LEAVING HOME BASE
Cubs and White Sox away games worth a weekend trip, from scenic vistas in San Francisco to the Bronx Zoo
Chicago baseball fans don’t have to go far for a great game-day experience — there’s the majesty of Wrigley Field and the camaraderie of Sox Park.
But if that first whiff of fresh air at a springtime ballgame has got you spellbound with wanderlust, why not make an excuse to join your favorite team at an away game for a weekender that’s sure to be a home run?
Here are our picks for the best cities to head to this baseball season to cheer on the Chicago team of choice, then spend some time taking in sights, activities and delicious food.
Pack your jerseys and foam fingers, and get ready to make some memories.
Detroit
A culinary journey begins at Comerica Park, where you can indulge in something familiar — a Chicago-style hot dog — or something new, such as an international brew at the Beer Hall’s 70-foot-long bar. Kids can go for a ride on a 50-foot Ferris wheel or a hand-painted carousel, then head back to their seats with an elephant ear to cap off the game.
Before the game or a day on the town, start your morning at Dime Store (eatdimestore.com), where all-day brunch features toothsome dishes, including French toast topped with brown sugar peach compote, or cheesy grits boasting two eggs over easy and roasted pork belly.
Continue to eat your way through Motor City with a stop at Eastern Market (easternmarket.org).
Going 125 years strong, the market is spread across six sheds and multiple city blocks, filled with hundreds of vendors peddling everything from craft beers to coffee roasted on site. Fresh produce, baked goods and food items are the focus of Saturday markets, while Sunday street markets bring local artists, musicians and jewelry makers into the mix.
For bite-sized burgers, head to Green Dot Stables (greendotstables.com), where mystery meat is something customers ask for (yes, it’s on the menu) along with other nuanced combinations such as peanut butter with chipotle raspberry, and crispy fried chicken with sage maple syrup — all for under $5 each.
Diego Rivera murals portraying his vision of American industry and its diverse workforce are a centerpiece of any visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts (dia.org). But also look for a special contemporary photography exhibit, and for a showcase of Dutch and French artists who inspired Vincent Van Gogh.
To bring the weekend to a close, stop by Candy Bar (candybardetroit.com) for a quiet night out. Candy Bar has dim lighting, plush seating and a range of sweet drinks. Sox vs. Tigers, June 13-15 and Sept. 16-18
San Francisco
The view from Oracle Park alone is worth the trip. Perched majestically along San Francisco Bay, it’s by far one of the most scenic baseball stadiums.
If kids are along for the journey, they’ll love sliding through an 80-foot Coca-Cola bottle or racing toward home plate inside a miniature Oracle Park (Note that the Fan Lot family area has closed periodically during the pandemic; check the stadium’s website for the latest updates).
The Golden Gate Ferry (goldengate.org) provides direct Oracle Park service to and from Larkspur Ferry Terminal. The ferry departs Larkspur 90 minutes before the first pitch and returns from Oracle Park 30 minutes after the last out.
In the mood for sightseeing before or after the game? You can’t miss a tour of Golden Gate Bridge, but also be sure to venture inside Golden Gate Park for a walk through a Japanese tea garden created in 1894 ( japaneseteagardensf. com).
Wander past serene koi ponds, native Japanese plants and pagodas for a moment of Zen, then head over to the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in North America (sanfranciscochinatown.com).
Hungry? La Palma, located in the Mission District, has been delighting customers with freshly pressed tortillas and sopes made daily since 1953 (lapalmasf.com). And it’s never a bad idea to grab a signature Double-Double at the beloved West Coast chain In-N-Out Burger (in-n-out.com).
If you’re looking for an Instagrammable dessert, check out The Baked Bear (thebakedbear.com), which offers craft ice cream with flavors such as blackberry crumble, vegan chocolate chip and espresso
bean sandwiched between 12 options of cookies or brownies. Sox vs. Giants, July 1-3; Cubs vs. Giants, July 28-31
Phoenix
A front-row seat near the dugout is one of the most coveted spots in a ballpark, but Chase Field dials up the experience with a field-side pool.
If you’re not one of the lucky 35 folks who can take in the game from the pricey Diamondbacks pool suite, the stadium still offers an array of dining options to satisfy, including churro dogs and loaded popcorn chicken.
On a nongame day, visit the Desert Botanical Garden (dbg.org), which features nearly 500 rare and endangered species of plants. Music lovers will love to explore the Musical Instrument Museum (mim. org), with a collection of more than 8,000 instruments from more than 200 countries. For hikers, Camelback Mountain (climbcamelback.com) has an elevation of 2,704 feet and is in the middle of the Phoenix Valley.
To venture out of the city, take a 45-minute drive to Papago Park in Maricopa County, where you’ll find the Phoenix Zoo, golf courses, various museums and the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting.
Feast on tapas and shareable plates at seafood restaurant Pa’La
(palakitchen.com), or cool off with a cone at Buzzed Bull Creamery (buzzedbullcreamery.com), which serves 30 flavors of handcrafted ice cream and milkshakes. For the adults, the frozen treat can be alcohol-infused. Cubs vs. Diamondbacks, May 13-15
Baltimore
Charm City is home to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Before or after the game, swing by Eutaw Street, where an array of bars and restaurants stretch along the east side of the stadium, including Dempsey’s Brew Pub, named for Orioles Hall of Fame catcher Rick Dempsey, and Boog’s BBQ, which serves barbecue beef, pork and turkey.
A few blocks from Camden Yards is Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, where the National Aquarium (aqua.org) features more than 20,000 animals, a dolphin training session and even an aquarium sleepover. But if sleeping with the fishes isn’t your scene, try the Sagamore Pendry (pendry.com/ baltimore), a luxury boutique hotel in historic Fells Point, one of Baltimore’s 225 neighborhoods.
Bring your appetite. A few steps from the Sagamore Pendry hotel is Duck Duck Goose (ddgbaltimore. com), a posh restaurant touting modern Parisian cuisine and three-course suppers on Sundays. In the heart of the Little Italy neighborhood is La Scala (lascaladining.com), a family-style restaurant that has been recognized as one of Baltimore’s best Italian restaurants.
You’re in luck if you are looking for tasty vegan restaurants. Baltimore has several notable vegan eateries, including The Land of Kush (landofkush. com) in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, a soul food restaurant dedicated to “feeding your spirit.”
For a plant-based dessert, try Cajou Creamery (cajoucreamery.com). Their pint-size treats do not contain dairy, soy or gluten and have flavors such as sweet potato pie and baklava. A few doors down is Cuples Tea House (cuplesteahouse.com), a cozy, intimate spot that promises music, art and good conversation. Sox vs. Orioles, Aug. 23-25
Boston
Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, is just a 2 ½-hour flight away, which means you’ll have plenty of time to take in the majesty of the oldest stadium in Major League Baseball.
Need more time after the game? An hourlong guided tour will provide a full overview of the ballpark, from the world-famous Green Monster — the left field wall that stands over 37 feet high — the Roof Deck overlooking right field and the Fenway Park Living Museum.
Steps from Fenway is Tasty Burger (tastyburger. com), featuring classic burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes, beers and minipies. If you’ve got a student ID, there is a special deal just for the “Starvin’ Student.”
After you fill up, you can explore the city on the cheap by hopping on the subway, better known as the Boston T line (mbta. com), for just $2.40 a ride.
In less than 15 minutes, you can get to Faneuil Hall Marketplace (faneuilhallmarketplace.com), which houses more than 100 local shops, restaurants and historical buildings. You’ll find some of the best clam chowder, lobster rolls and oysters, among other New England delicacies.
And for a walk back through history, visit unforgettable historical sites during a walking tour along the Freedom Trail (thefreedomtrail.org).
Walk through Paul Revere’s home, see Boston through the eyes of Revolutionary-era women, and find your next great read at the Old Corner Bookstore, built in 1718. White Sox vs. Red Sox, May 6-8
New York
There are a countless number of places to visit in the Big Apple, and for baseball fans Yankee Stadium may be your first stop.
If you take the MTA, New York City’s transit system (new.mta.info), Yankee Stadium is accessible on the B, D and 4 lines.
Before gates open for a game, you may want to take an hourlong guided tour of the home of the 27-time World Series champions. Along the way are iconic baseball artifacts, such as Babe Ruth’s bat and Lou Gehrig’s jersey.
Steps away are more than a dozen choices of restaurants, delis, cafes and bars. NYY Steak, Billy’s Sports Bar, and Court Deli are some fan favorites. If you want a classic experience, try Yankee Tavern, which is arguably the oldest sports bar in the Bronx.
Make the most out of your visit by exploring the Bronx.
Ten minutes from Yankee Stadium is the Bronx Museum of the Arts (bronxmuseum.org), which features more than 2,000 artworks, including modern photography, sculptures and textiles — plus, admission is free.
Located in the South Bronx is The Lit. Bar (thelitbar.com), an independent, woman-owned bookstore that also serves as a bar. In the Bronx Park area, the New York Botanical Garden (nybg.org) spans 250 acres, making it the largest botanical garden in the United States.
And to wrap up your trip, the Bronx Zoo (bronxzoo.com) spans more than 265 acres with a range of exhibits, a dinosaur safari, and Brew at the Zoo, an after-hours party for adults over 21 featuring an illuminated playground. Sox vs. Yankees, May 20-22; Cubs vs. Yankees, June 10-12