Travel: Dream Fields

The beckoning American road. The diverse panorama of American cities. The excitement of the great American sport. Alan Salomon is devoted to them all. And so, nearly every summer for the past 20 years, Salomon, 62, a divorced free-lance writer from Memphis, Tenn., has taken off for a week or two on a baseball road trip. Usually tracking his beloved St. Louis Cardinals, he drives by himself to as many as 15 games in different stadiums in a particular region of the country. When he isn't munching on hot dogs and rooting for his team, he takes time to sightsee, try out new restaurants and hook up with local friends. "I have a passion for baseball that keeps me going back each year," he says. "I love taking in the grand old stadiums, getting a feel for the new ones and just connecting with other old-time fans like myself."

Road trippers such as Salomon who follow their favorite major or minor league baseball team--or just enjoy the color and variety of new destinations and stadiums--are becoming a more frequent sight at games across the country. The number of people 50 or older who go stadium hopping is growing 10% to 20% a year, says Jeff Wills, vice president of marketing for Roadtrips Inc., a sports-travel company based in Winnipeg, Man. His company arranges regional multicity baseball trips to the 30 major league North American parks.

Such jaunts take these sports lovers back to the glory days of baseball's legendary players--and to their own youth. "The fans in this age group are reminded of a simpler time in their lives," says Laurel Prieb, vice president of marketing for the Milwaukee Brewers. "There's just such a romance to baseball that makes this kind of vacation especially appealing."

In addition, the anxious aftermath of Sept. 11, coupled with a poor economy, has made inexpensive driving trips more attractive. "Nowadays especially, baseball trips are a relatively cheap, safe way to have a unique kind of experience you will never forget," says Margaret Engel, co-author of the recent edition of Fodor's Baseball Vacations (Random House).

Road trips, with plenty of time in the car together, also give baby boomers the chance to strengthen and renew relationships with siblings, spouses, kids and grandchildren. "These vacations are a real family affair," says Michael Veeck of Charleston, S.C., who is a co-owner of six minor league teams and a consultant to the Detroit Tigers. He is anticipating a 50% rise this season over last year in the number of people 50 or older taking road trips to the minor league parks.

For Jerry Daly, 58, who runs his own public-relations firm in Herndon, Va., a first-time, week-long road trip this year to baseball stadiums in Boston, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and New York City will be a way of sharing a love for the game and spending some time with his brother Larry, 61, an Evansville, Ind., lawyer. The brothers used to take their father on a trip every year for his birthday. After their father died two years ago, the two discussed doing some kind of annual outing as a way to remain close. When Jerry gave his brother a book listing every baseball stadium in the country, an idea was born. "Our goal is to go to every major league baseball stadium in the country, a few at a time each summer," Jerry says. "It's a chance to drink a little beer, enjoy the game and stay close--especially since our dad is not here anymore."