Tropicana Field Spring Training in St. Petersburg

If you’re once again dreading the snow, ice and cold as winter is settling upon us, it is time to plan this year’s Florida Gulf Coast vacation.  Imagine lying on the beach, while your friends back in the Midwest and Northeast (and of course, Canada) are freezing and shoveling snow.  It really is time to think about a much-needed vacation in the warm tropical sun of Florida’s central gulf coast. 
If you’re a baseball fan, opening day for Spring Training at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, is Saturday, February 26, 2011.  Tropicana Field is the home of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays.   This beautiful domed stadium is a great venue for watching Spring Training games of your favorite team playing the Tampa Bay Rays. 
Tropicana Field also provides fans with a unique experience, unmatched by any other professional sports arena in the world.  The Rays Touch Tank is a 35-foot, 10,000 gallon tank filled with over 30 cow nose rays taken from the Tampa Bay waters.  Admission to the tank area is free for all fans, where they can see the rays up close, get an education about Florida aquatic life, and even feed the rays.  The proceeds from the sale of “ray food” goes to various charities in the Tampa Bay area, including the Florida Aquarium.  The tank is located just behind the right center field wall, and is the 10^th largest tank in the United States.  If a player hits a home run into the tank $5,000 is donated to charity, with half going to the Florida Aquarium and half to the player’s charity of choice.
The Ted Williams Museum/Hitters Hall of Fame houses exhibits on Ted Williams’ careers both with the Boston Red Sox and the United States Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War.  There are also monuments to the members of the Hitters Hall of Fame and authentic memorabilia and Williams’ own personal mementos from his career and post-playing life. 
There are two sit-down restaurants at Tropicana Field (the Center Field Brewhouse and the Batter’s Eye Restaurant), as well as the Cuesta-Rey Cigar Bar. There are also various generic vendors, Checkers, and concession stands for Outback Steakhouse and Papa John’s Pizza.  While there, try a “The Heater” Dog, which consists of a regular hot dog topped with chili and cheese.  The museum is open during game days, opening at the same time as the park and closing after the seventh inning with the concession stands. Admission is free, and the museum is open to all ticketholders.
So book this year’s winter vacation on Florida’s beautiful gulf coast by visiting my My Indian Shores Family Resort Vacation Condo (http://www.myindianshorescondo.com) or call Beth for additional information at (201) 261-4197.