Minor League Road Trip: Tell me about your city!

by Brock20 on May 15, 2007 6:35 PM EDT Comment 16 comments

Gang:

In a couple weeks, I'm heading off on my annual minor league road trip. This year its six games in six days with stops in Springfield (Missouri), Memphis, Little Rock, Montgomery, Birminingham, and Louisville. I'm hoping that those of you that either live in, frequent, or know about these towns can help me out with some great info. I'm looking for:

Cool musuems, historic locations, or generally touristy stuff to do. (So my what I did on my summer vacation report can be some what educational!)
Restaurants and bars. Where do the locals eat? What's the MUST place to dine. Also, we need some place to drink after the game. My group tends to like multitude of beers on tap, good juke box, and a nice place to talk and watch the end of the West Coast game.
Micro-breweries? Breweries? Anything along those lines?
Where should we stay? Location, not neccesarily specific hotel will do.

I've been to Memphis quite a bit, so I know a lot about that city. But, I'm always looking for new places and sites. In Louisville, we are going to the Slugger factory, so I know that.

Other than that, feel free to let me know!

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heh

i thought of asking people for help setting up a minor league road trip, but most my friends wouldn't be down with it. they probably don't care enough to put the effort and money in.

someone should set up a community minor league trip, that way we can all fight and argue in person.

by god allah star on May 15, 2007 6:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You need new friends...

just kidding. Assuming you got the guys who want to go, here's the easiest way to do it. MiLB.Com has a feature where you can search teams by geography. I use that to get a sense of a cluster of teams around a geographic area. Then, I keep a window open to mapquest to gauge the distance in between the cities. My experience is that you should only have one drive over five hours, but that's just me.

A lot of the leagues (International, Southern, etc.) have master grid schedules on their websites, that you can eyeball and see who is where on a given day.

All you need is one person at first, this is our 2.75 trip (the first one, was really a trip to Memphis to gamble and watch a couple of Redbirds games) and we are adding a third person. Last year we hit: Huntsville, Memphis, Nashville, Tennessee Smokies, back to Nashville for four parks, 6 games, five days. We only saw seven teams because of the double stop and the fact Nashville was playing Memphis. This year it worked out for six games, six stadiums, six days, 12 teams.

We hit the jackpot.

by Brock20 on May 16, 2007 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

or just a thread

that says what games you are heading to so people can meet up there

by wibadger on May 15, 2007 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Badger Pride!!!

Law school class of 02!

by Brock20 on May 15, 2007 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry

Never been to those parts of the country. My guess is that they're nice though.

If you ever think of coming out to Trenton, here's the most important tip I can give you:

DO NOT LEAVE THE PARKING LOT OF THE THUNDER'S BALLPARK. Trenton is a BAD city. You can stay in the stadium, the next safest place is the parking lot.

by yanksfan6129 on May 15, 2007 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re:

Will you pass through Fayetteville, AR when traveling from Springfield to Little Rock?

Gorkys Hernandez is my new favorite player (my tribute to VTTigers)

by Dfarth on May 15, 2007 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re:

Cant tell you much about those cities, altho I have at least been to most of them. I did see the Barons play in Birmingham a few years ago. The ball park seemed pretty standard. It was in a pretty nice area, w a lot of the national chain restaurants (Bennigan's, Chili's, etc.) nearby. I think there was a nice Borders nearby also. I would try to stay in that area near the ballpark.

Enjoy your trip!

by rhd on May 15, 2007 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Birmingham

I live just down the interstate in Tuscaloosa, and get to Birmingham all the time. The Hoover Met (Baron's stadium) is a comfortable place to see a baseball game in a middle class suburb of Birmingham.

I would recommend staying and hanging out just down I-459 from the stadium at an area around an upscale outdoor mall called the Summit. There are a couple of nice chain hotels there (Courtyard, I believe) and lots and lots of dining (drinking) and shopping areas. I would avoid staying "over the mountain" in actual downtown Birmingham.

Depending on what your interests are, there are many things to see and do in Birmingham. The Civil Rights museum is well done and provides great background on the city's difficult history (its amazing how far the city has become). I would definitely make a trip to Rickwood Field, the home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League. There is lots and lots of history there. http://www.rickwood.com/

Of course, if your route takes you through or by Tuscaloosa, make sure to stop and take a look at the University of Alabama, Bryant-Denny Stadium, the Paul "Bear" Bryant museum, and a slab of ribs at Dreamland.

Have a fun, and safe, road trip!

by b1leper on May 16, 2007 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Birmingham & Montgomery

When you are in Birmingham, find Dreamland Ribs. They will be the best you will ever eat. If you watch the Barons on a Sunday game, they serve Dreamland Ribs at the ballpark.

The Summit is a nice upscale place, but right down the road from the Barons stadium is another mall with everything you could want.

You turn right out of the stadium parking lot, then turn right again as you get out to the main street. Buffalo Wild Wings and many other places will come up within a mile. The players hung out at Buffalo Wild Wings last year. Don't know if they are this year.

The Montgomery Biscuits stadium is a great place to watch a game. Right across the street from the stadium on the back side of the block is a pretty good restaurent and bar with tv's. Took my twenty something daughter there for her birthday last year. She and her husband & friends go there often.

Not sure where to stay in Montgomery - never spent the night there. Plenty of places right off the interstate near Prattville if you are coming south from Birmingham. Pratteville is about 15 minutes from the stadium.

by sylcwsfan on May 16, 2007 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Springfield

Trolley's is a good bar/resteraunt in Springfield. You could also visit the Bass Pro Shop there. Even if you aren't a redneck, theres some interesting stuff there.

Springfield Brewing Company is a nice brewpub there too. They've got live music pretty much every night and selection of half a dozen or so of their own brews on tap.

by KCSlayer on May 15, 2007 9:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i too will post something unhelpful

i can tell you where to grab a great slice of pizza in boston.

by jpahk on May 15, 2007 10:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fenway

Yeah, I hear at Fenway they bring it right to your seat...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dcKeDPG_lMQ

"People think it must be fun to be a super genious, but they don't know how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world." - Calvin

by RVachon on May 16, 2007 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

In Little Rock, I would say go to the Diamond Bear Brewery, eat at Cozymels, and visit the West End Sports Bar. The park in Little Rock is brand new so it should be really nice (I haven't been yet). If you are looking for some late night entertainment - everyone seems to really like Willy D's. As far as touristy stuff - there isn't that much in Little Rock - I guess you could go to the zoo. Also, the Bill Clinton Presidential Library is there - if you find that kind of stuff interesting. The most popular tourist destination is probably Hot Springs which is about an hour southwest of Little Rock. There you can play on the lake, walk through the diamond fields, or bathe in the Hot Springs.

Also, If you are going to go through Fayetteville (where I'm from) I can recommend a ton of restaurants and nightlife there too. You said that you've been to Memphis a number of times but just a reminder that you are required to eat at the Rendevouz (I think it's state law). And I also recommend going to Silky O' Sullivan's and getting a diver. For late night entertainment, the Atlas club seems to be the hot spot these days.

Hope that helps some...

Gorkys Hernandez is my new favorite player (my tribute to VTTigers)

by Dfarth on May 15, 2007 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Where to Stay

I forgot about the "where to stay" part. I would recommend staying at the Peabody or one of the hotels that is along the river (near the Peabody). If that's not an option, I would stay in North Little Rock because the central parts of Little Rock can have some scary places...

Gorkys Hernandez is my new favorite player (my tribute to VTTigers)

by Dfarth on May 15, 2007 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One Last Thing

You said that you have been to Memphis so you can disregard this if you like...

I recommend staying at the Sleep Inn at Court Square in Memphis. It's very moderately priced and close enough to Beale Street where you can walk. I love staying there because you can walk to pretty much everything downtown.

Also, since you are going to be close anyways - you may as well go to the casinos at Tunica, Mississippi if you are into that kind of thing. Tunica is one of the better gambling locals in the nation IMO.

Gorkys Hernandez is my new favorite player (my tribute to VTTigers)

by Dfarth on May 15, 2007 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Birmingham II

Cool musuems, historic locations, or generally touristy stuff to do.

Warning - Alabama is not known for their love of Baseball
If you can make the Rickwood Classic you must go... It is May 30th 12:35 game time (Central) Touted as oldest ballpark in America
Civil Rights museum is cool.
McWane Center downtown is okay probably geared more for kids.
Sloss Furnace is cool but I don't know if they have any activities all the time
Southside Downtown is the cool place to hang out. tons of Bars some Dance Clubs.

Restaurants and bars. Where do the locals eat? What's the MUST place to dine. Also, we need some place to drink after the game. My group tends to like multitude of beers on tap, good juke box, and a nice place to talk and watch the end of the West Coast game.

* Food: Dreamland BBQ - located downtown or Tuscaloosa - GREAT Ribs.
Jim N' Nicks BBQ is also good
Cajun Steamer - If you like Lousianna style seafood
Tortuga's Pizza - BEST Chicago style pizza - great Baseball memorabilia around the place too

* Beer: On Tap sports cafe is a great place to go. Have several Beers. I think they have a couple of locations around town.
Loco's Pub has several Beers on Tap. Food has been so-so lately.
Bob Baumhauers Wings is pretty good but I don't know how late they stay open. May not get to spend a lot of time there after the game.

Micro-breweries? Breweries? Anything along those lines?
* Sorry Alabama is about as backwards as they come when it comes to Breweries - we used to have a couple of good MicroBrews but they went by the wayside

Where should we stay? Location, not neccesarily specific hotel will do.
* If you want historic downtown try the Tutwiler or Redmont - they are great historic hotels. I really liked the Redmont, it was quiet. You don't want to wander too far from there in the evening hours.

If you have any questions, let me know.. I'll do my best to answer.

by RogoRooter on May 16, 2007 12:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs