Close up of a baseball in grass at an Arizona baseball training camp, a Marriott Vacation Club destination

Plan a Spring Training Vacation for True Baseball Fans

By Janet Brindle

Whether you’ve been savoring the 2021 World Series® win by the Atlanta Braves or are rooting for another team to go all the way this year, there’s a special time and place where the season always begins — Spring Training. Part of the fun of this annual ritual is scouting out the future interest of your own favorite team — and upcoming talent in other clubs.

With so many squads clustered in two states, and multiple properties in The Marriott Vacation Clubs nearby, it’s easy to plan a baseball-centric vacation and make it an annual tradition.

Now, the hard part: Are you visiting the Cactus League, the Grapefruit League, or both?

THE CACTUS LEAGUE

As you may have already guessed, the Cactus League is a grouping of 15 teams that train in the Arizona desert. With nearly seven games to pick from each day in one of about ten stadiums, you’ll be able to hear the crack of the bat from one end of metro Phoenix to the other.

According to Visit Arizona, nearly two million baseball fans come to the area each year from late February through March to see the “Boys of Spring” when there’s still snow on the ground in much of the country.

Cactus League Spring Training infographic

THE GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE

Florida’s 13 training camps for 15 teams are a little more fragmented, with one cluster on the southeast coast and another on the southwest.

Catch a game at one of the ballparks near Port St. Lucie or Singer Island or use your Club Points for stays at other properties near the other ten team training facilities across the state.

Grapefruit League Stadiums, Teams, and Closest Resorts

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

No matter which league you choose, here are some tips for a great Major League Baseball® Spring Training experience:

  • Show up early for batting practice — you may get a ball tipped to you from a future star.
  • If you’re used to seats in the higher sections, you’ll be amazed at the views you get without the associated costs. You’ll be up close and personal with some of the best in the game.
  • Typically, pitchers and catchers report a week before the rest of the players.
  • Don’t just watch your own team. Do your own scouting report for the season by attending contests at different stadiums to watch multiple games in a short amount of time.
  • Avoid hot summer days with cooler temperatures.
  • Check local schedules for updated game days and times as they are subject to change.

WHERE TO STAY

Cactus League:

Marriott’s Canyon Villas
 

Grapefruit League:

Marriott’s Oceana Palms

Marriott’s Ocean Pointe

Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers

Plan your Vacation

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