My Getaways: Back East

Over the last couple of months, I've made it a point to actually use my vacation time, and I've gone home every time I had some time off. While I love going back home, the last few times I've realized that I need a real vacation. I don't think I have the time or money to go on my dream vacation, but I would like to explore more of the country.

I'll fully admit that I'm a West Coast kinda guy. I've been missing the Pacific Northwest terribly, and I'd love to spend some extended time in San Francisco, but I think I need to check out the Eastern U.S. to see what it has to offer.

There are a few stops that would be mandatory, but I'd like to changes things up a bit too. New York City is a no-brainer mostly because I want to see why so many people heart NY. I don't think I could actually live in a city like NYC, but visiting every once in a while could be fun. Another stop that I'd have to make would be Boston, which for some reason is the only East Coast city that I could see myself living in despite never being there before.

I'd like to go back to Washington, D.C. since I was young when I visited last time, and I'd think I'd appreciate it a lot more a second time around. Another city that would be interesting to check out would be Philadelphia. Again, it's a place I don't think I could settle down in based on what I know about it, but I definitely want to experience it.

Other cities like Pittsburgh and Baltimore would make the expanded list, and since I'm a beach person I'd like to hit up some of the coastal getaways. Oh, and Miami. I'd even be up for visiting places in Connecticut, Maine, and the rest of New England. For an international flavor, I'd be willing to check out Toronto.

Seeing all of theses places is a lofty goal, but one I'm totally willing to strive for. Honestly though, if I'm able to get to a few of them, then I'd be happy. Now, I just need to start saving up...

My Getaways: America's Past-Time

With today being Opening Day of the 2010 Major League Baseball season, I couldn't help but be reminded of one of the earliest goals that I set for myself, which was visiting all of the Major League ballparks. I know that this is not a dream unique to just myself since many have reached this feat before, but it's still something I'd love to do. The thing is this goal has lost some of its luster since most of the old school parks have been replaced with state of the art stadiums, but there are a few I'd like to see sooner rather than later:

5. Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Baltimore Orioles

For some reason, I will always see Camden Yards as the forerunner of the modern day ballpark, and according to some sources, it's the blueprint that so many other organizations have copied. I just remember the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards being such a big deal, and it's always stuck with me, which is why it's one the short list of stadiums I want to see now. Plus, it has one of the best names in baseball because it's simple and void of commercialism. Good job Baltimore.

4. AT&T Park: San Francisco Giants

While on my roadtrip home from Oregon to Texas, I spent a few days in San Francisco, and while I didn't actually go into AT&T Park, I did get to drive by it. Even from the outside, I could tell that it was a nice park. You know that it's a modern park with some old school charm. Also, the idea of McCovey Cove is brilliant, and I wouldn't mind spending a few games just floating around waiting for home run balls.

3. U.S. Cellular Field: Chicago White Sox

To be honest, I could careless about the stadium (which has lost some of its appeal when it changed names from Comiskey Park to its current moniker), but I've always been a fan of the Chicago White Sox, so I would love to watch a home game on the South Side of Chicago. I'm still glad that it was the Chi-Sox that beat my beloved Astros during the World Series. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

2. Wrigley Field: Chicago Cubs

Since I'm a White Sox fan, I have no desire to support the Cubs (plus they're in the NL Central, which makes them divisional rivals of the Houston Astros), but I have to admit that seeing Wrigley Field would be an amazing experience. The old school parks are becoming a rare breed, and Wrigley is one of the few still around. I need to see the ivy-covered wall and the rooftop seats before the Cubbies decide to follow in the footsteps of every other club.

1. Fenway Park: Boston Red Sox

The only team I like less than the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees is the Boston Red Sox. I really don't have any ill-will towards the franchise, but their fans are insufferable (even more so now that they've actually started winning championships). With that being said, I'd love to watch a home game amongst them because any baseball fan has to. I'm pretty sure for many going to a game at Fenway is a religious experience, and it's one that I'd like to partake in while I still can. Plus, I really want to sing "Sweet Caroline" during the 8th. You don't get to do that just anywhere.

So, there you have it, the top five ballparks that I'd love to see. Sure, I wouldn't mind seeing dumps like Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay Rays) and Sun Life Stadium (Florida Marlins) someday, but these five parks are the cream of the crop in my opinion, and I need to experience them before it's too late.

I can just smell the hot dogs...

My Getaways: The Great Outdoors

I don't consider myself to be an outdoorsy kind of person, and this was proven during my time in Portland. I was the guy who thought it'd be OK to camp-out with nothing but a bed sheet during an Oregon summer (trust me, it gets cold at night up there). I'm also the guy who saw two of his buddies almost float down a river while being stuck in the middle of the water holding two fishing poles (wading was a foreign concept to me at the time, and still is). To be honest, I'm surprised I survived living up in Oregon.

While I'm not the world's greatest survivalist, I did develop a respect for the outdoors, and my interest in being more in tuned with nature was sparked while living in Portland. Plus, now I have a ton of camping stuff that I'd like to use more than once, so the thought of a camping road trip sounds mighty fine right about now.

A colleague of mine at Texas State mentioned that she once went on a camping tour de force that took her from Lubbock, TX through northern New Mexico and Arizona, down and over, and then back up. Honestly, her story prompted my urge to rough it for a few weeks, but I'd extend the trip.

Ideally, I'd start out in Big Bend, TX and work my way up north through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Then I'd hook a left towards the Pacific Coast which would take me through parts of Idaho and Washington. Down the coast through my old stomping ground and NorCal before cutting right to hit up Nevada and Utah. Then I'd travel through Arizona, back across New Mexico and my old home of West Texas, which brings me back to Central Texas.

Of course I'd be camping, hiking, and fishing the entire time...you know, like men do. Now, I just need to learn how to do those things or at least have a guide that would keep me from freezing my ass off. Either way.

My Getaways: Islands & Beaches

Last week was spring break for the student's of Texas State, and while I did have to work, it was nice having a slower week before the craziness that is registration ensues. I do have to admit that I was a little bit jealous of those that had the chance to get out of town for a bit. I need to get away too.

I know that I've blogged about traveling in the past, but seeing the world is one of the goals that I'm really adamant about, and I feel that it's is a pretty obtainable one. The only things standing in my way of being a globletrotter are my lack of funds, time, and travel buddies. If I had all three I'd be writing this entry from a beach somewhere. C'est la vie.

While I may not have to resources to travel the world right at my fingertips, I do have the drive to do it sooner than later because I don't want to have any regrets. Ten years from now I don't want to say, "I wish I had seen ______ when I had the chance". Money's starting to collect in the bank, the excitement levels are rising, and now I just need to spin the globe and pick a place.

My top destinations are pretty standard compared to the well-traveled's point-of-view, but it's all new to me. Italy is very high on my list, and while I'd like to do the standard stuff like see Rome, Venice, etc., I've heard nothing but good things about Cinque Terre. It's like some mythical place based on all of the hype that I've been told. I just need to see it for myself.

Second on my list is Greece. I don't think I'd be all that into Athens, but one of the smaller islands would probably blow my mind. I've said it before, and I'll say it until it happens, I will never come back if I ever make it to Greece

Speaking of islands, I've just jumped on the Majorca bandwagon. I really don't know much about the Spanish island except for the fact that I want to go there. I think it's because it is an island, which means water, which is a must in my book. That's reason enough for me. I'm sure I'd enjoy mainland Spain as well. Apparently, Barcelona is the place  to be, but I wouldn't be opposed to making a stop in Madrid either.

Hmm, where else? Australia is also very high on my list. Of course big cities like Sydney and Melbourne would be must-sees, but I'd like to spend as much time on the beaches like Surf Coast and on the Great Ocean Road. See why I want to pick up surfing?

I wouldn't say no to Hawaii or Mexico either. As you can tell, there's a theme going on here. Give me the three Ses (sun, sand, and surf), and I'm a happy man. Sounds reasonable, right?