It was the beginning of summer here in the “land of pleasant living” in 2022, and the heat was already oppressive. My wife and I wanted to get away to somewhere with bright, 70-degree days and cool, 50-degree nights. In other words, we wanted a Maryland fall but with beaches and ocean.
We’ve tried the Shenandoah Valley and the Poconos. Both are great, of course, but can’t deliver on beaches and ocean. Ocean City has the beaches and ocean but not the weather (or slower pace) that we wanted. Enter our Maine discussion! We decided to spend a week exploring the state.
First, let’s get our bearings. Maine is the northeastern-most U.S. state and the largest (by far) but least populated of the New England states. Maine is well known for many things: its jagged, rocky coastline; sandy beaches like Old Orchard and Ogunquit; colorful maritime history; picturesque lighthouses; fresh, tasty lobsters; enormous moose; seemingly never-ending white pine trees; Mount Katahdin, one end of the Appalachian Trail; and untouched natural areas like Acadia National Park.
We went into this trip wondering why one of Maine’s nicknames is “vacationland,” but after a few days, we wondered no more. Spending a week in Maine was perhaps the most satisfying vacation we’ve taken. Everything was just so perfect: friendly people, charming accents, quirky places with Native American-inspired names, remarkably fresh food, breathtaking scenery and a satisfyingly slow pace of life.
Largest lobster in the world at Taste of Maine
We set off for Maine in our comfy SUV in June 2022, heading up the East Coast on I-95 to make good time. We had already booked two stops at cozy bed and breakfasts in Kennebunk and Bar Harbor. Since our first Maine stop, Kennebunk, is about 9 hours driving time from Frederick, we decided to stay overnight in New York City and take in a Broadway show. The next day, we got up early and headed north into coolers temps.
Driving close to the coast, we passed the heavily industrial Connecticut cities of Stamford, Bridgeport and New Haven, home to Yale University. Cruising into watery Rhode Island, we passed by the picturesque state capital of Providence. We carefully made our way around metropolitan Boston and up the coast of New Hampshire, where we finally started to see traffic and the pace of life slow. We departed I-95, no longer wishing to make time, in favor of Route 1 to take in the sights, sounds and scents of small-town life.
The drive through New Hampshire only takes about an hour before you arrive in Maine, perfectly nicknamed on welcome signs as the Pine Tree State.
In another 30 minutes, we were in Kennebunk. Be advised there’s also a Kennebunkport, right on the ocean, of course, and made famous during two presidencies as the summer home of the Bushes. All told, it was a relatively easy 5-hour drive from New York City to Kennebunk.
In Kennebunk, we stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast called The Tides, located right across from Goose Rocks Beach, which is technically part of Kennebunkport and one of the best sandy beaches you’ll find on the Maine coast. We enjoyed almost three miles of soft, white sandy beach that offered incredible views of the Atlantic and some small offshore islands. The tidal pools that form are also a hit during the summer, making a great place to float along in a natural lazy river. This beach is about as family-friendly as it gets in the state and is a favorite to spend time on during the warmer months.
Our three days in Kennebunk flew by as we enjoyed the beach, strolling the beautiful little village and eating at cozy restaurants. As you might imagine, we didn’t starve. We delighted in delicious lobster rolls, wonderful blueberry pancakes with fresh homemade maple syrup tapped from nearby trees and, surprisingly, Texas-sized steaks and fillets. We rented bikes for a lovely excursion up the beach and through neighboring villages, making sure to get back in time to take in a startlingly red “strawberry” moonrise over the ocean at dusk (we’d wondered why folks were traipsing over to the beach with their flashlights in hand).
In Old Orchard Beach, just up the road from Kennebunk, we spent a day at New England’s largest beachfront amusement park, Palace Playland. It was like taking a step back in time. At this family-owned attraction, we enjoyed the old wooden roller coasters, midway-style rides, water slides, carnival games and Maine’s largest arcade. Exhausted after a day in the bright sun cooled by ocean breezes, we decamped back to our friendly Kennebunk B&B to plan our morning departure to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.
Boat tour along the rocky Maine coast
On our way, we couldn’t help but stop at Taste of Maine restaurant in Woolwich, about an hour from Kennebunk. There, we found two of the world’s largest lobsters waiting for us. An inflatable lobster, measuring 70 feet long and 12 feet tall, greeted us from the roof. And the “world’s largest lobster roll,” at 2-feet long and packed with over a pound and half of lobster meat, greeted us inside. We didn’t partake, but the views from the back deck were so incredible, we lingered longer than we should have. This place is a must-visit when in the area.
Bar Harbor is about 3 hours northeast of Kennebunk and 2 hours from Woolwich. Sunrise in the summer is at about 4:45 a.m., which can take a little getting used to, but the air is so crisp and cool, you might not mind rising early.
Bar Harbor is a resort town of about 5,000 people that swells to many times that in the summer. Think Ocean City without the boardwalk or crowds. Still, it didn’t seem crowded there when we visited.
Bar Harbor is synonymous with great wealth. Many summer mansions dot the town, and numerous Rockefellers were born here.
Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunk
We enjoyed strolling the quaint but hilly town while window shopping and reading menu boards, gazing out toward the Atlantic at the many little islands that seem to stand sentinel to the mainland, and walking across the bay. That’s right! Bar Harbor gets its name from a sand and gravel bar that is only visible at low tide, allowing tourists, day trippers, picnickers and hikers to wander about a mile across the bay to lovely Bar Island. It’s not often you get to explore the sea bottom, so we made that trip a few times.
Bar Harbor is also home to a large portion of Acadia National Park, which includes Cadillac Mountain, the highest point in Hancock County. It’s Maine’s only national park and, naturally, the easternmost in the U.S. We took a pleasant one-day excursion up Cadillac Mountain and enjoyed breathtaking views of the Atlantic, numerous tidal pools carved out among the granite rocks and impossibly green forests. A network of carriage roads — a gift from John D. Rockefeller — meanders throughout Acadia, making it easy to get around.
Don’t forget to try the Winter Harbor/Bar Harbor Ferry, one of the best boat tours in Maine. While technically a ferry that shuttles folks back and forth between Winter Harbor to the north and Bar Harbor, this ride on a converted lobster boat is also a scenic tour. For 45 minutes, you get a guided tour of Frenchman’s Bay and several of the islands and landmarks that occupy it between the two towns. Along the way, you’ll get an up-close look at the awesome cliffs of Ironbound Island, the Porcupine Islands, Winter Harbor Lighthouse and usually some wildlife — ocean sunfish, seals, porpoises, waterfowl and even the occasional whale.
There is so much we didn’t see during our weeklong visit to Maine that we can’t wait to go back. After all, Maine is a relatively large state and we stayed mostly “down east,” as the locals say.
Prepare to be spellbound if you take our suggestion and make Maine your next summer vacation destination.
Ellen Bennett arriving in Kennebunkport
Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.
I’ve been to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, on several occasions, for business and pleasure, and have been impressed each time.
For pleasure, it was summer baseball and an Eagles/Jimmy Buffet concert that landed me twice in the beautiful Target Field in Minneapolis. For business, it was the rare wintertime business conference that spanned locations in both cities.
You might be wondering why these cities have the nickname they do.
“Twin Cities” refers to the region’s two core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which are about the same size and border each other on either side of the Mississippi River. They share many of the same political, educational and cultural institutions. St. Paul is the state capitol, as well as the political and architectural center, while Minneapolis is the cultural and business center.
The two cities revel in the fact that they share the headwaters of the Mississippi River. If you’ve ever been to New Orleans and seen the wide expanse of the mighty river as it meanders to the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll be amazed at its relatively modest and approachable size as it begins its southward journey near Minneapolis.
Indeed, the river not only serves as a natural boundary between the two cities but also as an unusual calling card. I highly recommend taking a walk along the shore and then across the historic Stone Arch Bridge for a spectacular scenic view of the river. Historic Rice Park in St. Paul snuggles up against the river. You can even book kayaks and canoes for an easy paddle down the river — or the Minneapolis Queen paddle wheeler, for a scenic, narrated cruise.
Minneapolis downtown skyline at sunset
Having traveled to the Twin Cities in the summer and winter months, I wouldn’t recommend visiting in winter or early spring (unless you can’t get enough of cold weather and huge snow totals).
I must admit, however, there is a palpable charm and coziness to the Twin Cities in the cold months. Locals and visitors alike enjoy winter sports like ice fishing, cross-country skiing and ice skating. Their famous winter carnival arrives in St. Paul in January, featuring amazing ice sculptures, hot air balloon rides and a jazz festival.
A curious but vital manmade phenomenon in Minneapolis allows reasonably comfortable winter living. The climate-controlled “Skyway” hovers one floor above street level and connects miles and miles of residences, businesses, hotels, shops and restaurants in the downtown area. You do not need to go outside in the winter in the downtown area unless you really want to. It’s wonderful! I’ve not seen anything like it in any other American city.
From about May through October, the Twin Cities are delightful. They are well known for their remarkably clean air, tidy downtown streets, miles of bike paths and thousands of lakes and green spaces. Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” after all.
On the grounds of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, you’ll find the spoon and cherry fountain
Even without the Skyway, the Twin Cities, with their perfectly flat terrain, are very walkable most of the year. It is easy to crisscross the area on foot to Target Field to catch a Twins baseball game, to U.S. Bank Stadium (previously The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome) for a Vikings football game or to dozens of fine restaurants known for their Scandinavian-tinged culinary prowess. There’s even an F. Scott Fitzgerald walking tour and the wildly popular Victorian ghost tours. If walking is not your thing, the Twin Cities provide lots of bike, Segway, motor coach or paddle-board tour options.
For the shoppers or curious among you, I recommend a road trip to Bloomington to the world-famous Mall of America. Once billed as the largest shopping mall in the world, MOA features more than 600 stores (with tax-free shopping on shoes and apparel!), 75 restaurants, 40 theater screens and even a 7-acre theme park known as the Nickelodeon Universe Experience. It comes complete with rollercoasters, a Ferris wheel, ropes and adventure courses, and bumper cars.
“Overwhelming” is not quite the word for spending an afternoon there, but it comes close. People-watching turns into a contact sport. But it’s one of those things you should do once in your life. MOA is about 12 miles south of the Twin Cities. I drove there, but it is serviced by light-rail that will pick you up at or near your downtown hotel and deposit you steps from MOA and back.
Of course, there are many fine theaters, zoos, aquariums, amusement parks, and museums to spend your time. Among the best are the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, American Swedish Institute, Minnesota History Center, the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, and, just outside of Minneapolis, Valleyfair Amusement Park with its Peanuts theme (creator Charles Schulz was a proud Minnesotan).
Mall of America in nearby Bloomington, MN.
The Twin Cities also feature a few eclectic sculptures that are just right for that perfect selfie. In downtown Minneapolis, catch the Mary Tyler Moore sculpture with her iconic “throwing her tam in the air” pose. On the grounds of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, you’ll find the spoon and cherry fountain: a humungous spoon balancing an equally large red, ripe cherry. It is a must-see. And, if you’re a Peanuts fan like me, you’ll have to search out the bronze sculptures at Rice Park that portray the carefree happiness of Schulz’s beloved characters.
It’s not particularly easy to get to the Twin Cities. I have driven and flown. If you drive, it’s roughly a two-day drive of eight hours each along routes I-70, I-80 and I-90 (pretty easy to remember!). The midpoint is somewhere between Indianapolis and Chicago for your stopover.
Frontier has many affordable flights out of BWI to Minneapolis International Airport for under $150 each way. Southwest starts at about $300 each way.
There is a well-earned toughness about Twin City residents who point out how happy and healthy they are. Indeed, Forbes consistently ranks Minnesota as one of the top healthiest states in the U.S. There must be something to breathing all that cold air!
Beautiful Target Field in Minneapolis
Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.
Despite a pesky smattering of Nationals fans, Frederick is unquestionably Orioles territory. And like many of you, for better or worse, I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with the Orioles. Just like a wayward brother, I can’t stand them for a while, but as time goes by, I do care what becomes of them.
The O’s are playing surprisingly well this season, but even in the lean years, we still had that oasis of a ballpark to visit – Oriole Park at Camden Yards. That modern, yet retro-looking stadium in the heart of Baltimore with the iconic B&O warehouse as its backdrop started the baseball stadium building craze back in 1992. Since then, almost every major league team has either built a new park like OPACY or has made major renovations to their existing park to create a destination for fans.
While I’m not too interested in the success of any other major league team, I do very much enjoy visiting other major league ballparks. Unlike football stadiums (which are never called parks,) no two baseball parks are alike, not even the playing dimensions! Major League parks tend to be little cities unto themselves and a microcosm of humanity from all walks of life. In short, they are fascinating!
Think of a never-ending food court full of delicious food that is never good for you, a multi-level shopping mall, enormous escape room, rollicking music hall, a spacious outdoor lounge under the stars, helpful talk therapy session and expansive entertainment venue all rolled into one. And with more people-watching than even the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills could stand!
My fascination with ballparks goes back to my youth and the occasional family visit to a favorite uncle in Baltimore. Without fail, one of the highlights of these visits would be a trip over to old Memorial Stadium. I can still remember the first time I caught a glimpse of the greenest grass I had ever seen in that mammoth expanse of outfield as I ascended the escalator. Other perplexing and wondrous sights, sounds and (especially) smells awaited this rural, pre-teen kid who never dreamed he’d actually be in a place his heroes played and only occasionally saw on TV.
Comerica Park in Detroit, MI
Soon after college in 1980 I embarked on my professional career and was introduced to the glory and misery of corporate business travel to faraway cities. Thankfully, nearly all had major league baseball teams that were at home during my visits.
That’s when I began my lifelong hobby of collecting major league baseball stadiums. Not physically of course, although I do have many photos and souvenirs in my home, but as fond memories tucked away in the corners of my mind. To me, there is nothing better than getting off by myself in some faraway city to catch a game under the lights after a long day of dealing with demanding clients and irritable colleagues.
In August of this year, I finally finished up. I recently visited Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and thus completed what I call my lifetime grand slam, visiting the home ballparks of all 30 major league teams. To be honest, I have not yet been to a couple of the newer stadiums, but I have been to all 30 major league cities and their home parks at the time, so I’m counting it!
To me, this was a great achievement. But I’ve come to learn it might not be so great after all and certainly not unique. Thousands of people have completed this quest. They are called “ball park chasers.” They even have a website: (ballparkchasers.com).
The world record is a breathtaking 30 parks in 24 days by a fellow named Chuck Booth in 2009. He had to do some East coast day/night doubleheaders to achieve that number. I’ll bet he’s also single.
He has my respect. I completed my lifetime quest just a few parks at a time. It was only after I retired a few years ago that I actually took what you might call a baseball trip—a grueling eight-day, six-ballpark drive around the Midwest to catch the “fly over” parks. My wife went with me. She may never be the same.
In the last couple of years, I’ve also scheduled mini vacations with pals to finish up cities I had somehow missed along the way. This included quick 2-day forays to Detroit, Denver, Arlington, TX, and Los Angeles.
Busch Stadium in St. Louis
Before I give you my Top 10 list, let’s get one thing out of the way: I didn’t really like the two oldest parks and the most storied one. Sacrilegious? Maybe, but that’s how I feel. Despite improvements made along the way, Fenway Park (1912) in Boston and Wrigley Field (1914) in Chicago, feel their ages. The seats are small and sometimes not positioned correctly. Concourses tend to be narrow and the fan bases can be, shall we say, overly exuberant. One of Wrigley Field’s concourses even sits underground, which gave me a feeling of claustrophobia.
Yankee Stadium in New York has a corporate feel to it. It’s hard to explain. It’s like they tried too hard to mimic old Yankee Stadium in every way. Lines are long and the food is very expensive. Unfortunately, the fan base takes obnoxiousness to a whole new level making the game-day experience for visitors and families poor at best.
Gary Bennett at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas
MY TOP TEN BALLPARKS
10. Target Field – Minneapolis, MN – Minnesota Twins The park is downtown with a terrific cityscape. I loved the statues of Twins’ greats on the concourses and the big sign in center field featuring their original logo: one player representing Minneapolis, the other representing St. Paul, shaking hands over the Mississippi River. Wonderful!
9. American Family Field – Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Brewers This park has a cool roof, brats, and Bernie Brewer coming down a slide when a home run is hit. Unfortunately, the park is not in downtown or it would be higher on my list. The very best part: The crowd exuberantly singing “Roll Out the Barrell” complete with accordion accompaniment during the seventh inning stretch!
8. Coors Field – Denver, CO – Colorado Rockies This park is one of the best with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and a great, natural park-like feature inside the stadium that includes trees and a stream. Even in mid-July the air is so fresh and clean that you hate to leave.
Coors Field in Denver
7. T-Mobile Park – Seattle WA – Seattle Mariners The site of this year’s All-Star Game is tucked in next to the city’s football stadium and a train depot and has an operating train within the park. It’s a downtown park with great views of Puget Sound. It has what looks like a giant umbrella atop the park. That gives it an open-air feel even when the roof is closed.
6. Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO – St. Louis Cardinals This park features the very best cityscape in all of baseball. You just can’t beat the view of the gateway arch and the feeling of smallness you get when you gaze upon it during the game. This park does a wonderful job of depicting its abundant history, too. Cardinals’ games are always sold out so the energy in the stadium is amazing, but it can feel crowded.
5. Petco Park – San Diego, CA – San Diego Padres A beautiful park in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp district. The cityscape is just about unmatched. The incorporation of the iron company façade in left field, which the park was built around, was a master stroke that gives the park character. The park also has the major’s second-best steak sandwich, just after Philadelphia.
4. Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Dodgers This is the third oldest park still operating (1962) but it doesn’t feel it. Overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains, it provides stunning views from all over the stadium. There’s sort of a coolness to being at a Dodger’s game that is palpable and unmatched anywhere else. The Dodger Dog really is the best in all the majors.
3. Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Orioles What can you say about my home park? It really is amazing. I made it to this gem of a stadium just a few weeks after the inaugural game and looked on approvingly at the warehouse, Utah Street, flag court, and Boog’s Barbeque. Simply mesmerizing! When the O’s are hot, there’s no better place to catch a game.
2. PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA – Pittsburgh Pirates This park features a beautiful cityscape, but this one is notable for incorporating the Pirates’ gold and black colors on nearby bridges and buildings. It nestles up nicely against the Allegheny River. Since it is a relatively small stadium, all the seats are terrific. You almost feel a part of the action. It’s just a shame the Pirates have fallen on perpetual hard times. When they are good, the place really rocks.
1. Oracle Park – San Francisco, CA – San Francisco Giants For me, there is just no better place to catch a game than stunning Oracle Park. It is nestled up so close to McCovey Cove that home runs splash into the bay just about every game. The food is creative. The weather, perfect. It’s the best walk around the park of them all. Stadium is a pleasant, easy walk from downtown.
MY WORST FIVE STADIUMS
Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL – Tampa Bay Rays Just a terrible place for a game. A non-retractable domed stadium, it is dark and dank and lacks any kind of energy from the sparse fans.
Ring Central Coliseum – Oakland, CA – Oakland A’s Just a horrible, mostly empty stadium set inexplicably in an industrial area. The seats are set much too far away from the field. No wonder the team is contemplating a move to Las Vegas.
Guaranteed Rate Field – Chicago, IL – Chicago White Sox Set in the southside of Chicago, the neighborhood is not the best and there’s not much to do after the game. The stadium has a steep design that makes you feel far away from the action.
Nationals Park – Washington, DC – Washington Nationals A big, impersonal park with no views of the monuments. What were they thinking? Unfortunately, the Nats lost their Senators history when the franchise relocated to Texas.
Angels Stadium – Anaheim, CA – Los Angeles Angels The stadium is not only in the middle of nowhere, but it takes forever in hellish LA traffic to get there. The boulder feature beyond the centerfield fence seems pointless and has nothing to do with LA.
MOST INTERESTING FOOD ITEMS (I’VE TRIED THEM ALL) Poutine – Toronto Blue Jays Dodger Dog – LA Dodgers BBQ Burger – Kansas City Royals Donut Burger – Philadelphia Philles Slider Dog w/Fruit Loops – Cleveland Guardians 4-Way Chili – Cincinnati Reds The Mega Slice – St. Louis Cardinals Prime Rib Sandwich – Houston Astros Fried Dough Sundae – Boston Red Sox Wisconsin Ultimate Cheese Fries – Milwaukee Brewers Pierogi/Kielbasa Cone – Pittsburgh Pirates 18-Inch Hotdog – Arizona Diamondbacks Crab Cakes/Boog’s BBQ – Baltimore Orioles Peanut Butter & Bacon Sandwich – Minnesota Twins Triple Threat Pork Sandwich – San Diego Padres
Ellen Bennett at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, MO.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF MY TRAVELS TO THE PARKS
8/16/67 – Memorial Stadium – Baltimore, MD New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles It took forever to wind our way through Baltimore to get to this mammoth monument to World War II. I made about 25 other trips to this stadium including the final game played there on October 6, 1991.
5/1/78 – Three Rivers Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA San Diego Padres vs. Pittsburgh Pirates The game is memorable for being a fun boy’s trip near the end of the college year and the Iron City beer vendor yelling “Willie Stargell dips his bat in it.”
4/18/92 – Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Baltimore, MD Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles I still remember the pride I felt looking out at this glorious new ballpark. The B&O warehouse made it seem cozy. I’ve now been to this park about 50 times including the ’93 All-Star Game.
4/15/98 – Joe Robbie Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL Philadelphia Phillies vs. Florida Marlins I was attending a conference in Hollywood, FL, so I drove over to this huge football stadium for a day game. It was orange, big and empty.
4/24/01 – Chase Field – Phoenix, AZ Florida Marlins vs. Arizona Diamondbacks I was in Phoenix for a national sales meeting. The stadium is right next to the basketball arena and in a very nice entertainment district. The outfield pool is nice, too.
6/9/04 – Anaheim Stadium (or ”The Big A”) – Anaheim, CA Milwaukee Brewers vs. Anaheim Angels This trip is memorable because my then 14-year old son and I drove down from Disneyland to attend a game. Stadium is in the middle of nowhere and only so-so.
6/18/05 – Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL St. Louis Cardinals vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Rays) I’ve been to this stadium several times since my wife and I like to vacation in Sarasota about 40 miles away. Terrible stadium. The dome appears oddly tilted from the outside and it famously leaks.
10/6/05 – Turner Field – Atlanta, GA Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves Memorable, because it was a playoff game, which shows how easy it is to buy one seat at any park at any time. I was in town to visit a vendor. I don’t like the tomahawk chop.
5/20/07 – Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs I was in town working at a large medical conference when I got a ticket to this cross-town rivalry game in the major’s second-oldest ballpark.
5/4/08 – Guaranteed Rate Field – Chicago, IL Anaheim Angels vs. Chicago White Sox This visit was part of our 25th wedding anniversary getaway. (Not one of my finest moments.) Stadium is on the south side, and yes, it really is the baddest part of town.
7/19/09 – New Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees This game is memorable because it was the centerpiece of an epic baseball weekend with my then 19-year-old son. We also visited Cooperstown, New York, home of the baseball Hall of Fame.
6/23/10 – Citi Field – Queens, NY Detroit Tigers vs. New York Mets I was in Manhattan for a conference so rode the subway over for a game. I was pleasantly surprised. The stadium does a nice job representing its considerable history. The arches are nice, too.
9/9/10 – Rogers Centre (originally Skydome) – Toronto, Ontario Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays I was in town exhibiting at a convention. The stadium is kind of bland inside but is situated in downtown with a great view of CN Tower. The singing of “Oh Canada” is stirring!
4/14/12 – T-Mobile Park – Seattle, WA Oakland A’s vs. Seattle Mariners I attended this game with a work colleague while at a conference in Seattle. A gorgeous stadium with retractable roof and wonderful food.
5/22/13 – Fenway Park – Boston, MA Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox I was in town for a business meeting so of course I had to make the pilgrimage over to the oldest major league ballpark. The Green Monster wall in left field is the most interesting quirk in modern baseball and the “Sweet Caroline” singalong is awesome in person!
6/23/14 – Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies Not sure why it took me so long to get up to Philly. This is a very nice park but in a rough part of town. I love the Liberty Bell replica in centerfield… and, of course, the cheesesteaks.
8/16/14 – Oakland Alameda Coliseum (now Ring Central Coliseum) – Oakland, CA Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Oakland A’s I drove down from a business trip in Medford, Oregon. This game is only memorable because I missed my return flight to Baltimore because of it.
5/6/15 – Oracle Park – San Francisco, CA San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants I was in town for a conference and brought my wife along for a day game. Aha, I found it! The best park in the land. I could definitely live here and still make use of my O’s orange and black regalia.
8/16/16 – Nationals Park – Washington, DC Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals This game is memorable because I walked over from my office in D.C. to meet my 26-year-old son for an O’s game. I distinctly remember the O’s winning 10-8 and him outdrinking me 3-2. Or, was it the other way around?
5/18/17 – Minute Maid Park – Houston, TX Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros My wife and I drove to Houston from San Antonio where I was attending a conference. The stadium is quirky and fun. It features a very short porch in left field and an actual incline in centerfield, now (thankfully) removed.
5/10/18 – Petco Park, San Diego, CA Texas Rangers vs. San Diego Padres I’ve been to this stadium a few times since San Diego is a popular convention destination. Loved it every time! One of the best. Could live here, too.
7/20/19 – PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates One of the few times I visited this city just for a game. I remember it was extremely hot throughout the game, but that didn’t dim my appreciation for this beautiful park.
7/21/21 – Great American Ballpark – Cincinnati, OH New York Mets vs. Cincinnati Reds This was the first game of a summer Midwest swing. Six cities in eight days. Best part of this stadium is its location: snuggled right up against the Ohio River. The famous 3- and 4-way chili is nice, too.
7/22/21 – Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game two of our Midwest swing. It was a scorcher of a day, but this beautiful stadium with the gateway arch standing guard beyond the stadium was well worth the visit.
7/23/21 – Kaufmann Stadium, Kansas City, MO Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Game three of our Midwest swing. The park is undeniably beautiful especially with the iconic water fountains ringing the outfield and spouting almost continuously. But it is way out of town.
7/24/21 – Target Field – Minneapolis, MN Los Angeles Angels vs. Minnesota Twins Game four of our Midwest swing. Love the statues, walkways and summer weather.
7/25/21 – American Family Field – Milwaukee, WI Chicago White Sox vs. Milwaukee Brewers Game five of our Midwest swing. Love the roof, beer selection, Bernie Brewer and brats. Only downside is the park is well outside of town.
7/27/21 – Progressive Field – Cleveland, OH St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cleveland Guardians The final leg of our 2021 Midwest swing. This downtown stadium features an attractive light coloring on the outside and outstanding city views on the inside. It even features Flo of Progressive Insurance fame.
5/13&5/14/22 – Comerica Park – Detroit, MI Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers This was a buddy’s weekend trip to see our beloved Orioles and to help complete this city. The park is OK, but nothing special. The best feature is the roaring Tiger when the home team does something good.
7/16/22 – Coors Field – Denver, CO Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Colorado Rockies This was another buddy’s trip to see our second favorite team and to complete another missed city. Love the mountain views and cool, crisp mile-high air.
4/3/23 – Globe Life Field – Arlington, TX Baltimore Orioles vs. Texas Rangers This was yet another buddy’s outing to see the O’s and mark off another city. (I have a very understanding wife.) Stadium is odd because they built it next door to the old stadium, which is still standing and in use by a college team.
8/19/23 – Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA Miami Marlins vs. Los Angeles Dodgers My final stadium! My wife and I took a whirlwind weekend trip to finish up my baseball stadium quest. Beautiful, mature stadium with great mountain views. They even gave me a certificate!
HOW PARKS ARE NAMED
Team name: 5 Oriole Park, Yankee Stadium, Angels Stadium, Nationals Park, Dodger Stadium Owner’s name: 5 Rogers Center, Kauffman Stadium, Turner Field, Joe Robbie Stadium, Busch Stadium Insurance Companies: 5 Progressive Field, Guaranteed Rate Field, Globe Life Field, Great American Ballpark, American Family Field Bank/Finance: 5 Comerica Park, Citizen’s Bank Park, Citi Field, PNC Park, Chase Field Food: 4 Tropicana Field, Minute Maid Park, Wrigley Field, Coors Field Locale: 3 Fenway Park, Camden Yards, Three Rivers Stadium Telecom: 3 T-Mobile Park, Ring Central Coliseum, Oracle Park Retail: 2 Target Field, Petco Park
“You do want sweet tea, right sugah?” the slightly overweight, middle-aged waitress drawled as I sunk into my comfy booth at Stuckey’s just off Interstate 59 in southern Alabama. “Oh yes, sweet tea would be great”, I said, as she scribbled in het ticket book. “That’s a good thing, sugah,” Doris said, “because you’re in the South now and that’s all we got.” I overlooked the logic of that statement much as you would overlook your mom asking you to wear clean shorts in the car because you never know when you’ll be in an accident. It might not make sense, but she means well.
Ah yes, Doris’s sweetness reminded me there’s nothing
like a good road trip.
Once the bastion of the middle class, Americans of all stripes are now loading up the family car for getaways far and wide. According to U.S. Travel Association, Americans logged 1.8 billion person‐trips of 50 miles a more with an overnight stay for leisure purposes in 2018. That means that, on average, every man, woman, and child in the U.S. took five such leisure trips in 2018.
There used to be a bit of a stigma attached to
traveling long distances by car, especially if you fancied yourself upwardly
mobile with a little bit of money in the bank and are traveling more than a few
hundred miles. After all, why wouldn’t you fly?
Saves a lot of time, right? Well,
sort of. More on that in a minute. Kind
of glamorous, right? Uh, no.
I’m sorry to confirm what you already know in your heart about air travel: there is nothing glamorous about it, and it comes with monumental downsides. First, there’s the expense. Second, the inconvenience. Third, the angst of finding the best deal. Then throw in all the idle time waiting in lines, constant delays, surly agents, glum and germy strangers, crowded conditions, random cancellations, weather problems, terrorist threats, seats designed by Marquis de Sade worshipers, bad food, and nothing being in control, and I’m not sure why anyone flies who doesn’t have to. As for saving time, once you factor in getting to the airport, all the waiting and delays, transfers, and getting a rental car and driving to your final destination, the time savings gap closes up faster than a liquor store on Christmas Eve.
I’m here to witness that if God intended us to fly everywhere, he wouldn’t have created the magnificent U.S. Interstate Highway System, or more precisely, provided the wherewithal for humans to create it. Our interstate system efficiently gets us into every nook and cranny of our great country with very little planning needed. It puts a map of the human body’s circulation system to shame.
If you have the notion and time, you can start off early tomorrow morning from Frederick and be in sunny Tampa, Florida, by night fall. I’ve done that myself many times. Our country is just the right size for such escapades – neither too large nor too small. I envy all those adventurous souls who claim to have driven coast to coast. That’s not such a big deal in, say, Croatia.
My wife Ellen and I wanted to do something special for New Year’s Eve last year, so we made plans to drive 2,200 miles round-trip from Frederick to New Orleans. What better place to solemnly celebrate the beginning of the new year than New Orleans, right?
We could have flown, sure, but didn’t even consider it. Okay, I’m sure Ellen did. After all, I’m not the world’s best driver, as she will attest. But in my defense, I am cheerful and quite enthusiastic. The call of the open road and chance for adventure is just too great for me to pass up. And to my wife’s lasting credit, she is usually willing to overlook the small stuff with me, much as you would a child.
Now, you can’t just head off without a plan. I have several “rules of the road” that I’ve found are necessary in order to make the most of one’s road trip and to bring order to what can be a chaotic endeavor. I am happy to share them here.
My first driving rule is fairly minor but unassailable: the driver controls the music. This may seem unfair (and maybe it is because I drive most of the way) but consider the fact that I, like many drivers, depend on pounding rock music to help propel me down the road. If this were not so, there would be no such things as road trip songs. Further, I believe it has been scientifically proven the nerves in our ears are directly connected to our gas pedal foot.
Why, Sirius XM even has a channel devoted to road trip music. All-time favorites like Steppenwolf’s Born to be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride and Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run are guaranteed to keep you moving along at a clip just under speeding ticket level. It helps that my wife enjoys the same music I do. I think. Anyway, I’m not a total despot. All Ellen has to do is start bobbing away to a song she likes and I will immediately vacate my rule on a temporary basis and stick with that song for the duration. Bruce Hornsby songs, inexplicably, are a particular favorite of hers.
My second driving rule allows the passenger to control the in-car temperature and to decide when and where to stop. Unless a really good song comes on.
Pike’s Peak, Colorado
You may think that driving long distances is excruciatingly boring. Hah! (I mean, yes, you’re right – please stay off the roads.) But, my third driving rule helps overcome the boredom: You must always consider the people who live and work in the towns and cities you pass by and get to know a few. How do they live? What do they care about?
Fortunately, the need for gas, food, and shall we say “rest” provide ample opportunity to converse with the locals. That’s how I’ve made so many temporary friends over the years – mostly waitresses, convenience store clerks, and the occasional police officer – who are happy to share how they live, work, and what’s going on in town that week.
Take Crystal, our waitress at a New York-style deli in Roanoke, Virginia.
Imagine my surprise when I walked up to the cash register to pay our lunch bill with my credit card, as I always do, but was matter-of-factly informed by Crystal, “We don’t take credit cards—work of the devil. Cash or check only, sweetie.” She displayed no hint of sorrow or embarrassment and was more than happy to point me to the bar next door to access an ATM. “Happens every day,” she sighed while directing me outside. I think the irony was lost on her that she was sending me to a bar to avoid the hellfire of credit, but it wasn’t my job to point that out. I could have just left without paying, but flustered, I left her my credit card anyway to ensure my return.
Crystal was such a trusting soul, she seemed surprised I would do such a thing. But I wasn’t surprised. I’ve always found people in the South to be more trusting than their Northern counterparts. Maybe it’s the slower pace of life or maybe it’s because they are so nice. You’d feel really bad if you cross them, so you don’t.
My fourth driving rule is to always allow enough time to see a few local landmarks along the way. I’m a sucker for these. My two favorite landmarks on this particular trip were the Chattanooga Choo Choo in well, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Main Street in the sister cities of Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia.
In the case of the sisters, not only are they two next-door cities with coincidentally the same name, but you can stand on Main Street and straddle two states at once! I took advantage of this opportunity, of course. Since I’m 6’2” with long legs, I was able to stand with one foot in Tennessee and one in Virginia. People must do this all the time, so I didn’t feel bad about briefly stopping traffic.
Still, as nice as Southerners typically are, some grew impatient and blew their horns. This attracted the attention of a stern-looking deputy sheriff. When I saw him coming, I ran to the car. The deputy stopped to give me some good advice. “Son, you can’t block traffic like this. Pick one town or the other and get the hell on the sidewalk.”
Bemused, he told me about another place I could go. Literally, not figuratively. He must have researched this to help people like me. “You know, out West, there’s a place where four states come together – Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. They call it the Four Corners, and you can put your arms and legs in all four at once! And better yet, it’s out in the middle of nowhere and far away from here.”
I got the feeling he had imparted this wisdom before.
My fifth driving rule is to always make a bad joke to a total stranger when you can. Makes time go faster. In Chattanooga I stopped at a 7-11 to ask the nice attendant where I could find the famous Chattanooga Choo Choo. On the way in, we saw signs promising it was close by. The attendant, Sidney, seemed ready and willing to help because he’d obviously been asked this question before. But as luck would have it, I had already spotted a cat lounging in the sun on the front sidewalk, and I was ready.
I strolled up to Sidney, pointed, and musically asked “Pardon me, sir, is that the cat that chewed my shoe shoe?”
I laughed loudly. My wife rolled her eyes and moved slowly away. I was pleased with myself, nonetheless. Even though my singing of the old song was spot on, Sidney gave me that classical cocked head, furrowed eyebrow “what-are-you-talking-about” look. I suppose you have to be of a certain age to get that one, and he wasn’t and didn’t.
There was one sign on the way to New Orleans, though, that particularly caught my eye and rivaled any South of the Border sign. It nearly caused me to swerve onto the shoulder and back up a couple hundred feet to snap a picture. Sadly, I didn’t – Ellen has a better sense of road etiquette than me. Somewhere in rural Tennessee an official looking state-sanctioned sign warns: Rest Stop Ahead, No Oversize Loads
My final driving rule is to pay attention to the signs. You never know when you’ll be rewarded with a nugget of golden wisdom. Aliens landing on one of our interstate highways would surely think “Crazy Eddy” is a very important person and that a “Gentleman’s Lounge” is the seat of power.
I’ll be the first to admit, however, that the signs on the way to New Orleans pale in comparison to the signs on the way to Florida on I-95. Sure, there was “Stay Off Tracks—Trains” and ‘Get Lunch, Gas, and Worms Here” in rural Mississippi. But I-95 in South Carolina has the venerable tourist trap South of the Border. It is a tour de force of politically incorrect creative signage like “Roads’ Scholar,” “No Monkey Business, Joost Yankee Panky” and “Give Pedro the Business.” But the very best one features their intrepid mascot Pedro who assures us that “You’ve Never Sausage a Place; You’re Always a Weiner at Pedro’s” complete with an image of a very large pork product representing their iffy lunch offerings.
There was a sign on the way to New Orleans, though, that particularly caught my eye and rivaled any South of the Border sign. It nearly caused me to swerve onto the shoulder and back up a couple hundred feet to snap a picture. Sadly, I didn’t. Somewhere in rural Tennessee, an official looking state-sanctioned sign warns: Rest Stop Ahead, No Oversize Loads
Now maybe it is just the way my mind works, but that hardly seems fair when every other exit features a Cracker Barrell, Stuckey’s, or Hardees. Even though I did qualify to stop, I indignantly decided to pass this one by.
As you wind your way up stately Sideling Hill and through the iconic man-made cut in the mountain that jaggedly exposes millions of years of rock, coal and sediment, you’re finally able to see the picturesque valley of Allegany County as you begin your descent over the crest
This is the entrance to what the tourism folks now call “Mountain Maryland.” But for me, this place will always be home.
My wife and I spent our formative years in Allegany County. I grew up in the southwestern part of the county near Keyser, West Virginia. I went to high school in Westernport at now defunct Bruce High, and completed my undergraduate work at Frostburg State University. Ellen grew up just north of Cumberland and went to school at Fort Hill High, that notable state football powerhouse. As most of us know, this part of the state has fallen on perpetual, shall we say, less-than-stellar times. We wouldn’t want to live there anymore, but as they say, it’s a great place to visit.
My wife and I occasionally travel back home to eat, visit, sight see, and just plain decompress. In some ways it’s like a trip back in time. The pace of daily life is decidedly slow, traffic is nearly nonexistent, the scenery is absolutely beautiful, and the cost of food and lodging is much less than in the Frederick area. There may be no better way to spend a day outside of Frederick than to take a trip to Allegany County – and perhaps farther to Garrett County, Maryland’s westernmost county.
Getting There
As you head west on I-70 to Hancock where you pick up I-68, Sideling Hill should be your first stop. Get out of your car, stretch your legs and climb the stairs halfway up the mountain in just minutes to take in the breathtaking view.
At roughly 2,300 feet, Sideling Hill allows glorious views of West Virginia to the south and Pennsylvania to the north. On a map, this stretch of Maryland is so narrow it seems you could easily pinch it off and hand it over to West Virginia. It’s no secret that most folks in these parts wouldn’t mind that a bit. The real draw, however, is the dramatic cut in the mountain that exposes over 800 feet of rock and coal, dating back millions of years. If you go in winter, you’ll marvel at the largest icicles you’ve ever seen.
Back in the car, you descend past Green Ridge State Forest, the picturesque town of Flintstone, and Rocky Gap State Park, where camping, swimming, boating, and gambling share equal billing.
I spent much of my youth sunning and swimming here in Lake Habeeb. Today, the Rocky Gap Casino Resort has taken over much of the land once used for outdoor recreation, but plenty is still available. If casinos are your thing, this one should be your go-to. It’s a bit farther from Frederick than Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, West Virginia or Horseshoe in Baltimore, but the state invested heavily to bring this cash cow to Western Maryland to help nudge the chronically underperforming economy along.
Cumberland
Your next stop is historic Cumberland, the county seat and hub of Allegany County’s economic, tourist and government activity. I-68 actually passes over Cumberland, so you have to be careful to find an exit and stick with it or you’ll pass it by completely. You’ll know you’re there by the beautiful church steeples that adorn the skyline.
Cumberland has seen better economic times but is still charming.
Before you depart the interstate for downtown Cumberland, you’ll want to grab some lunch. We wholeheartedly recommend Puccini’s Restaurant, just east of Cumberland on Ali Ghan Road and right along the interstate. It features casual Italian dining set in the historic setting of the former Hinkle House, which served as a Civil War hospital during the Battle of Folck’s Mill. Try the wedge salad and wood-fired pizza. Their delicious pizza is unlike anything we’ve found in the Frederick area. The house-made dough is thin, crispy and perfectly blackened at the edges. The potassium-rich wood ash adds flavor. Lunch for two will set you back only about $20 or $25.
If pizza is not your thing for lunch, try one of these two local landmarks – D’Atris or Coney Island Famous Wieners. D’Atris has the best steak sandwich I’ve ever eaten – and that includes in Philadelphia (it’s all in the dressing the lettuce is soaked in, I’m told.) The Coney Island wieners actually melt in your mouth, and you’ll have a hard time having just one or two.
Queen City is a pleasantly walkable. You can take a leisurely stroll on the C&O Canal towpath, which terminates near the intersection of the Potomac River and Wills Creek near George Washington’s Headquarters. The towpath in the city is not very shady, and you’ll have to watch out for bicyclists whizzing by, unless you decide to bike it yourself. If you do, take advantage of several bike rental shops within easy walking distance of the towpath and Canal Place – the modest eating and shopping area right at the canal terminus.
A replica of an old canal boat adorns the C&O Canal terminus in Cumberland.
If you have more time, you can hop aboard the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for a leisurely four and a half-hour round trip to Frostburg and back, or you can get off in Frostburg and bike back to Cumberland via the Maryland portion of the Great Allegany Passage, the 150-mile bike and walking trail from Cumberland to Pittsburgh. If you do, you’ll enjoy a gentle 10-mile downhill decline on a crushed limestone surface, snaking through the “Narrows” and into Cumberland where you’ll connect with the C&O Canal towpath.
Besides the rich history and outdoor recreational opportunities, the best reason to visit Cumberland might be its architecture. My wife and I like nothing better than to stroll along Baltimore Street, the now-struggling downtown area of Cumberland, trying to recall the names of the local shopping institutions that once made these enormous and ornate storefronts their home. We can usually come up with Rosenbaums, Peskins, Lazarus and a few more.
Today, you can enjoy antiquing, art galleries and a few charming pubs and eateries. We then walk up to Washington Street, the “old money” residential area of Cumberland, taking note of the remarkable late 19th- and early 20th-century architecture. Most of the homes on Washington Street are very large, seemingly far too large for just one family.
Baltimore Street in Cumberland provides a striking example of 19th-century architecture.
Frostburg
Known as the Mountain City, Frostburg is just 10 miles west of Cumberland – be sure to travel there on the National Road (Route 40) through the Narrows – but a world away in many respects, particularly weather-wise. Because of its elevation near the peak of Big Savage Mountain, it’s not unusual for Frostburg to be consistently 10 degrees cooler and wetter than Cumberland year-round. During my college days, it was typical for the ice and snow to pile up so much that sidewalks were not seen for months at a time.
Frostburg is a university town with an energy and vibrancy unlike anywhere else in the county. Because of Frostburg State University, the arts, entertainment, and eateries abound on Main Street in a way that Cumberland cannot duplicate.
If you have time we recommend a classic film matinee at the historic Palace Theater, a drink and a snack at one of the many brewpubs on Main Street or a walk across the FSU campus (preferably when there are no classes) to visit the state-of-the-art library, football field, “Old Main” building, the performing arts center, Lane Center student union or environmental center.
Frostburg State Universiy is a desirably snowy destination for high school students all along the northeast coast.
Frostburg is also notable for the annual Appalachian Festival, which features local artisans and is one of the leading showcases for Appalachian culture in the U.S. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, which turns around in Frostburg on an old-style turntable for the return trip to Cumberland, and the Thrasher Carriage House Museum, located next to the scenic railroad depot featuring late 19th- and early 20th-century carriages of all types, are two additional popular draws.
Garrett County
After a few hours in Frostburg, head due west over Big Savage Mountain and into the charming hamlet of Grantsville in Garrett County, and have dinner at Penn Alps Restaurant & Craft Shop. This cozy, 1700s-style restaurant features Amish and German cooking at its best. If you go Friday through Sunday, have the hot food buffet that is lovingly tended and jam-packed with perfectly seasoned soups, meats and vegetables. Top it off with a sampling from the homemade desert bar with old-time favorites such as bread pudding, oatmeal cake, apple pie and blueberry and cherry cobbler. Take the time to meander around the craft shop situated in the same building as the restaurant, and then take a stroll along the Spruce Forest Artisan Village next door. Unfortunately, the giant blue spruces are gone, felled by a small tornado a few years ago, but the weavers, potters, woodworkers and other artisans remain, diligently working in their cabins for all to watch and ask questions.
Penn Alps restaurant in Grantsville provides delicious German and Amish home-cooking in an historic setting.
Finish your day with a drive past lovely Deep Creek Lake. Maryland’s largest lake is an outdoors paradise featuring boating, fishing, camping and skiing. It is about 20 miles west of Grantsville.
If you have more time in Garrett County, we recommend two modest hikes to work off the amazing dinner you had at Penn Alps.
The first is to find the source of the Potomac River. Spoiler alert: it’s not much of a hike at all and the source is not even in Maryland! It’s in a small state park in West Virginia near the junction of Grant, Tucker and Preston counties. It boggles my mind to compare this little trickle, bubbling up from the ground, to its imposing grandeur at the Chesapeake Bay some 400 miles away. So much of Maryland’s geography and identity is tied to this famous river that you’ll be glad you completed this hike.
The other is a more difficult hike to the highest point in Maryland, the area known as Hoye-Crest on Backbone Mountain. The peak is nestled against the Maryland-West Virginia border near Red House, Maryland. Hoye Crest is more than 3,300 feet high and is about a 1-mile hike on steep, rocky terrain.
The trail to the highest point in Maryland on Backbone Mountain is steep, rocky and 3,360 feet high.
Going Home
Out of breath and tired from your busy but delightful day, you get back in your car and continue driving past Oakland, the attractive county seat of Garrett County, and make the long, downward trek back to Allegany County via Route 135 into Westernport and McCoole. At McCoole, the site of my long-gone elementary school, you pick up Route 220 for the 30-minute drive back to Cumberland. Once there, you can decide whether to stay in a hotel (we recommend the Fairfield Inn near the C&O Canal terminus) or pick up I-68 and then I-70 near Hancock for the 90-minute drive east to Frederick.
