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Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Friday, April 05, 2019
Spring Training!
Years ago, Dondi and I thought it'd be a great idea for both boys to get a fun trip, just with Dad around their 10th birthday. It could be anywhere (within budgetary reasons!) in the United States. You may recall that Jordan chose to go to Washington, D.C.
Matt, on the other hand, wanted to see Spring Training, specifically our own Texas Rangers Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona. So, on Friday before Spring Break, Matt and I hopped on a Southwest Airlines flight and headed to Phoenix. Here's our trip.
Friday, March 8
We boarded Southwest Airlines Flight 2194 and made our way to Arizona. Upon arrival, we picked up our rental car and made our way to Scottsdale, to the Spring Training home of the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies were playing host to our Rangers and we arrived about the third inning, just in time to see the Rangers in the lead. They would not maintain that lead.
Sunday, March 10
Sunday we woke up and traveled up to Glendale, Arizona, to do a little hiking. (Emphasis on "little.") We were heading back to Scottsdale to see the San Francisco Giants host the Rangers. We weren't expecting much (considering the Rangers of the American League have, shall we say, a history with the Giants of the National League).
We arrived at the stadium in Scottsdale and learned that parking is expensive there and tickets are even more so. ($51 a seat -- I don't pay that much for most games at Rangers Ballpark! -- but hey, vacation, right?)
Hunter Pence, an Arlington High School (Kick 'em Colts!), and UT Arlington alumnus (Go Mavs!) was traded from the Giants to the Rangers during the offseason. Pence was our DH (I was surprised even at the National League parks they use a DH in Spring Training). First at-bat, lots of applause and he singled to get on base. Second at-bat, a little less applause and he homered. Third at-bat, only the Rangers fans applauded. IIRC, he hit a double.
Fun day in a neat stadium. Reminded me of the old Arlington Stadium, in that there was no escape from the sun. Mercy, it was hot!
Matt, on the other hand, wanted to see Spring Training, specifically our own Texas Rangers Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona. So, on Friday before Spring Break, Matt and I hopped on a Southwest Airlines flight and headed to Phoenix. Here's our trip.
Friday, March 8
We boarded Southwest Airlines Flight 2194 and made our way to Arizona. Upon arrival, we picked up our rental car and made our way to Scottsdale, to the Spring Training home of the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies were playing host to our Rangers and we arrived about the third inning, just in time to see the Rangers in the lead. They would not maintain that lead.
Just before takeoff, me and mini-me.
Matt loves the window seat. That means I sit in the middle seat. I hope he remembers this when he picks out my nursing home later in life.
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, the Spring Training home of the Diamondbacks and the Rockies, on an incredibly beautiful, if slightly cool, March afternoon.
Matt and I both enjoyed some Coldstone Creamery at Salt River Fields. A great day for baseball.
We stayed for the final out. The Rangers lost 10-11.
We made our way to Surprise, about an hour's drive in rush hour traffic, and checked into our hotel. While driving there, we found a Whataburger. Matt's trip was made. Dinner at a Texas burger joint in Arizona.
We made a Walmart run, because, duh, the Hayhursts always end up at Walmart somewhere along the way, and then turned in for an early Saturday wake-up call.
Saturday, March 9
Saturday morning we woke up, had breakfast and then made our way to the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals Spring Training facility at Surprise Stadium, about a five-minute drive from our hotel. (Note to fellow Rangers fans - there are three hotels within walking distance of the Surprise Stadium, but I like my Hilton HHonors points and the only Hilton property within walking distance wasn't open yet. Maybe next time. ;-))
We watched a bit of practice; Matt captured several players' autographs, and then we watched the Rangers take on the Chicago White Sox. During the game, Matt got a foul ball off the bat of Rougned Odor, so that pretty much made his whole trip!
Matt is excited to be at the Rangers facility.
Matt took a picture of me, too.
Matt waits "patiently" by the first base gate at Surprise Stadium.
The Rangers logo painted freshly on the practice field.
Matt waits patiently for Shin-Soo Choo to sign baseballs. Choo was awesome and signed something for everybody there.
Just above our seats (which were on the second row).
The view from our seats.
Odor's foul ball. You can make out the Cactus League logo on the ball.
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to, um, Arlington or Kansas City?
The Rangers were not so hot. They lost to the White Sox 2-12.
That night, we drove east a little ways to Peoria, Arizona, and the home of the Cincinnati Reds, who were playing the San Diego Padres. We only stayed for a few innings at that game. The Padres won 6-2.
Sunday, March 10
Sunday we woke up and traveled up to Glendale, Arizona, to do a little hiking. (Emphasis on "little.") We were heading back to Scottsdale to see the San Francisco Giants host the Rangers. We weren't expecting much (considering the Rangers of the American League have, shall we say, a history with the Giants of the National League).
We arrived at the stadium in Scottsdale and learned that parking is expensive there and tickets are even more so. ($51 a seat -- I don't pay that much for most games at Rangers Ballpark! -- but hey, vacation, right?)
Hunter Pence, an Arlington High School (Kick 'em Colts!), and UT Arlington alumnus (Go Mavs!) was traded from the Giants to the Rangers during the offseason. Pence was our DH (I was surprised even at the National League parks they use a DH in Spring Training). First at-bat, lots of applause and he singled to get on base. Second at-bat, a little less applause and he homered. Third at-bat, only the Rangers fans applauded. IIRC, he hit a double.
Fun day in a neat stadium. Reminded me of the old Arlington Stadium, in that there was no escape from the sun. Mercy, it was hot!
Matt while on our short hike in Glendale.
Selfie while on our short hike in Glendale.
Matt, beyond right field at the Giants' Spring Training stadium.
At our $51-a-ticket-seats in right field.
The view wasn't bad.
The Rangers beat the Giants 7-6. It was an ugly game. But a win is a win!
Monday, March 11
We could have made most of another Rangers game, but Matt was ready for something different, so we went to the Odysea Aquarium in Scottsdale on our last day before we headed to the airport. Wow. What a facility. If you find yourself in Phoenix, plan three or four hours at Odysea. It's worth your time and money.
After the aquarium, we hit lunch, and then headed to the airport for the flight home. As my boss reminded me when I returned to work on Wednesday, "you made a memory." We made several good ones on this trip. Matt said we need to go every year.
We may need to save a little bit more for that!
Matt has always been amazed by rays of various kinds.
Matt loves any place with water. Even in the middle of a desert.
The toucan exhibit.
The young man and the sea.
Sunday, May 08, 2016
Washington, D.C.
Jordan and I spent a father-son long weekend in D.C. in mid-April.
A couple of years ago, I told Jordan and Matthew that when they turned 10, I would try to take them, by themselves, anywhere they wanted to go for a trip. As Jordan approached age 10, I asked where he wanted to go. His first choice was New York City. As I began pricing for a trip to New York, I quickly realized that that wasn't quite the budget I had intended.
So, after giving it some more thought, we settled on Washington, D.C. Originally, we were supposed to go at Spring Break. Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, despite getting the influenza vaccine, Jordan came down with the flu. Fortunately, since we booked our airfare on Southwest Airlines, and hadn't prepaid anything else, we were able to change our plans with no penalties (yay, no change fees!).
So, Thursday, April 14, my parents brought Jordan over to my office near downtown Dallas, and then Jordan and I made the short jaunt to Love Field. Dinner was the fine dining of the airport Chick-fil-A, and then we made our way to Washington, D.C., and Reagan National Airport. About 11 p.m., Jordan got to ride in his first taxicab to our hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. He had been looking forward to it, but then wasn't all that impressed. (I tried to assure him it wouldn't be all that impressive!)
Friday, April 15
Friday morning, we woke up and headed into D.C. Our hotel (the Hilton Old Town Alexandria) was just steps from the King Street Metro station. 20 minutes later, we were walking up Capitol Hill, to our first appointment at the office of Congressman Joe Barton, through whose office we had arranged a tour of the Capitol. It was awesome.
After finishing the tour of the Capitol building and grounds, we made the short walk to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. This was at least my fourth trip there. It still amazes me. Whether it was the Wright Brothers Airplane, the Bell X-1, the Apollo 11 command module or the various rockets and other aircraft on display, it does not disappoint!
Saturday morning, we made our way to purchase trolley tickets from Old Town Trolley Tours. Dondi and I have done their tours in the past, and it really is the best way to see D.C. The tours allow you to get off and explore, and then pick up a trolley to head on to the next spot on the route. Due to some parades and protests that day, some of the "orange line" was closed, so we took the trolley's "green line" up through northwest Washington and got to see Embassy Row, the National Cathedral and Georgetown. We didn't get off to tour any of those in person, due to time constraints, but then we made our way to the orange line to Union Station, for lunch, and then on to several of the monuments. We saw the Jefferson Memorial, the MLK Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, a piece of the Berlin Wall on display, the World War II Memorial, and the Washington Monument.
From the Washington Monument, we made our way to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, where we saw the Hope Diamond, several exhibits and caught an Imax film on our National Park System.
After dinner, we went on a nighttime Trolley tour of D.C.'s monuments. We saw the U.S. Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial*, Martin Luther King Memorial*, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Monument*, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial* and the White House by night. (*We got out and walked these.) The best part -- driving by the U.S. Department of the Energy headquarters on a Saturday night and seeing most every light in the building on. #DoYourPart.
Sunday, April 17
A couple of years ago, I told Jordan and Matthew that when they turned 10, I would try to take them, by themselves, anywhere they wanted to go for a trip. As Jordan approached age 10, I asked where he wanted to go. His first choice was New York City. As I began pricing for a trip to New York, I quickly realized that that wasn't quite the budget I had intended.
So, after giving it some more thought, we settled on Washington, D.C. Originally, we were supposed to go at Spring Break. Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, despite getting the influenza vaccine, Jordan came down with the flu. Fortunately, since we booked our airfare on Southwest Airlines, and hadn't prepaid anything else, we were able to change our plans with no penalties (yay, no change fees!).
So, Thursday, April 14, my parents brought Jordan over to my office near downtown Dallas, and then Jordan and I made the short jaunt to Love Field. Dinner was the fine dining of the airport Chick-fil-A, and then we made our way to Washington, D.C., and Reagan National Airport. About 11 p.m., Jordan got to ride in his first taxicab to our hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. He had been looking forward to it, but then wasn't all that impressed. (I tried to assure him it wouldn't be all that impressive!)
Friday, April 15
Friday morning, we woke up and headed into D.C. Our hotel (the Hilton Old Town Alexandria) was just steps from the King Street Metro station. 20 minutes later, we were walking up Capitol Hill, to our first appointment at the office of Congressman Joe Barton, through whose office we had arranged a tour of the Capitol. It was awesome.
Perhaps Jordan's favorite part of the whole trip, riding D.C.'s Metro rail service.
On the south side of the Capitol.
On the east side of the Capitol. Interestingly, all presidential inaugurations used to take place on the east side of the Capitol until 1981 when President-elect Reagan insisted it be moved to the west side of the Capitol so that he could look west to the nation. Every presidential inauguration since has been held on the west side of the Capitol.
You'll notice the scaffolding on the Capitol dome: During a recent inspection, hundreds of minor cracks were discovered; it is undergoing a renovation so that it is in pristine condition when the new president is inaugurated in January 2017.
After finishing the tour of the Capitol building and grounds, we made the short walk to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. This was at least my fourth trip there. It still amazes me. Whether it was the Wright Brothers Airplane, the Bell X-1, the Apollo 11 command module or the various rockets and other aircraft on display, it does not disappoint!
Jordan stands in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum with the Bell X-1 (the orange plane) hanging behind him. The Bell X-1 was the first plane to break the sound barrier and travel faster than Mach 1.
Jordan handles the controls of a Cessna 150 in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
Jordan stands outside the National Air & Space Museum on the mall, with the U.S. Capitol behind him.
Saturday, April 16
Saturday morning, we made our way to purchase trolley tickets from Old Town Trolley Tours. Dondi and I have done their tours in the past, and it really is the best way to see D.C. The tours allow you to get off and explore, and then pick up a trolley to head on to the next spot on the route. Due to some parades and protests that day, some of the "orange line" was closed, so we took the trolley's "green line" up through northwest Washington and got to see Embassy Row, the National Cathedral and Georgetown. We didn't get off to tour any of those in person, due to time constraints, but then we made our way to the orange line to Union Station, for lunch, and then on to several of the monuments. We saw the Jefferson Memorial, the MLK Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, a piece of the Berlin Wall on display, the World War II Memorial, and the Washington Monument.
From the Washington Monument, we made our way to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, where we saw the Hope Diamond, several exhibits and caught an Imax film on our National Park System.
After dinner, we went on a nighttime Trolley tour of D.C.'s monuments. We saw the U.S. Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial*, Martin Luther King Memorial*, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Monument*, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial* and the White House by night. (*We got out and walked these.) The best part -- driving by the U.S. Department of the Energy headquarters on a Saturday night and seeing most every light in the building on. #DoYourPart.
The Washington Hilton. Here is where President Reagan was shot in 1981.
The National Cathedral from our trolley tour.
Members of the U.S. Army Drill Team pose with Jordan and a friend he made from New Jersey in front of the Jefferson Memorial
Jordan stands in front of the statue of Thomas Jefferson.
From the Jefferson Memorial, you can look across the Tidal Basin to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial beyond it. Dr. King is etched in stone, and is said to be looking across to Jefferson to hold America accountable for Jefferson's scripting that "all men are created equal."
Jordan and I stand in front of Abraham Lincoln. Abe is pretty tall...
Jordan hangs out in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Jordan stands on the second floor balcony of the Natural History Museum.
The Natural History Museum.
The U.S. Capitol dome at night.
The U.S. Holocaust Museum. It's hard to see in this picture, but the sculpture out front is a broken swastika. Very moving.
We missed the white cherry blossoms blooming by a couple of weeks; however, these are a different variety of cherry blossoms in the tidal basin. (Shot from a trolley running about 40 mph!)
The Jefferson Memorial by night.
Sunday, April 17
On Sunday, we took the Metro to the National Archives, where we got to see the Magna Carta, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence (we were assured Nicholas Cage did not steal it). It was incredible. In the exhibit area, we saw that the U.S. government has files on UFOs. Jordan wanted to know lots more about that!
Jordan stands in front of the National Archives. (His shirt reads, "Save the Earth. It is the only planet with pizza.")
From the National Archives, we went to the National History museum, where we saw the actual Star-Spangled Banner and took in several other exhibits. (We also encountered the only rude security guard of our entire trip there; she was on a power trip, and I refrained from telling her that, though I think the whole line felt that way!)
After leaving the National History museum, Jordan took his first Uber ride to the National Zoo. Jordan was reticent about going to the zoo (after all, we're zoo members at home), but then took it all in as he learned we could see cheetahs, zebras and, yes, pandas.
Cheetah.
Cheetah.
Bison.
Panda exhibit.
Panda.
Panda looks right at us.
Panda climbing in the enclosure.
Panda enjoying some lunch.
Panda eating lunch.
From the zoo, we hopped on the metro and went to the International Spy Museum. There, you learn much about the entire spying operation and how countries take part in spying on their friends and enemies. It was entertaining; Jordan loved every second of it.
From there, we walked a few blocks to the White House and walked around the park to the north of the White House. There were lots of people. I mean lots.
Monday, April 18
On Monday, we went to Ford's Theater, where President Lincoln was shot, and Peterson House, where he died.
The Derringer gun Booth used to assassinate Lincoln with.
The front of the Ford's Theatre visitors center (next door to the actual theater).
The shot.
Lincoln in popular culture.
The ceiling of Ford's Theater.
From there, we went to the White House Visitor's Center, then took the trolley tour out to Arlington National Cemetery where we got to witness the Changing of the Guard and a wreath-laying ceremony. It was very moving to watch.
Changing of the Guard.
Wreath-laying ceremony.
Monday was our return to Texas. Jordan and I left Arlington, returned to our hotel in Alexandria, picked up our bags, and then headed to Reagan National Airport on one last Metro ride. Reagan National is named for my favorite president, but is not my favorite airport; however, we had a very uneventful flight back home.
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