San Francisco Giants: Arizona Spring Training Baseball

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:30-5:15 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table adjacent to the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions as we gather in our private meeting room. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. In the unlikely event that a game is rained out, an alternative activity will be provided (no refunds). Free time is limited and unscheduled at this time. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In the hotel restaurant, the dinner buffet includes savory dishes and entrées that vary nightly, plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your follow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Driving approximately 40 miles one way to stadium; about 1 hour. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; distances less than 1/2 mile at a time; paved, flat surfaces; some stairs at the stadium.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs and omelets cooked to order, breakfast meats, oatmeal, fruit, and toast, plus juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: Throughout the program, we’ll meet wonderful baseball personalities who have intimate and often long histories with the game. Sports writer Charlie Vascellaro will join us and provide unique perspectives on baseball history and personalities. In addition to his lifelong love of baseball, Charlie is a bibliophile, historian, raconteur, traveler, and author of a biography on Hank Aaron. Charlie took part in his first Road Scholar program in 2004 and has been a regular guest ever since, delighting our folks with Spring Training chronicles. We’ll take a short break before gathering to head over to our first baseball game.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like at the ballpark. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: Game 1! Today the Giants take on the KC Royals of the American League at Surprise Stadium. Formally voted in a USA Today pole by fans as Arizona's best stadium to watch a Spring Training game, Surprise Stadium is intimate and has ample shade seats to guarantee a great afternoon of baseball. We’ll return to the hotel after the game.

Dinner: Hotel buffet.

Evening: Settle into the hotel conference room to enjoy a presentation from Bill Staples. Bill is a baseball historian and author and a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) with a passion for researching and telling the untold stories of the “international pastime.” His areas of expertise include Japanese American and Negro Leagues baseball history as a context for exploring the themes of civil rights, cross-cultural relations and globalization.

Activity note: Driving approximately 30 miles one way to stadium; about 45 minutes. Walking approx. 1/2 mile at stadium; some stairs.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: This morning we will hear a special presentation from Robert Garratt, author of numerous articles and a difinitive book on the history of the SF Giants. Todays talk will focus on Roger Craig and the era of the Humm Baby Giants. Following our presentation, we’ll transfer to the stadium for our second game.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like at the ballpark.

Afternoon: Game 2! Today the Giants take on their long time rival - the LA Dodgers. Boo Dem Bums! We will travel to Camelback Stadium for this game and enjoy the ample shade seats and pleasant atmosphere of the Stadium.

Dinner: Dinner at a restaurant proximate to the hotel

Evening: Leisure time following dinner out.

Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day. Walking approx. 1/2 mile to Scottsdale Stadium; some stairs. Free Old Town Trolley available for transfer from hotel to stadium.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: At the hotel, will have a short baseball themed presentation prior to heading over to the Arizona Baseball Legacy Exhibit at the Scottsdale Historic Society. The museum is on the way to Scottsdale Stadium so after our time at the exhibit we will continue on to the game.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like at the ballpark.

Afternoon: Game 3! Today the Giants have a home game against the Cincinnati Reds at Scottsdale Stadium. A short walk from the hotel, Scottsdale comes alive when the Giants are at home.

Dinner: Dinner at a restaurant proximate to the hotel .

Evening: Meet Bobby Freeman, longtime organist for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Enjoy a performance and sing-a-long of some ballpark classics and laugh as Bobby shares his personal story and favorite moments.

Activity note: Driving to Sloan Park 8 miles one way, approximately 20 minutes. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; distances less than 1/2 mile at a time; paved, flat surfaces; some stairs at the stadium.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: At the hotel, we’ll be joined by Marty Lurie who has been a long time voice of the Giants on KNBR radio. Marty will share stories of the many Giant greats he has interviewed over the years and speak of the behind the scenes challenges of broadcasting. Following our initial presentation from Marty at the hotel, we will walk over to nearby Scottsdale Stadium where Marty will give us a behind-the-scenes look at the press box and finish up his presentation there. We’ll take a short break before departing to our baseball game.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy while at the ballpark.

Afternoon: Game 4! Today the Giants have a scheduled day off so we are going to a non-Giants game of interest. So get ready to head on over to the newest stadium in the Valley, Sloan Park, where we will watch the Chicago Cubs take on the Oakland A's. For years the Chicago Cubs have been the hottest ticket for Spring Training drawing the highest attendance and biggest buzz.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a delightful farewell dinner with a plated and served meal to celebrate our program. Coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: We will then return to the hotel for a short program wrap-up to reflect upon our week. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!