The Perpetual Tourist

February doesn’t say spring to a lot of people, unless maybe you live in the parts of the world that are nice and warm in winter (and then unbearably toasty the other nine months of the year). But even if it’s forty below outside your home, you can start thinking spring if you’re a baseball fan.

Major League Baseball’s Spring Training officially opened for pitchers and catchers yesterday, and it won’t be long now before the preseason competition begins. If the cold weather outside is giving you cabin fever, now is a great time to plan a getaway to warmer climes to enjoy our nation’s pastime.

Preseason competition is held in Florida for teams on the east and in Arizona for teams in the west, so if you live in the states, you won’t have to travel more than halfway across the continent to catch some baseball this “spring.” Games begin in under two weeks, and it’s a great opportunity to catch some of your favorite players in a more laid back and less crowded atmosphere than the regular season. Tickets start at only $5 — much cheaper than most vacation activities you’ll find.

This is the perfect kind of trip for a long weekend away from work or a road trip with your buddies. Hotels aren’t expensive this time of year, so with a group of people pitching in, you could easily have a great trip for as little as $100. Take in a few games, get some rays, maybe hit the beach or play a round of golf, and come home rejuvenated. With great locations and inexpensive tickets, Spring Training is the perfect way to forget about winter, if only for a few days.

Lastly, I would be a terrible fan if I didn’t throw this in — Go Diamondbacks!