ROADTRIP!
Kriss' Great Northeast Quadrant Tour

June 30-July 12, 2003

I had been gazing longingly at maps and complaining of wanting to get out of town for months, and around the beginning of June, Jon offered to lend me his car (there's no way I can roadtrip in the Citation) so I could do a roadtrip. I immediately brainstormed what I wanted to see - mainly MLB ballparks, and some Broadway shows. The plan took shape and I took off.

You can read this travelogue in a few different ways:

• Chronological order - start with "Day 1" and follow the "CONTINUE" link at the end of each page. START NOW or look over the table of contents below and start from there.
• Ballpark reviews only - skip all that blathering and go straight to the next ballpark I visited. At the end of each ballpark review you will be given this option. Warning: you WILL miss the tangentially baseball-related stuff this way, such as art exhibits and the AAGPBL fields, so you may want to skim the index here too.
  SKIP TO THE BALLPARKS.
• Miscellaneous items of interest to you, selected from this index page. When you are done with each item, use your browser's "BACK" button to return to this index and select your next item.

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Contents

• DAY 1 - In which I drive Boston to NYC, get lost repeatedly in the Bronx, see critters, and enjoy "Rent."
  • The drive
  • The Bronx Zoo
  • "Rent" on Broadway
• DAY 2 - In which I visit the Met, and the Mets
  • Central Park
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Shea Stadium - WINNER: Best sign
• DAY 3 - In which I find a good baseball play, give an impromptu lecture to museum staff, and see a fantastic Cirque du Soleil, while having a transit nightmare.
  • American Folk Art Museum's "The Perfect Game: America Looks at Baseball"
  • Take Me Out
  • Cirque du Soleil's Varekai
• DAY 4 - In which I drive NYC to Philly, see the Liberty Bell, sprawl on the outfield at the Vet, and have my first genuine Philly Cheesesteak.
  • The excruciating drive to Philly
  • Independence Park and the Liberty Bell
  • Veteran's Stadium and fireworks show - WINNER: Cutest souvenir
  • My First Philly Cheesesteak
• DAY 5 - In which I drive Philly to Pittburgh, get lost and find the ballpark, and proceed to be ill.
  • The drive to Pittsburgh
  • PNC Park - WINNER: *BEST OVERALL PARK (*on this roadtrip)
  • I nurse my cold, and watch fireworks on TV
• DAY 6 - In which I drive to Cincinnati, fall in love with a public art project, and enjoy the Great American Ballpark.
  • The drive
  • Bats Incredible! Art for the Athletic Supporter - WINNER: Best surprise!
  • Great American Ballpark
• DAY 7 - In which I drive to my parents' house in Indiana, locating old AAGPBL ballfields in Fort Wayne on the way.
  • Memorial Park and Northside High fields
• DAY 8 - In which I drive to Milwaukee, find the first AAGPBL ballpark in Racine, note that Great Lakes are big, and uh... BEER!! with a side of baseball.
  • The drive through Chicago
  • Home of the Racine Belles
  • Lake Michigan scenic drive
  • Miller Park - WINNER: Best use of Lego
• DAY 9 - In which I like Lake Michigan, hate the state of Michigan, and note that Detroit's Comerica Park is one huge act of desperation.
  • Back through Chicago
  • The Indiana Dunes
  • Michigan drivers
  • Pit of Skank! and Comerica Park - astonishingly, also a WINNER: Cutest Food
• DAY 10 - In which I get the heck out of Michigan, commune with The Thinker, and am underwhelmed by the Jake.
  • Breakfast and the drive
  • Cleveland Museum of Art
  • Jacobs Field
• DAY 11 - In which I have no Customs adventures, ascend the CN Tower, and join the throngs of Red Sox fans taking over Skydome.
  • The drive and Customs
  • The Fabulous CN Tower
  • Skydome
• DAY 12 - In which I explore Niagara Falls, getting extremely wet in the process, give my passport and feet a workout, and determine that a day was too long. Foreshadowing of things to come.
  • Walking in the rain, and Table Rock Restaurant
  • The Maid of the Mist
  • The American side of the falls
  • The Falls at night
• DAY 13 - In which I have entirely too much adventure, fail to see wineries, and go the hell home early.
  • I talk myself into continuing
  • Vinifera Winery, and adventures in Fix-A-Flat
  • Surprising usefulness from AAA
  • Nature tells me that homeward bound is good.

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  This page updated 8/11/03.
  Back to Main index page.