The United States is a big country, with diverse landscapes, cultures and people, one that it is hard to get a true sense of at times. But, there are events and experiences that can be described as truly all American. One of them is baseball, and it’s partner softball. Baseball may be the Japanese national sport now, but it started in the US, and it is part of who we are. To experience the US, to go all American, one of the easiest ways is to experience America’s national pastime.
On any given summer evening, in almost every city across the 50 states, you can find a baseball or softball game. Just like every sport in every country around the world, there is a strong sense of team loyalty and rivalry, between neighborhood teams, small towns, and of course, big league teams. If you are out on a great American road trip, and stop in a small town for the evening, ask where the little league games are played. Chances are you will find one. Pick a color, and root for a team. It will be fun!
Mid-size cities often have college level teams, or minor league teams. These players are developing and honing their skills, hoping to become star players some day. These games give an opportunity to watch some real competition and talent, without costing a fortune. In fact, many college games are FREE! Plus, they often have giveaways and contests that might result in some souvenirs to take home. When researching any city guide, if they have a minor league or college team, they will hype it up, so finding it will be easy.
Of course the professional games of the major leagues, sometimes refered to as the big leagues, are big time events. These games draw crowds from all over the US, and have events and giveaways at almost every game. People often make an entire day event of going to a game, visiting some pregame attractions, and after game celebrations. Professional baseball is a big money game, and tickets are not cheap. But Americans love their baseball teams, and for them, the excitement and fun make the price well worth it.
If you are visiting the US and want to really get a feeling for the culture, plan to see a game, cheer for the home team, and go all American for a day. If you live in the US and have simply forgotten the thrill of the competition, get out to the ball park. You will remember why baseball, and softball, truly are America’s national pastime. And forget the peanuts and hot dogs. Grab some nachos while you are there. That is the right modern baseball snack.
How Travel Writers Experience America’s National Pastime.
The College World Series, in Omaha, Nebraska
by LeAnna of Well Traveled Nebraskan.
Omaha, Nebraska isn’t exactly at the top of most tourists’ lists in the US. However, every summer, Omaha becomes the one destination that every college baseball team wants to get to. After all, it’s the home of the College World Series, and has been 1950!
Not only is it a HUGE accomplishment to make it to the “CWS” but when teams arrive, there is a buzz in the air and an atmosphere that can only be found in Omaha for the final showdown of college baseball teams, leaving only ONE team the final champion.
Whether you are looking for a night out of partying under the summer sky, or want the “All-American” family baseball experience, it can always be found in Downtown Omaha during the CWS, whether a game is actually being played or not! Locals and tourists alike all come together for a camaraderie that can only be felt in the heart of American.
The Washington Nationals, at National Stadium, in Washington DC
by Maggie of Pink Caddy Travelogue.
Is there anything more American than watching a baseball game in the summer with the Washington Monument in the background? Probably, but it might take a while to come up with what!
Nationals Park was built in 2008, shortly after the Nationals team moved to Washington, DC, and it quickly became one of the best places to spend an evening in the city. At Nats Park, you can eat your cracker jack and hot dogs in view of the dome of the Capitol Building. The Founding Fathers are the unofficial mascots of the “Nats,” so every game features the 7-foot tall costume replicas of George and Thomas and James getting into mischief. Halftime includes a race between the former presidents, which the kids always find hilarious.
For a baseball park, the food is pretty great. Some of my favorites are the Chesapeake Crab Cake Company, District Doughnuts, Steak of the Union, and Distilleries of the DMV, all of which are local DC companies.
The Nationals, DC’s baseball team, have their home field just a few metro stops from the Capitol Building, on the fast-developing Capitol Riverfront. If you show up early to a game, or want somewhere to go afterwards, you have plenty of options. It’s a hip and happening part of the city, with several popular restaurants, the best ice cream parlor in the district, and even one of the country’s only urban wineries.
The Florida Marlins at Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
by Margie at DQ Travel
We are a baseball loving family! Whenever we are on vacation in the summer, we try to catch a baseball game in one of the cities we visit. Not only is it a lot of fun for the family, but you get to experience the city and people in a different way.
When we arrived at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida, we parked in the garage and saw there was a brewery downstairs. Since we arrived early, we stopped in for a beer at Nightlife Brewery. The kids enjoyed playing board games and we enjoyed a delicious local craft beer before the game. The atmosphere outside the stadium was lively that day, yet hot. I am glad they had the retractable roof closed so that we could enjoy the air conditioning.
Once inside, we found our seats and enjoyed the game. I love ballparks that have the shops lined up around the field so that you to get your drinks/food and can still see the game being played. They had a creature race in the 6th inning that the kids enjoyed watching, and each time a home run was hit the large sculpture in the outfield had Marlins jumping through the waves. The food served was above average and had a lot of local Cuban flair. What made it even better was that it was a high scoring game and there were some great catches in the outfield too. Overall, it was a fun time for the entire family!
The Boston Red Sox, at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
by Brianne Miers at A Traveling Life.
Seeing a game at Boston’s Fenway Park is a “must” for baseball lovers, even if you’re not a Red Sox fan. The first game was played at Fenway in 1912, so it has the distinction of being the oldest MLB stadium. Given its age, it lacks a lot of the bells and whistles that new stadiums have – it’s also one of the smallest stadiums with a capacity of only a little over 37,000 – but it certainly has charm.
A few unique features include the single red chair, which signifies the longest home run ever hit at Fenway (by Ted Williams in 1946), and of course, the Green Monster, the left field wall. And no game would be complete without singing “Sweet Caroline” on the top of your lungs in the middle of the eighth inning. My favorite Fenway memory is from my first visit when I heard vendors yelling “Chowdah!” as they walked through the stands – clam chowder is not something you find on the menu at other ball parks!
The energy in the Kenmore Square area – and throughout the city – on game nights is infectious. Fans sporting their Sox gear typically arrive by public transportation and then pack into the numerous bars that surround the stadium. Those who don’t have tickets head to the Bleacher Bar on Landsdowne St., where you can watch the game from right under the bleachers in centerfield.
The Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park in Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
by Halef at The Round The World Guys
Baltimore’s rich sports history invariably leads to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Going to an Orioles baseball game is a nice, quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of downtown Baltimore.
Don’t miss out on the tradition in singing the National Anthem, Orioles-style. Shout “O” during the line “Oh say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave.” Baltimore can be forgiven for taking liberties with the anthem. After all, Francis Scott Key wrote it in the city’s harbor back in 1814.
Grab yourself a beer and burger at Pickles Pub inside the stadium, a pre-game tradition. Don’t fancy the sports bar scene? You can get basic hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and Maryland’s famous gourmet crab cakes in the concourse. Try the crab fries!
While watching the game, there is always an opportunity to get your free t-shirts, hats, and tons of other merchandise. Finally, cap off your great game experience with fireworks over Downtown Baltimore above the stadium.
The New York Mets, at Citi Field, Queens, New York City
by Karen of Wanderlusting K.
If you’re visiting New York City, consider going to see the New York Mets play! I’m a born and raised New Yorker and this is one of my favorite things to do with visiting friends. (My dad actually sold peanuts in the stands of Shea Stadium, the previous stadium.)
If you’re visiting for a Met game, be sure to be there for the opening pitch as well as the anthem. (Give yourself enough time to get in with security.) Citifield is better built than a lot of stadiums, so even the cheap seats are good. Most people leave early if the Mets are losing…so don’t feel that you have to stay for the whole game as the trains get crowded afterwards.
Consider exploring Flushing Meadow Park after the game and take a photo of the famous Unisphere. Afterwards, hop onto the 7 train and be sure to save your appetite to explore Flushing, home to New York’s best Asian food, especially Chinese food! Just bring cash as not all restaurants will accept cards.
The St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
by Adam Keyes
As a true baseball fan, I keep track of the games, scores and stats all summer long, so we don’t go to a lot of games. But when it is time to head to the city for a game, we like to make a full day experience out of it and take some friends.
If we take first timers, it is great to go early and take a tour of the stadium. The tours take you through the stadium, inside the broadcasters booth, and to the Cardinals Museum. Since the Cardinals have a great record, there is a lot of cool championship memorabilia to see in the museum. It is best to get tour tickets online, in advance at Busch Stadium Tours.
If there is a lot of time to pass before the game, St. Louis has a ton of cool things to do and see downtown. A trip up the Arch is always fun. As the game gets closer, first time game goers usually like to check out Ball Park Village. There are restaurants, bars, and shops, with a baseball or Cardinals theme, but they tend to be a bit pricey. Those of us who have been to many games prefer to go the other way, south of the stadium, to some of the classic pregame places like Paddy Os or Broadway Oyster Bar, for some pregame food and festivities.
Cardinals games are a lot of fun, and there is almost always some type of special, deal, or event going on, sometimes with prizes. And f course, if Fredbird, the Cardinals mascot comes around, be sure and get your picture with him. It may be a bit cheesy, but it will give you a picture to remember forever.
Ready to go All American?
Obviously it is easiest to find a game to attend in the spring and summer. As we said earlier, you can find them literally anywhere in the country. Earlier in the year, in late February and March, spring training takes place in Florida and Arizona, so you can find low-cost games at that time of year in those states.
If it happens to be late fall or winter, you can still get a baseball experience at places like the Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown New York, or the Louisville Slugger Museum and factory tour, in Louisville Kentucky, or the Negro League Baseball Museum, in Kansas City, among others. For a comprehensive list of major league, minor league, and college league cities and teams, check out Baseball in America, on Wikivoyage.
Baseball truly is America’s national pastime. It is an inherent part of our daily lives and who we are. Anyone visiting the US should make a point of having some type of baseball experience to truly understand the culture. And for American travelers, a baseball game is a great reminder of one of the unique facets of life in the states.
If you have never experienced it, not only is baseball America’s national pastime, there is a magical aspect of baseball.
The young somehow feel grown up, when playing baseball, or going to their first big game. At the same time, the old somehow feel young again, cheering on their favorite team.
And of course, at the start up of every game, when the National Anthem is sung, and the entire crowd is at attention. For a moment, every feels all American.
You don’t want to miss a baseball game in your next trip across the US, or your next trip to the US, so Pin it!
