In Search of Sun and Baseball

By late winter, I get antsy for the weather to warm up enough to spend time outdoors. The chance to escape chilly Kansas makes spring training—also known as the season before the season—one of my favorite vacations.

Each year starting in mid-February and running through late March, the greater Phoenix area and the east and west coasts of Florida become dream destinations for me and everyone else looking to combine sunny weather with a jump-start on the Major League Baseball season.

Spring training sites in the Grapefruit League are across the Sunshine State, from Clearwater to Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast and along the Atlantic Coast in South Florida. I prefer the proximity of Arizona’s Cactus League, where ballparks are within an hour of each other. I’ve been able to watch the Kansas City Royals play at Surprise Stadium, with a KC-based Boulevard beer in hand, and the next day skip over to watch the Chicago Cubs play at Sloan Park in Mesa, enjoying an Italian beef sandwich and getting an autograph from baseball Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins.

There’s something electric, too, about seeing your team take the field for the first time after a historic season. I was in Arizona in 2015 when the Royals reported to training after having lost the 2014 championship following a seven-game battle with San Francisco. It turned out to be the beginning of Kansas City’s World Series title season.

Sometimes it takes a few years before you realize what you’ve seen at spring training—like the seven eventual Hall of Famers we saw in an early 2000s Braves-Astros matchup in Kissimmee, Florida.

Keep in mind this is spring training. Your favorite player might play only a few innings as they work to get into top shape, while up-and-comers vie for a spot on the opening day roster. Improve your chances of seeing a star or getting an autograph by catching morning practice, open to watch at no cost on the teams’ practice fields.

Fan/player interactions, 1 p.m. start times (leaving plenty of time for other vacation fun) and small, family-friendly ballparks make these games for everyone, not just baseball fanatics.

Ticket prices vary by facility, and dynamic pricing means marquee games cost more. At most spring training stadiums, though, expect to score a reserved infield seat for less than what it would cost for a regular-season game at an MLB ballpark. You can also get in the gate with outfield lawn seats as low as $8 at some games.

Best to begin planning your spring training getaway now since tickets are typically on sale by early January (mlb.com/spring-training).