Right Off the Bat

For those of us wishing, waiting and wanting winter to make way for spring, we can speed up the process a bit by heading west for Reds spring training. To quote my favorite movie, Field of Dreams, baseball “reminds us of all that once was good, and it will be again.”

This was our family’s first trip to spring training in Arizona, so though we aren’t five-tool veterans, we did soak up some fun, sun and Reds home runs.

It’s always a good year for Goodyear

Arizona is chock full of spring training facilities, some large, some small, some built right into the side of a mountain. Many are within an hour or so drive of each other, so seeing the Reds (or any team) home and away is always a fun time. The Reds share their spring training facility with the Cleveland Guardians, so you’ll feel right at home as you hear Ohio accents all across the concourse.

Goodyear Ballpark also serves the epitome of Cincinnati delicacies: the Skyline cheese coney. When my daughter spotted the familiar logo and mentioned it to our family, who were born and raised in NKY and now live in a Phoenix suburb, they literally jumped up to get in line.  

The park is also the Goldilocks of ballparks – not too big, not too small. We sat in the party deck in right field, which I’d highly recommend. Players headed back to the clubhouse walk right beneath you, conversation is easy at the four-top tables, and a trip to the nearby bar is quite convenient. There’s also a whiffleball diamond close by for kids to burn off some energy.

Tickets are affordable, with the most expensive clocking in at around $40. But there’s not a bad seat in the house.

Seeing the Sonoran Desert

The landscape in Arizona is unlike any other of our typical spring break destinations, with mountains surrounding the area on all sides, and gorgeous desert vistas just a quick drive away.

Hiking trails range from easy to difficult, and locals remind you to bring more water than you think – even during moderate springtime temperatures.

We took a day trip, driving through the Apache Trail, which takes your through the Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountains to tiny Tortilla Flat, AZ, population 6. If you’re prone to carsickness, grab the Dramamine. You’ll see beautiful views along every curve, but the road is not for the faint of heart. Several spots along the way allow you to pull over to get up close to some of the famed Seguaro (se-WAHR-oh) cacti (they’re the ones we learned how to draw in third grade), many of them hundreds of years old.

The trail takes you to Tortilla Flat, a stagecoach stop established in 1904. The Superstition Saloon there is a perfect stop to refuel with local beer, belly up to the bar on a real saddle - and to check out the more than $750,000 one-dollar bills lining the walls, floor to ceiling, in multiple layers.

Make a week of it

If you’re already heading out west, you might as well add a few more stops to the list. The Grand Canyon is about three hours from Goodyear, Sedona is about a two and a half hour drive, and coastal Mexico is about the same distance, in the opposite direction.

So for baseball fans, nature lovers, hikers, shoppers and sightseers, there’s something for everyone in south central Arizona.

– Kathrine Nero