Tag Archives: Baseball

Fun in South Bend, Indiana

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FUN FACTS

South Bend Chocolate
  • The University of Notre Dame’s Main Building has 1,250 thin strips of 8 oz. 23-karat gold, 3 microns thick. http://tour.nd.edu/locations/eck-visitors-center/ (pg 93 of Kids Love Indiana)
  • The University of Notre Dame has the oldest continuously existing college band in the nation. When Notre Dame played football for the first time against Michigan in 1887, the Notre Dame Marching Band was already celebrating its 41st birthday.
  • The South Bend Chocolate Company produces more than 3,000 pounds of chocolate daily at its South Bend, Ind. factory. They invite you to “take a dip” literally – paid tours get to make a chocolate golden spoon! (pg 99 of Kids Love Indiana). www.sbchocolate.com
  • South Bend’s East Race Waterway was the first artificial whitewater course built in North America and opened in 1984.
  • The St. Joseph River flows north from South Bend into Lake Michigan. Several great walking/biking paths loop around the bends of the river. (you will cross it upteen times as you wander the city and surrounding suburbs)
  • South Bend Cubs single A baseball team is an affliate for the Chicago Cubs. www.southbendcubs.com. They play at Four Winds Field. The night we were there they had fireworks after the game. New are the Splash Pad water play area right behind Lawn Seating (only $6.00 for lawn seats) and the Tiki Bar, where parents can linger while their kids play in the Fun Zone.

Sporting Fun in Louisville – Day One – Afternoon/Evening

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AFTERNOON

Offer the kids lunch choices both within two blocks of the Slugger Museum — The Bristol Bar & Grille (kids menu) and Luigi’s Pizzeria (what kid doesn’t like pizza?). Or look for one of downtown Louisville’s hot dog vendors (often seen at Jefferson Park, 4th and Main Streets and elsewhere during the week).

Louisville loves it’s college sports and you are sure to find a game featuring the University of Louisville Cardinals (www.gocards.com, same exit as KY Derby Museum) it might be baseball, soccer, football or basketball depending on the season.

EVENING

In the summer, head over to Louisville Slugger Field to take in a Louisville Bats (pg 42, www.batsbaseball.com) baseball game and maybe some great ballpark food! Be sure to get your picture beside the statue of Pee Wee Reece in front of the ‘warehouse turned baseball stadium’. The Bats are the AAA farm team for the Cincinnati Reds. Every seat is a great view. The folks are super friendly and the mascots, promotions and foul balls keep the kids attentive. They have a carousel and kiddie park as entertainment too!

A short bike ride, pedestrian bridge, or car drive away, the family will love the view from the Indiana side, situated on the Ohio River with boat docks nearby and the shoreline in sight. All the restaurants on the water have great service and a variety of food and views.

Rent a bike or surrey from Wheel Fun Rentals or Segway of Louisville (www.wheelfunrentals.com) and explore the beautiful Waterfront Park. The park features biking and walking paths, playgrounds (yes, more than one!), splash parks, special events and more.

  • Money saving tip: Visit more than one Museum Row on Main attraction and save dough. Show your ticket stub at the next stop and receive a discount on admission.

Tip: Why Bring that Magnet? Over a century ago, cast iron made it possible to build beautiful decorative features that were too expensive to carve out of stone. Main Street is one of the largest assemblies of cast-iron from buildings in the United States. See the sidewalk bricks in front of the columns? They are placed sideways and flecked with iron to make it easy to identify the cast iron buildings. A magnet will stick to building facades that are cast iron.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLPARK…

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Here are some recent baseball park visit articles I’ve come across that share that Americana passion for baseball and kid’s fun:

Best major-league baseball parks for kids: http://www.mercurynews.com/travel-headlines/ci_21055578/family-travel-best-major-league-baseball-parks-kids

Touring Oriole Park at Camden Yards: http://creativlei.com/2012/touring-oriole-park-at-camden-yards/

Two ballparks /tours to add to the mix:

KIDS LOVE OHIO – page 176 – CLEVELAND INDIANS – Progressive Field.

www.indians.com. Tours (small fee) include Kidsland, a press box, a suite, a dugout, a fun video…all lasts about one hour (Monday-Saturday 10am-2pm, some summer sundays).

KIDS LOVE PENNSYLVANIA – PAGE 291 – PITTSBURGH PIRATES –

www.pirateball.com PNC Park. On game nights the city closes the Roberto Clemente Bridge to vehicles so street performers, vendors and pedestrians swarm the area – everyone decked out in black and gold attire. The concessions at the park are upscale fair food and many are grilled to order. Primanti is a must if you want Steel City, hold it with two hands, kinda food.