Compare Yankees and Tigers and Rays: Spring Training in Tampa Bay by Road Scholar vs Sunsets & Southern Charms by Tours of Distinction

Day 1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
St. Petersburg, FL D Staybridge Suites St. Petersburg Downtown
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet at the front desk when you check in. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Travel and transportation will be via Eckerd College bus. The MLB Spring Schedule is usually published in December or January. At that time we will list the specific three games for this program. The schedule of lectures and activities may be adjusted accordingly. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In our private dining room at the hotel, we will have a plated meal including salad, a hot entrée, side dishes, bread, dessert, coffee/decaf, iced tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Day 2
Tropicana Field, Free Time, Spring Training Game
St. Petersburg, FL B,L Staybridge Suites St. Petersburg Downtown
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking and climbing to ballpark seats.

Breakfast: In the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers hot items such as eggs (boiled or scrambled) and meat (bacon or sausage), as well as cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, breakfast bread or pastry, milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We'll take a short bus ride to Tropicana Field where a popular former sports anchor will lead us on a behind the scenes exploration of this domed stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Rays since 1998. As a participant in the planning, he is especially qualified to point out its unusual features. We’ll then visit the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame at Tropicana Field. The museum is dedicated to the greatest hitters who ever lived, from Ted Williams himself to Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Sadaharu Oh. Ted said he hoped the museum would be an architectural tribute to “what I think is the single most difficult thing in all of sports: hitting a baseball.” The priceless collection includes personal memorabilia of the players, their on-field accomplishments, and their lives beyond baseball.

Lunch: Plated meal at the hotel.

Afternoon: Play ball! We’ll attend the first of three games in this Road Scholar Spring Training program. Our program was planned far in advance when details of games were not confirmed. The MLB Spring Schedule is usually published in December or January. When available, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. At that time, we will list the specific three games for this program. The schedule of lectures and activities may be adjusted accordingly.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own at the ball park.

Evening: Return to the hotel after the game.

Day 3
Baseball Lecture, Spring Training Game, Baseball Lecture
St. Petersburg, FL B,D Staybridge Suites St. Petersburg Downtown
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Driving approximately 1/2 hour to ballpark. Walking and climbing to ballpark seats.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll gather an expert-led session on a baseball related theme. We'll then board the bus and head to another ball game.

Lunch: Lunch is at the ballpark.

Afternoon: Play Ball! We'll attend the second of the Spring Training Games.

Dinner: Plated meal at the hotel.

Evening: We’ll gather for an expert-led session on a baseball related theme.

Day 4
Baseball Lecture, Spring Training Game, Baseball Lecture
St. Petersburg, FL B,D Staybridge Suites St. Petersburg Downtown
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking throughout ballpark, standing at museum.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll gather for an expert-led session on a baseball related theme, then ride to the ballpark.

Lunch: At the ball park

Afternoon: Play ball! We’ll attend the third of our three games. Our program schedule may be adjusted after the MLB publishes its Spring Schedule.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: We’ll gather for an expert-led session on a baseball related theme.

Day 5
Lectures, History Museum, Free Time
St. Petersburg, FL B,L,D Staybridge Suites St. Petersburg Downtown
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking and climbing to ballpark seats.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: In our meeting room at the hotel, we'll be joined by Bill Mathews, Eckerd College Assistant. Athletic Director, Assistant. Professor of Physical Education, and former Coach. He will walk us through team strategy, roster lineups, and how to use a scorecard. After a short break, Coach Mathews will delve into the ethics of baseball. Coach Mathews is the Tampa Bay Rays official MLB game scorecard keeper and had the honor of scoring during the 2008 playoffs and World Series at Tropicana Field. Coach will explain what constitutes an "error" and how he makes on-the-spot decisions during a game.

Lunch: Plated meal at the hotel.

Afternoon: For a change of pace, we’ll board our bus and head out for a field trip to the St. Petersburg Museum of History that collects, preserves, and communicates the history and heritage of Florida with emphasis on St. Petersburg and the Pinellas Peninsula. An expert will introduce the “Little Cooperstown” exhibit that features Dennis Schrader's collection of nearly 5,000 signed baseballs, certified by Guinness World Records as the largest collection of its kind. The exhibit also features stories and artifacts of some of baseball’s legendary players and leagues as well as Tampa Bay’s history as a Spring Training site. We will also have time to explore independently and see other museum exhibits.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with salad, choice of entrée, dessert, coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: Returning to the hotel, prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Day 6
Program Concludes
St. Petersburg, FL B
Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!