Summer Sports Travelogue
By Carl Danbury (posted July 29, 2008)
Hey, there is still a little time left before football season starts to make an impromptu, sportscentric trip. I have been to a few very interesting places this summer and still have one trip left, August 8-11 to Chicago, when I will accompany the Sweet Seats Ticket Giveaway winners to the Arlington Million and a Cubs vs. Cards game at Wrigley Field.
Following is a short synopsis of my travels this summer and I'd be glad to share my newly acquired knowledge about sports-related travel to San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, San Diego and Saratoga Springs with you anytime.
San Francisco and Beyond
I'm told that cloudless skies and temperatures in the low 70s are a rare occurrence at AT&T Park in San Francisco, but that's exactly what we found for a weekday afternoon tilt in June. The Giants faced the Detroit Tigers that day on a pleasant, breezy day at the ballpark by the bay.
The Giants might not be playing good baseball this summer but there is no excuse for fans not to enjoy their time at AT&T Park. It is a great facility with gorgeous views of the bay and a cozy view of the field. Concessions are plentiful and the pungent smell of fresh garlic for the park's specialty, garlic fries, permeates the air. We purchased hard-to-get club level infield seats, which were just released for sale moments before the game according to the ticket salesperson at the box office (the photo above was taken from our seats), and they provided a spectacular view of the field and the bay. The Giants lost 7-2.
After the game, we checked into the Tuscan Inn two blocks away from Fisherman's Wharf and then decided to take a boat tour in the rough bay waters surrounding Alcatraz. The 45-minute trip took us under the Golden Gate Bridge and provided us a great view of the city upon our return.
The camera lens wasn't the only thing that got wet during our trip, where we witnessed the endeavors of several acrobatic windsurfers and hearty sailboaters navigating the choppy cold waters and high winds.
The following morning we arose early and made the 75-minute drive from the Embarcadero to Napa Valley for a full day of wine tasting and winery tours. That's one of the greatest features about the Bay Area because not only can you enjoy great sporting venues but you also can enjoy a visit to Sonoma, Alexander and Napa Valleys, the Monterrey Peninsula and experience some of the finest restaurants in the U.S. within a 90-minute drive.
Our first winery tour in Napa was at Stag's Leap Winery (not to be confused with Stags Leaps Wine Cellars). It was by far our favorite. Hidden from view, Stag's Leap holds tastings in what was once a fine lodge (see below) for travelers who wanted to escape the city. We originally sought out Stag's Leap because we enjoyed their Petite Syrah. Now, we discovered several other vintages that we enjoy a bit too much as well.
From Stag's Leap, we ventured to Duckhorn Vineyards, Joseph Phelps Winery (another beautiful property) and Rutherford Hill. We had hoped to allot enough time to visit the wine caves at Rutherford Hill but were too late. We did get a chance to sample some wines, and particularly enjoyed their Winemaker's Blend.
Once our day of tastings and tours came to an end, we checked into the marvelously understated Harvest Inn in St. Helena. We highly recommend this property to any visitor. While not as glitzy or view-friendly as the Auberge du Soleil, which sits just beneath Rutherford Hill, the Harvest Inn is about half the price and excellent for 1-3 day visits. They serve a fabulous complimentary breakfast overlooking rows of grapes.
Next Installment: Lake Tahoe