JUNE 2022 – Braison, Cabot, AR
Question
Aaah, summer…Time for vacation! You have two weeks, an unlimited budget, and you can go anywhere. Plan the ultimate baseball vacation. Where will you go? Who will you meet? What will you see, do, eat…? Include descriptions and details…and WIN. Good luck!
Winner
CONGRATS to Braison, a rising 7th grader from Cabot, AR, and a talented utility player! He roots for the Cubs, loves baseball, and planned the *ultimate* vacation.
Winning Answer
We have chartered a private jet for the duration of our 2-week trip, and our pilot has cleared our flight plans in advance. We have also secured a car service in each location with a driver already prepared with our travel plans. Reservations have been secured at all hotels and restaurants.
Here is our schedule:
June 29th- Depart Little Rock, AR and arrive in Cleveland, Ohio. Hotel for the night is the Ritz-Carlton.
June 30- Stadium tour and brunch with Owen Miller at Town Hall. Game time 12:10 Twins @ Guardians. Depart Cleveland and arrive in Chicago. Dinner with Papa Ross at Pequod’s Pizza, Chicago’s best pizza restaurant. Game time 7 pm, Reds vs. Cubs. Braison, throws the first pitch of the game. We meet the team, and get photos and autographs after the game. We rest at the Four Season’s Hotel for the night.
July 1st – Depart for Canada. We meet Bladimir Guerrero Jr. for brunch at NomNomNom Poutine for his favorite meal. Game time 2 pm, Rays vs. Blue Jays. After the game, we travel to New York and check into the Plaza Hotel.
July 2nd- Full Day!! We quickly hit the must-see spots in NY: the 911 Memorial, Central Park and Times Square. Then we spend the remainder of the day at the Baseball Hall of Fame. We have plans to meet Aaron Judge for dinner at Dinosaur BBQ. That is his favorite restaurant, and where he found out he was called up to the Yankees.
July 3rd- We check out of the Plaza Hotel, and travel to Detroit to watch them play the Royals at 11 am. We then have a late lunch with Javier Baez at Taqueria El Rey. After that game, we travel to Philly to watch the Cardinals at Phillies at 6:08 pm. Photos with the team after, and dinner at Angelo’s Pizzeria for their world-famous Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches. We stay the night at the Four Seasons Hotel.
July 4th- Depart for Boston. Brunch with our good friend and ESPN announcer Pat Bradley at Cafe Bonjour before the Ray’s at Red Sox Game time 12:35. We then head to Cincinnati, game time 8:10 pm, Rockies @ Reds. Going to Zips Cafe for the best chili in town. Depart for Baltimore, check into The Ivy Hotel.
July 5th- Lunch at Blake’s Crab House, and stadium tour and meet-and-greet with team. Game time 6:05 pm, Rangers @ Orioles. Staying again at The Ivy Hotel.
July 6th- Depart for Atlanta, where we will go to Hope and Wills Sandlot. We will meet Ronald Acuna Jr. for a pre-game dinner of mac and cheese at Fox Bros. BBQ. Game time 6:20 pm, Cardinals @ Braves. Resting comfortably at The Ritz-Carlton.
July 7th- Texas we are coming for ya!!! Game time 1:10 pm, Royals @ Astros. Team meet-and-greet. Relaxing dinner at Brennan’s of Houston. And a wonderful night at The Post Oak Hotel.
July 8th- The BEST DAY YET! Tour the Nokona Factory! And we are so excited to have dinner with the employees. After our favorite day, we head to Dallas and check into the Ritz-Carlton.
July 9th- Lunch with Nolan Ryan, steak and carrot cake are on the menu, wherever he chooses to go. Game time 3:05 pm, Twins @ Rangers. Of course, we will sit in Nolan’s box for the game. We will rest again at the Ritz-Carlton.
July 10th- New day, new city!! Kansas City is waiting for us. Game time 1:10pm, Guardians @ Royals. After the game, we have dinner plans with Hunter Dozier at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood. We stay at the Raphael Hotel.
July 11th- Travel to St. Louis. Quick tourist stops at the Gateway Arch, and to see the Budweiser Clydesdales. Then, a steak dinner with Yadier Molina at Hamilton’s Urban Steakhouse and Bourbon Bar. Game time 6:15 pm, Phillies @ Cardinals. Checking in to one of our favorite hotels for the night, the Ritz-Carlton.
July 12th- Still in St. Louis, we spend the morning at Ballpark Village before heading to Colorado. Dinner at The Original Chubby on 38th, famous Mexican Hamburgers with Fernando Tatis Jr. Game time 7:40 pm, Padres @ Rockies. Depart for LA. Check in to The Beverly Hills Hotel.
July 13th- Mike Trout in the House!!! Lunch at his favorite, Buffalo Wild Wings, not our favorite, but you go where this guy says!! Game time 8:38 pm, Astros @ Angels. One more night at The Beverly Hills Hotel.
July 14th-San Fran! A nice dinner with Brandon Crawford at La Fogata. Game time 8:45 pm, Brewers @ Giants. Hotel for the night is The Inn Above Tide Hotel.
July 15th NY, NY!! Lunch at Junior’s Restaurant and Cheesecake. Meet the team, photos and a stadium tour. Game time 6:05 pm, Red Sox @ Yankees. Our final night of travel, we stay at The Mark Hotel.
All game times on our trip are actual scheduled games, all restaurants and hotels are real!