, I wouldn’t disagree. That said, the stadium itself is quite impressive. While it isn’t in the best part of the city, the area immediately surrounding the stadium is great. There is ample parking, and since the team is pretty mediocre at the moment, we were able to park less than five minutes away.

There is a large Kids’ Zone in the outfield, but we actually didn’t take advantage of it. JR said the pretzel was a 6 out of 10, which is much higher than Philadelphia, and Clara easily took care of a hot dog. My only complaint about the food is that they didn’t have any candy (as far as we could tell), which helps to get a three year old through 3 hours of ball.

My favorite things about the White Sox experience are the batters eye and City Connect jerseys. Centerfield is lovely copse of green trees and bushes that creates a much more esthetic batters’ eye than does a simple green wall. While they weren’t wearing their City Connect jersey’s that day, I think the White Sox’ is one of the best. I see little reason to ever go back the Guaranteed Rate, but I would definitely recommend it.

Lou Malnati’s: We closed the night with deep dish pizza and spaghetti at Lou Malnati’s. I am not expert in Chicago-style pizza; frankly, it’s not my favorite. That said, the food was good, the beer was cold and the people were friendly, so what could there be to complain about?

We had a great, brief experience in Chicago, and while the Sox field certainly doesn’t compare to Wrigley, it certainly isn’t at the bottom of the list of stadiums that we’ve visited. It probably doesn’t make the list of must-do things in Chicago, but for the MLB fans hoping to visit every stadium, Guaranteed Rate is more than just a box to check, it was a very pleasant experience. We spent the night at a Holiday Inn Express (which was not very nice) near the airport and caught the early flight home.

Next up, we’ve got an RV trip through the Dakotas, so stay tuned to see if I hit another Dairy Queen.

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Baltimore or Bust

This year, as Eileen went off to Spring Break in Pensacola, JR, Alyson, Clara and I made our way from New Orleans directly to Baltimore for Easter. This is the fourth year in a row that we’ve used this weekend to visit a new city and go to a ball game (or two).

We landed in Baltimore in the early evening on Friday night and spent some time tooling around the Inner Harbor area. This is one of the more popular, touristy areas of the city. You’ll definitely pay tourist prices, but there’s a lot to do. We were too early in the season for the majority of the water activities, but it’s still a pretty interesting area.

Where We Ate

Angie’s Seafood: This was a great spot that had reservations available for us on a Friday night in Lent. The entire menu looked great, and while it was pricey, the food was worth it. We were definitely on the prowl for crab cakes, and these were some of the best I have ever had. It’s worth it to keep in mind that the crab cakes in Baltimore differ from those, in say, New Orleans. Back home, it’s basically a fried patty. On the east coast, it was almost like a huge ice cream scoop of crab with very little filler, warmed and browned on a grill top. The meal was quite satisfying.

Underground Pizza CO.: This pizza places specializes in Detroit-style pizza, which basically means sauce on the top and no crust. This, too, was in the Inner Harbor area, so was pricey and touristy, but the food was really good and the people were really friendly.

Miss Shirleys: This is one of the classic breakfasts spots, of which there are several throughout the Baltimore area. We were able to walk from our hotel, and all four of us easily found something we were able to enjoy.

Peabody Heights Brewery: Full disclosure, we didn’t actually eat at this brewery. There was a food truck, but we didn’t actually try anything. The beer was solid, and there were a dozen or so options. Two unique things about this brewery is that first, it’s located at the site of the old Orioles baseball stadium, there’s some cool historical stuff to look at. The second is that the brewery includes an all-you-can-play video arcade for $15. Our kids were allowed to participate, and we spent a solid two hours here.

What We Did

Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum: If you are a baseball lover or a history lover, this is a cool place to visit. While Babe Ruth only lived at this Baltimore site for about a week, they have done a really good job of preserving it. There are some really cool old baseball cards, not just of the Babe, several exhibits about the Babe and the Orioles, and a short, but poignant video about the relationship between big league ball and the national anthem. It’s priced reasonably, and only takes about an hour, and is definitely worthwhile.

Fort McHenry: Speaking of the national anthem, this is National Historic Site was the location of the battle where it was originally penned. At the time we were there, the Fort actually overlooked the collapsed bridge, but in addition to that, it is a well-preserved part of American history. The grounds are beautiful, especially when the trees are flowering, and there’s a great video about Francis Scott Key, the War of 1812 and the development of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Phillies Game: If you’ve come to Baltimore for the love of the game, as did we, it might be worth your time to drive two hours northeast and catch a Phillies game. We did on the Saturday, and watched the Phillies drop one to the Braves. Although I am a fan of neither team, it is always fun to watch the Phillies lose; their fans take it so well.

I believe this was the 12th MLB team at whose stadium I saw a home game, and frankly, I was not impressed. I love visiting Philadelphia, but everything you hear about the Philly-faithful is true. They boo almost all the time, including their owns players. The stadium is relatively lackluster. Worst of all, the fans don’t seem to understand normal, live sports etiquette. They stand up to go to the vendors or bathroom mid-pitch and seem to completely disregard the fact that others a trying to watch the game. In terms of getting to a home game of every club, I am glad that we went, but I don’t have plans to ever go back.

Orioles Game: Camden Yards is a completely different story. This first of the classic, retro stadiums is built right into the heart of the city and does not disappoint. While I am aware that the team itself frequently disappoints, we had a great experience. For me, an Orioles game is the top attraction in Baltimore. Of the stadiums that I have been in, I think I would have to rank it third, behind only Busch and Wrigley.

We had a great trip and great time visiting Baltimore. It is a very diverse city, and it has a lot to offer. I would gladly go back given the opportunity. Next on our list might be another short baseball trip with just JR, Clara and I, or it will be a big one: South Dakota, North Dakota and an RV. Stay tuned…

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A Savannah Banana in Louisiana

This might be a slight diversion from our normal posts, but last Friday night, I took JR to the Savannah Bananas game in Baton Rouge. If you have plans to go (anywhere), here are a few things to keep in mind.

First of all, if you are going for the baseball, don’t go. If you are a baseball purist, you will hate this experience. It is much more akin to a Harlem Globetrotters game than a Yankees game, so just keep that in mind.

Personally, I thought I was going to hate it, and whilst I did not love it, it was better than I expected. The players are all very talented, and it is quite a spectacle. I am not sure if this holds true at every venue, but in Baton Rouge, there was no assigned seating, so it was a made rush to find a place to sit amongst friends, but beyond that, the atmosphere was fun.

When we arrived, there were multiple shops at which merchandise could be purchased, and several players available to sign autographs. You might ask what interest there actually is in the autograph of a Banana, but kids at least up to the age of 12 love it. I bought JR a ball, and he got about half a dozen signatures. Even though the value of those signatures is little, monetarily, it was a great experience for JR, and all of the players were super-friendly.

In terms of the game itself, there are a few rules which are important to note. Most important is that the game stops at 2 hours, which was a huge relief. Additionally, points are only awarded at the end of the full inning to the team who scored the most runs. So if the Bananas, who are always the home team, give up 2 runs in the top of the first and score 5 in the bottom, they are up 1-0.

That leads to my next point of emphasis, they always play the same team, the Party Animals. These guys are basically just as good at baseball as the Bananas, and also try to put on a show.

What I Didn’t Like:

There isn’t a ton of commitment to the quality of the game play. It is clearly not meant to be high end baseball, and that was a detractor for me.

The umpires. They spent a lot of time dancing, more than one would expect in under almost any other circumstance. I felt like it took away from my enjoyment.

The walk rule. After a four ball at bat, the runner sprints to as many bases he can reach until everyone on the other team touches the ball. It sounds interesting, but it just ends up with runners sprinting to first and outfielders sprinting to second.

What I Liked:

As before mentioned, the 2 hour time limit, and the player/audience engagement. At one point, the left fielder player catch prior to the inning with my son and two of his friends, that was pretty cool.

The mid-inning entertainment. Between half innings, there was often a show of sorts. The best one was when two dad, each with two kids were selected from the crowd to stand and home plate. The kids were given a ten second head start and ran into the outfield, after which each dad was responsible for wrangling his youngsters. This was hilarious, and my favorite part of the whole experience.

All-in-all, I am glad that we went, and my son had a great time. I think my 16 year old daughter would have enjoyed it, but it might have been a bit much for the three year old. It was definitely a good experience, but if someone offered us tickets again in the future, I would try to find an excuse not to go.

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It’s Pronounced Missouri, not Misery

This year has been filled with a lot of traveling for the Igoes, and our next big plan was (and is) Hawaii, but in the meantime, we decided to sneak in a quick Memorial Day jaunt. None of the Igoes, save yours truly, has ever visited the great state of Kansas, so we tried to come up with a reason to go.

Those who follow closely are aware that my parents live in St. Louis, which is only a four hour drive from Kansas City. You are probably also aware of our proclivity to attend baseball games. What you may not be aware of is that in addition to the Cardinals and Blues, St. Louis has a new Major League Soccer team, St. Louis City SC.

After very little thought, we bought tickets to St. Louis and home from Kansas City, along with tickets to the City game and Royals game. We woke up early on Saturday morning, hopped on a plane and made our way to St. Louis.

The City SC game was that night, so we had about 8 hours to kill prior to kickoff. One of the landmarks of St. Louis is Union Station. Originally an actual train depot, it has gone through many evolutions, but it seems that the current iteration might actually stick.

The old station now has multiple restaurants, mini-golf, a London Eye-style wheel, ropes course, mirror maze and interactive aquarium, amongst other things. We had done a bit in the past, so this time we decided to ride the wheel and play mini-golf. The wheel is pretty cool, and seats up to 8, but the grand view is primarily of nothing. It is fun, and only about 15 minutes, but it doesn’t compare to looking out over the city of London. The mini-golf was also nothing special, but was a fine, albeit expensive, way to spend the morning.

We got the timing just right, and headed down to our favorite area to get lunch in St. Louis, The Hill. This is an old Italian neighborhood with a restaurant on almost every corner. It is great for dinner, but the Italian lunch sandwiches are one of my favorite things about St. Louis.

This go around, we ate at Adriana’s, which was packed. It was my first time there, and while I don’t think it is my favorite spot on The Hill, I would gladly go back five days in a row and enjoy five different sandwiches.

We hung around my parents’ house for a few hours whilst the baby napped, went to Saturday afternoon church at my high school, and headed downtown. If you are going to an SC game, I definitely suggest getting there early. The game didn’t start until 7:30 but the festivities kicked off at 4 pm, which made parking quite difficult.

It probably took us 20 minutes to find a spot, and it was still a solid 15 minute walk to the field. Next time, we would go on ezpass.com and reserve parking ahead of time. The field, City Park, was amazing. It was at capacity, as usual for this inaugural season; a solid 22,000 people.

It doesn’t hurt that the team is brand new and in first place, and the city of St. Louis has gone crazy for them. I say this having attended multiple sporting events, playoff games, championships; this soccer game was the most vibrant environment in which I have seen a game. The entire congregation was on their feet, singing and screaming, for 90 minutes. Again, I am sure it helped that City won the game, but the atmosphere was insane. That said, the prices were also insane, so come prepared, but if you have a chance to catch a game in a place like City Park, I suggest you take it.

The next morning, we left the house before 8 am and headed for Kansas City. It is about a 4 hour drive, and just outside the city itself is Independence, Missouri, home to President Harry Truman. We stopped at the Harry S Truman National Historic Site, which includes a Visitors Center with a nice video and his house, which you can tour. We didn’t actually do the tour, but the video is interesting, and we got another stamp for the kids’ passport books.

The Royals’ game was a 1:10 pm start, so we ate lunch at Kauffman Stadium. If you have never been, Kauffman is pretty cool. Unlike a lot of newer stadiums, Kauffman is outside of the main urban area, but is done really well. It has a lot of amenities, and everyone was quite friendly. We actually got see the Royals hit a walk-off, which was cool, and that puts me up to 11 home stadiums.

Before we ended the day with dinner, we raced over to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which may well be the best thing in Kansas City. It is small but packed with great features and information, and fantastic video narrated by James Earl Jones. In terms of a can’t-miss experience, this is at the top of the list.

That night, we ate at the Beer Kitchen, which is exactly what it sounds like, a restaurant with beers. It was quite delicious, kid-friendly and had a great atmosphere.

Now at this point, it might have crossed your mind that as of yet, we still had not actually visited the state of Kansas, as the majority of the experiences in KC reside on the Missouri side. So the morning of Memorial Day, we woke up, crossed the river and drove to Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant. This is a cute little diner with a solid breakfast that is actually delivered by toy trains. It is nothing out of the ordinary, but if you happen to be in the state of Kansas, it is a place to eat.

Our flight home wasn’t until the early afternoon, and we struggled to find something to do with the rest of our day. Kansas City has several waterfalls, but most are not super impressive during this time of year. There is a lot of cool stuff to do in Kansas, but most of it was too far from where we were. We ended up settling upon the St. Rose Phillipine Duchesne Memorial Park and Shrine.

If you are not Catholic, and even then, are not well-acquainted with the Sacred Heart community, this is probably not a good use of your time. That said, my daughters both go to a Sacred Heart institution, and my wife teaches there, so for some of us, this was pretty interesting.

On our way back to Kansas City for our flight home, we stopped at Betty Rae’s Ice Cream, which is just a classic, great place to get a frozen treat. We made it home that day without any difficulty, capping off a great Memorial Day trip.

It was nice for the kids and my wife to cross Kansas off the list, and it was nice to get out of New Orleans for a bit. Next up, the big trip to number five-O, Hawaii.