Since 2014, I have posted travel resolutions for each new year. They typically related to traveling to see new Minor League Baseball stadiums. As I rung in the new year, I sat down and posted my resolutions. So here are my resolutions for the upcoming year.
Resolution #1:
In 2018, I resolve to see all three @TweetHomeAla @MiLB teams (@BhamBarons, @Mobile_BayBears, & @BiscuitBaseball) with @DJKati. #NewYearsResolutions #PlayBall #sportstravel
— Steven Ericson (@MyGeogLessons) January 2, 2018
Over the past six years, I have managed to see all the MiLB teams in my current home state of Alabama. However, I have not seen them all with my now wife Katie. Since she moved to the Yellowhammer State just over a year ago, she has stated how much she wants to see all the teams in the state. In fact, it was a resolution I made last year, hoping to see all three teams in 2017. We’ve seen the Birmingham Barons on multiple occasions, as Regions Field is just about an hour away from our home. However, she wants to attend the Barons’ annual game at Rickwood Field.
So our goal for this year is to visit all three teams over Memorial Day weekend. Tentatively we’ll start our trip in Mobile and work our way north through Montgomery, and conclude our trip with the Rickwood Classic in Birmingham.
Resolution #2:
In 2018, I resolve to see the @LexingtonLegend and @LouisvilleBats with @DJKati. #NewYearsResolutions #PlayBall #sportstravel
— Steven Ericson (@MyGeogLessons) January 2, 2018
For the past few years, I’ve been made resolutions to see all three MiLB teams in Kentucky. Specifically, I made the resolution in 2016 and 2014, and resolved to see the Lexington Legends in 2015. I’ve fallen short each time, and so far have only seen the Bowling Green Hot Rods. I first saw them in 2014 by myself (read about it here) and next saw them in 2016 with Katie (read about it here), and enjoyed the game from the club level.
The plan this year is to see the Legends and Bats on the way back to Cincinnati, Ohio, after the AP Human Geography Reading, which is the first week of June. The game schedules allow us to visit both ballparks after spending a few days in Ohio, so I’m optimistic that we will get to visit these two stadiums.
Resolution #3:
In 2018, I resolve to see the @PNats42 when I attend @beerbloggers #BBC18 in @VisitLoudoun. #NewYearsResolutions #PlayBall #LoveLoudoun
— Steven Ericson (@MyGeogLessons) January 2, 2018
Last year, I learned about a conference/convention for people who blog about beer. It was in the fall in 2017, so I was unable to attend because of my other commitments. However, I closely followed the announcement of the dates and venue for 2018, and decided that I would attend it this year. So while I will be going to Loudoun County, Va., primarily to network and learn more about beer blogging, I’m going to arrive a few days in advance of the Beer Bloggers & Writers Conference to visit a few MiLB teams in the area. There are a LOT of teams within a two-hour drive from the conference hotel. So I am not 100% sure what teams I will see just yet, but I felt like I should visit the Potomac Nationals because of the continuous rumors about the team moving into a yet-to-be-built stadium or potentially relocating.
Resolution #4:
In 2018, I resolve to visit at least one new @MLB ballpark with @DJKati to keep stamping in our “big book.” #NewYearsResolutions #PlayBall #sportstravel #MLBBallparkPassport
— Steven Ericson (@MyGeogLessons) January 2, 2018
Last summer, I started a new “collection” with my wife Katie. In an effort to keep us traveling and visiting new cities, I purchased the MLB BallPark Pass-Port. There are a variety of books you can purchase, but I opted for the “big book” that contains a set of pages for each of the 30 Major League Baseball stadiums. A friend has been using the passport for several years to track his family’s quest of visiting all 30 parks. It functions like a standard passport that is stamped each time you enter a new country. The idea is to “stamp in” at each stadium and journal about your visit to preserve your memories.
My resolution about visiting a new MLB park this year is that Katie and I have planned our summer around a variety of events. So far we have not been able to find a time to visit a new ballpark. Unfortunately, we have not been able to figure out a time to visit a new stadium. I am hoping that making this resolution will set us on a path of making the time to visit a new park together in 2018. As much as I’d like to plan a long trip around visiting a new ballpark, I will be content to visit over a weekend for the sole purpose of getting another stamp in our “big book.”
Recapping my resolutions
Do you make travel resolutions for the new year? Are they about visiting countries, states, sports venues, or something else? I’d love to hear what others resolve to do related to travel each year. Share in the comments, and let’s keep each other on point to fulfill our travel resolutions for 2018.