Surviving Road Trips

Cave exploring in Springfield

Checking out the Texas views

If you’ve kept up with my vlogs, you know I’ve been to five out of seven Texas League stadiums (not including Tulsa) which means I have been to five different cities. (Springfield, NW Arkansas and Frisco I have been to twice!)
 
If you’ve read my “Day in the Life: Minor Leaguer During Season” blog, you know Matt is at the field. A LOT. Because of that many people have asked me what I do when I’m on road trips…in a new city…by myself.
 
I should preface all of this by saying if you aren’t a pretty independent girl you probably shouldn’t marry a baseball player. Lucky for me, I was raised to be an independent but outgoing person. Meaning I love being around people, but I also enjoy being by myself.
 
Typical road trip days involve Matt and I getting up pretty late since we went to bed late, and he always needs full rest. We’ll usually go get brunch somewhere then hang out until he goes to the field. Our hanging out can be anywhere from going back to the hotel and watching TV to driving around and checking out the city we’re in. Really just depends on what he is up for. (Cause ya know he is the one playing baseball every.single.day)
 
On road trips, there are two guys to a hotel room. We’re lucky enough to have great friends who do not mind Grainger and I staying in the team hotel room with them. (Thanks, Mike and Timmy!) On several of the road trips, Ashley has made the trip so it’s basically like we’re in the apartment! If we got our own room, we would have to pay for it ourselves. If that were the case, I would not be going on as many road trips because we can’t afford that.

Trails and lake area in Fayetteville, Arkansas

​After dropping Matt off at the field, Grainger and I explore. We love being outdoors. I always look up dog parks and places with running trails. We’ve found caves, hiking trails, lakes and beaches. The majority of our time before the game will involve the dog park and running trails and any other outdoor exploring. I use the app ‘Yelp’ first then just Google outdoor places/dog parks in the city we’re in and have had always had success. If I didn’t have Grainger, I’m not sure what I would do! (Read here to see how we make traveling with her work.)
 
If being outdoors is not an option, I will work on blogs and catch up on reading from the hotel room. And I would be lying if I said I haven’t kicked it by the pool once or twice. Aside from those things, I’ve found myself just driving around and checking out the cities whether it be unique landmarks, shopping, food, coffee shops, just anything! (Again thanks to the World Wide Web!)
 
I’ve been fortunate to have friends and family on several of the road trips, so we’ve been able to explore and hang out together.
 
As far as food goes, I always try to bring snacks and sandwich meat to eat before the game. Matt can bring me leftover team dinner after the game usually, so I’ll try to snack before then to hold me over. I bring stuff with me to cut down on food expense. However, I do give myself once or twice to try a new place in a new city. Which nowhere I have tried has been a disappointed yet!
 
I go to the game, eat and go back to hotel with Matt. Then we do it all over again the next day. Thankfully, when we are leaving one place to go to the next or come back to Tulsa, Matt gets to ride with Grainger and I.
 
When I write what a road trip is like for me, it seems pretty simple. And I guess it is! I’m just glad I have Grainger and a sense of adventure and ability to be independent.
 
If other WAGS are reading, I would love to hear what you do during road trips!