Spring Training with Arizona's Cactus League Arts & Leisure

Spring Training with Arizona' s Cactus League

Road Scholar program gives baseball fans an insider' s view

Joshua Lott/Reuters/Corbis Fans attend an exhibition baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Related

Since 2000, Elderhostel has been offering an Arizona spring training program called the Road Scholar Spring Training Baseball Program with approximately 400 people participating annually. A typical day begins with breakfast at a participating hotel, followed by a morning speaker who might be a sportswriter, an official scorekeeper, a former player, a major league team executive or a baseball celebrity, such as Joe Garagiola. The group is almost always equally divided between men and women, all sharing a love of the game. Hard-core baseball fans like to challenge each other with serious baseball trivia. More than just baseball The main event, of course, is the Cactus League ballgame, but because this is a Road Scholar program, there is even interesting stuff to learn along the way. The bus ride to the ballpark doubles as a guided tour of the region with informative historic lectures delivered by Road Scholar program coordinators, such as Tim Harrington. "When we are driving by any of the aqueducts," explains Harrington, referring to one of the notable sights between hotel and ballpark, "I like to explain how the canals were originally built by hand back in the 1300s by the native Hohokam tribes. They built the entire canal system that still exists today and then they disappeared for no apparent reason. I also like to talk about Frank Lloyd Wright and his influence on the region." History, architecture and baseball make for a great mix among Road Scholars.

Road Scholar Arizona Spring Training Program Schedule

• Chicago Cubs and Oakland A's, March 6-11 at the Fiesta Resort Conference Center in Tempe • San Diego Padres, March 6-11 at the Four Points Sheraton in Phoenix • Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners, March 13-18, Four Points Sheraton • Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants, March 13-18, Fiesta Resort Conference Center Tempe • Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals, March 20-25, Four Points Sheraton Phoenix • Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, March 20-25, Fiesta Resort Conference Center, Tempe Play ball Spring training baseball is different from regular season major league games; just about all of the games are played in the afternoon. Because they are exhibition games that don't count in the standings, the pace is slower and more relaxed. The ballparks are much smaller, usually seating about 10,000 people — as opposed to the 50,000-person average major league stadiums — which creates an intimacy between the players and the fans as well among the fans themselves. The players are more likely to sign autographs before and after the games. There's no upper deck in spring training ballparks; most fans sit together on the same level. Of course there are also bleacher sections and even grassy berms behind the outfield walls, where fans can stretch out on blankets and just enjoy the afternoon sunshine. After the game, dinner is served back at the hotel and followed by another classroom presentation. At least one night during the program, baseball movies, such as A League of Their Own or The Hank Greenberg Story, are shown. Another night is left open for independent exploration, or a group excursion to an event such as the Scottsdale Art Walk. If you go The spring training program's five-night, six-day trips are focused on particular teams from week-to-week with some programs running concurrently. The Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds programs kick off this year's season, running from Feb. 27 to March 4, 2011. Accommodations for both programs will be at the Four Points Sheraton, Phoenix Metrocenter (602-997-5900). Rates start at $826 per person for double occupancy or $1,071 for singles and cover almost everything, including accommodations, ballgame tickets and most meals, with the exception of ballparks snacks and beverages. For more information call 800-454-5768.

AARP In Your State br

Visit the for information about events, news and resources near you. Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.