2012 road trip

Just discovered UKMLB, so hello to everyone.

I have booked this years baseball trip. I am going to Houston, Dallas and St Louis. I have got tickets to 5 games. Astros v Pirates -July 27 & 28
Rangers v Angels - July 31 (can't wait for this one)
Cardinals v Brewers - August 4
Cardinals v Giants - August 6
Does anyone have any helpful tips or know to any places I need to visit in these cities.
I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks, Steve.

Not been to any of those ball parks, not helpful I know, but looks a great trip, have a good one!

Thanks, I will post a few photos when I get back for all to see.

Have a good trip Steve, sounds like a great itinerary. wouldn't mind seeing some shots from around Arlington Stadium.

Hi Steve

In 2007 I went on holiday to Texas and saw games both at the Astros and the Rangers.

I recall buying tickets in advance for Houston as it was a Sunday afternoon game and virtually sold out, mainly because Biggio was on the verge of 3000 hits. Minute Maid Park is right in the centre of Downtown Houston and I recall a decent bar just outside the stadium. We benefitted from the retractable roof as it can get pretty hot for day games although July 2007 was one of the wettest summer months in Texas and there was loads of torrential rain. You'll also smile at the little train that runs across the back if there is a rare chance of a Astros home run.

On the same trip we saw 2 Rangers games in Arlington. We didn't bother with tickets for the first as Texas weren't competing and the Park holds 50000. Originally we were only going to see 1 game but decided to see the 2nd game which was July 4. We managed to buy a couple of tickets for that game on the day but they were right at the very back of the top deck. By game time the Park was virtually sold out. Arlington is a pretty soulless place and you'll need a car. There was a really good all you can eat 'quality' buffet in a restaurant attached to the stadium which was good value for these extortionate Ball Parks.

We didn't stay in Houston long but if you like music there's usually plenty of outdoor gigs. We saw The Fray and Merle Haggard. In Dallas do the Kennedy stuff, it's really good and make sure you visit the Stockyards in Fort Worth.

Enjoy your trip. Texas is by far the friendliest state I've visited and didn't conform to the brash stereotypes.

Cheers pal, thats great feedback.
I made sure I got all my tickets on the day they went on sale, so I knew I would get good seats. At rangers ballpark I got section 30 row 13 which I'm happy about. As for Arlington, I have done my homework and yeah your right, it's dead, so with stopping in Dallas, I will go over to Arlington for the day, do a stadium tour, have a look at cowboy stadium and hang around until the game and travel back to Dallas.
There seems loads to do in houston and dallas and I will definitely do the Kennedy stuff in Dallas and may go down Johnson space centre in Houston. I fancy going to a rodeo, but I'm struggling to find dates in July, so I will keep looking.
I will put some pictures on (if I figure out how to do it) when I get back for all to see.
Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

I assume that you don't mind heat

I liked the stadium in Houston, particularly for night games with the roof open. Friendly people, too. Lots of the city life seems to take place underground, due to the heat.

Not been to Dallas.

I liked St Louis' stadium - one of the most expensive, though, although maybe now they don't have to afford Albert, the prices are lower ... no?

You can go up the arch provided you aren't claustrophobic - the view is terrific. There are lots of riverboat casinos, if that's your thing. I walked around some of the large country park areas to the west of the city (between the airport & city); I was cautioned to avoid East St Louis (on the other side of the river, in Illinois) on safety grounds.

A general point is to not forgot to look through all the brochures in your hotel room: they often have discount vouchers for places that are worth using.

Thanks for the advice Stewart, I appreciate it.

I have got another ticket for the Rangers-Angels game Wednesday 1st august, it means another trip from Dallas to Arlington but it will be worth it.(should be 2 great games), I've been lucky enough to get the exact same seat as the Tuesday night game. I think I got everything sorted now. Just got to wait a while.

New to the board. So hi everyone

Have done 2 baseball trips to the US now. First one in 2010 while on holiday to New York with the girlfriend. Went to see the Yankees as part of a deal I had struck to suffer Woodbury Common outlet village. Surprisingly she loved it and we got to see the Mets and also the Brooklyn Cyclones (lovely little ground down at Coney) later in the week.

Since the Channel 5 days I had always had a soft spot for the Cubs and I am just back from a great trip to the windy city where I went to all 3 games of a sweep of the Padres at Wrigley Field. Then through to Milwaukee for lots of beer and the Brewers losing against the Pirates and back to Chicago for a Seattle win at White Sox. A great trip and Wrigley Field was everything I hoped it would be. Its great hearing about others experiences of groundhopping the MLB. I hope to get back over to the States in the next couple of years and maybe I will try a different area.

The time has finally come, off to the airport shortly, soon be in Houston, first game tomorrow night.
Looking forward to it!....

Enjoy your trip man. They're some really nice games you've got to look forward to. Try take some snaps & get em up here when you return man! #GoBlue

Have a good one!

Cheers lads, so far so good.

Astros lost 6-5 last night, it was a good game, Johnson of the Astros was a single from a cycle which would have been nice to see but 20 hits and 4 home runs was good. Only 24,000 crowd which was a little disappointing. The roof was closed and the air-con was on which was heaven ( so humid ).
Hopefully another good game tonight, Sunday seems to be a quiet day so I'm thinking of getting a ticket for tomorrows lunch time game and then going for a few beers around town (unwind a little), then its off to Dallas Monday at 7am.

Was just about to talk about Houston and Texas having been to both and then realised by the dates you're already there !!

Must be flipping hot at the moment.

If you're at a day game then I'd really consider making sure you're sat in the shade !