Fields of dreams
The perfect getaways for Red Sox fans
Manager brouhaha and last-minute star trades be darned: I’m a Sox fan and I’m sticking with it
When the Red Sox equipment trucks rolled to Florida just a day after the Patriots were out for the season, my heart beat a little faster. I’d be seeing nightly news reports and spot which players hit the gym all winter, which pitchers seem to be healthy, which teams are looking to give it a run this year and more. Soon, I’d be immersed in baseball all season long.
I know from experience: There’s no need to wait for opening day at Fenway Park to dive into baseball season. Thanks to direct flights, spring training packages and even a few cool activities in the Greater Boston area, baseball season is here
before it is even official. Consider these choices to celebrate the season now. And word to the Red Sox: First to worst to first is our pattern — so here’s to the 2020 World Series (because optimism is my most honed baseball skill).
The obvious one: Head to Fort Myers, Fla. Jet Blue has direct flights from Logan daily, so easy you may not have even finished reading up on this year’s players before you land. The great thing about a spring training trip to Fort Myers is — should you want to do more than savor the sport you love — there’s plenty to round out your visit. Tickets to a spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South (JetBlue Park for short) are a must (of course). The Park is a mini version of Fenway but with super easy parking (I arrived late to a game there once and still scored a short walk parking spot for just $10). Baseball lovers should opt for the stadium tour (which is offered on non-game days as well). Pregame tours are offered before each home game three hours before first pitch. Along with an upclose and behind the scenes look at JetBlue Park, fans can watch batting practice from your spot right on the field.
To round out your visit to the region, add on a beach day (or two! We’ve earned it this gray winter). There are many to choose from. One great one — and a Boston favorite so you should see lots of Sox caps — is Bonita Beach. There are water sports on site (water scooters and more), tons of beach space and the perfectly Florida beach vibe of Doc’s right there on the beach (docsbeachhouse.com). For a little history beyond baseball, spend some time at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates (edisonfordwinterestates.org). As for where to stay, the region is rich in hotel choices. There are hotels very close to the park, but opt for a beach-area hotel instead — JetBlue Park is an easy drive from any part of the region. You can learn more at fortmyers-sanibel.com.
The less obvious: Take in an away game at an away spot. True, as a devoted fan, you simply must catch a game at JetBlue Park. But another spring training option to mix things up is to see our team play at another team’s spring training digs. As fun as it is to see the Sox in MLB stadiums other than our own, so too is it fun to check out other training spots. For those visiting Fort Myers, it’s an easy side trip to catch the Sox play the Minnesota Twins at their nearby spring training spot, Hammond Stadium, part of the CenturyLink Sports Complex. Or consider a quick trip to Tampa and beautiful nearby Clearwater Beach. The Philadelphia Phillies play out spring at the Spectrum Field there, and the Toronto Blue Jays do the same at TD Ballpark in nearby Dunedin.
Both stadiums are close to the beauty of Clearwater Beach (where the sand seems to stretch on forever and seaside watering holes embrace Florida beach-town charm, as well as Tampa, where there is culture, food and so much fun. Best bet? Check out the Sox spring training schedule and book a mini vacation to an “away game” spot. Or better yet, do a Florida road trip and follow the team to a few stadiums — now that’s a baseball vacation dream come true.
The right under our nose
option: The players, the equipment and our dreams may be tucked into that sunny stadium in Fort Myers for now, but our cathedral is still here. Preseason tours of Fenway Park are offered almost daily. The 60-minute guided tours give you a chance to take in the surroundings in a totally different way than game day. Minus the buzz of the crowd, the smell of Fenway Franks and the glow of being in the thick of a Boston sports event, you get the chance to truly see Fenway in a way you may have never experienced — with over 170,000 stadium artifacts and 150,000 photographs there for display, you’ll notice things you’ve probably passed right by. The tour is the perfect local way to get in the mood. Details are at mlb.com/redsox/ballpark/tours.