Vacations Blog

NCAA March Madness Logo (photo courtesy NCAA.com and CBSSports.com)

Zero.  That is the collective number of college basketball games I have watched this season.  Yet, come next week, I’m sure that I will be counted among the millions of Americans contributing to the estimated $1.7 billion dollar productivity drain (thanks NCAA.com and CBSSports.com) during this springtime basketball tournament frenzy known everywhere as March Madness.

Selection Sunday is March 15 and opening round games are scheduled around the country beginning in Dayton, OH with the “play-in” game March 17.  The play-in game pits the 64th and 65th ranked teams against each other.  The winner of that game goes on to the regular tournament where in all likelihood they shall be soundly beaten by a far superior team.  That’s just how it works.

Here’s the tournament schedule at a glance.  Although tickets may be scarce, your best bet for seeing any of the games live would be the first and second rounds or the regionals.  Follow the city links below for lodging options in each of the host cities as well as interesting game alternatives while you’re there.

Selection Sunday March 15, 2009  6pm ET (CBS)

Play-In Game  March 17, 2009  7:30pm

Dayton, OH

Games will be played at the University of Dayton Arena.  As time allows, make sure to check out the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Stearman PT-13D Kaydet at the National Museum of the USAF (photo courtesy of Bud Hensley)

Rounds 1 and 2 Thursday and Saturday March 19 and 21, 2009

Greensboro, NC

Games will be played at the Greensboro Coliseum.  If you’re traveling with the kids, make sure to give them a break and head over to the Greensboro Children’s Museum for a fun filled, hands-on and interactive learning experience.

Kansas City, MO

Games are scheduled at the Sprint Center.  Allow some extra time to visit the Kansas City Zoo while you’re there.  It was voted one of America’s 60 Best in 2008.

Philadelphia, PA

Games will be played at the Wachovia Center of St. Joseph’s University.  No trip to Philly would be complete without a trip to Independence National Historical Park to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall where our Constitution was drafted.

The Liberty Bell in Independence National Historic Park (photo ushistory.org)

Portland, OR

Games to be held at the Rose Garden of the University of Oregon.  Again, I’m gonna send you to the zoo, the Oregon Zoo.

Rounds 1 and 2 Friday and Sunday March 20 and 22, 2009

Boise, ID

Games will be held at the Taco Bell Arena of Boise State University.  There’s plenty of family fun things to do in downtown Boise.

Dayton, OH

See above.

Miami, FL

Games will be at the American Airlines Arena of Florida International University.    Of course, Miami is a top Spring Break Destination so bring your trunks and floaties.  Hit the beach with your downtime.  That should go without saying.

Miami Coastline (photo courtesy visitusa.com)

Minneapolis, MN

Games to be held at the HHH Metrodome of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.  Two words:  Mall of America.  (Of doesn’t count.)  While there, make sure to see the world’s largest underground aquarium Underwater Adventures.

Regionals:  Thursday and Saturday March 26 and 28, 2009

East Regional–Boston, MA

Games will be held at the TD Banknorth Garden, home of the Bruins and Celtics.  While in Boston be sure to check out the Freedom Trail a three mile walk through downtown Boston that links 16 historical sites.

The Old North Church Steeple Boston, MA (photo courtesy oldnorth.com)

West Regional–Phoenix, AZ

Games will be at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Az.    I hear the South Mountain Park Scenic Drive is a great way to experience some of Arizona’s beautiful scenery and to boot–it’s free.

Regionals:  Friday and Sunday March 27 and 29, 2009

Midwest Regional–Indianapolis, IN

Games are scheduled at the new (in 2008) Lucas Oil Stadium.  The Children’s Museum of  Indianapolis ranks as one of the best in the country.  It’s a definite if you go to Indy with the kids.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (photo via web public domain)

South Regional–Memphis, TN

Games will be held at the FedEx Forum.  No trip to Memphis would be complete without a visit to Graceland, even if you’re not an Elvis fan.

Final Four:  April 4 and 6, 2009

Detroit, MI–Ford Field

If your team has made it this far, congratulations.  If you’ve made it this far, congratulations again.  There’s much to see and do in the Motor City and while the games from here on out promise to be nothing short of spectacular make sure to take a break see some of what Detroit has to offer.

The Road Ends Here Detroit, MI 2009 NCAA Final Four

Oh, and coming off a perfect season (perfect 0 and 16, that is) I’m fairly certain you can get a pretty good deal on Lions Season Tickets while you’re there.

Let the games begin!

I would never suggest that you visit an airport with your children just for fun.  However, if you are stranded at an airport on your way home from holiday travel, let it be known that some of them have incredibly cool features that will help you kill the time and burn off the kids’ energy so they will pass out on the airplane.  Just don’t let them visit the ubiquitous airport candy store.

My holiday gift to you is a list, below, of links to the major US airlines and their hub airports.  Chances are, if you are traveling across the country, you may have to set foot in one of them, and you may even have to spend many of your precious hours there.  To all of our delight, I am sure, the city editors of Being Savvy, a guide for parents of preschoolers, have found interesting ways to kill time with children of all ages at many of these airports.

Do not be intimidated by the links.  Find your airline, then find the airport you where you will be sleeping changing planes.

Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines (AS) uses Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) where Being Savvy helps you locate the children’s play area, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Portland International Airport (PDX).

Music scape at the American Airlines terminal at Dallas/Ft. Worth

American Airlines: Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – (check out the terminal’s many cool larger-than-life sculptures), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) (check out Being Savvy’s guide to O’Hare), Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport (STL), Miami International Airport (MIA).

Continental Airlines:  Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).

Delta Air Lines:  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) (here’s Being Savvy’s guide ),Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) with fully equipped children’s play areas on three concourses, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Frontier Airlines:  Denver International Airport (DEN) where Being Savvy found five fun frolics.  Until December 31st, 2008, kids under 12 fly, ski, and stay free in Aspen.

Jet Blue :  John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) where Being Savvy visits the Kidport – Also, if you get a chance, show the older kids Logan’s 9/11 memorial.

The Kidport at Logan

Midwest Airlines:  Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI).

Northwest Airlines:  Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) where Being Savvy locates the family services and hits you with family travel tips, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Memphis International Airport (MEM).

Southwest Airlines:  technically does not have hubs, but has main activities at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Las Vegas’s McCarran International Airport (LAS), Houston Hobby Airport (HOU), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Spirit Airlines:  calls their hubs “bases” which are at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) where Being Savvy finds you kid-friendly activities, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

United Airlines (UA) uses Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with its in-house aquarium!, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) – (check out the Being Savvy layover lifesaver ), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

US Airways (US) uses Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

[Photos courtesy of Dallas Ft. Worth International Airport and Logan International Airport]

Sam Barrett has lived in Detroit for nearly five years and has spent nights and weekends exploring the city with his wife and friends.He gives us a fascinating glimpse into this famous, yet somehow mysterious city and its environs. You can find out more about Sam at his website here. I especially like his suggestion to take the family to the roller derby–a fun day for everyone? I wonder if he will still recommend that when he has a two year old in tow? I think he would and if I ever get to Detroit that will be first on my list.

1. Give 5 adjectives that you would use to describe the “feel” of Detroit and its residents.
Hardworking, rough, loyal, forgiving, enthusiastic

2. What is your favorite neighborhood in Detroit?
Royal Oak is a hip neighborhood with trendy shops, a community college, and many production studios used to cut commercials for the auto industry.
Hamtramck is a blue collar German town right north of downtown that is home to a few famous dive bars where the MC5 played.
Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan and is the liberal hub of Michigan with many professor types and a new Google office.
Personally I love Hart Plaza downtown with the giant matte black arm swinging from a pendulum, and all the old relics of a once thriving powerful city.

3. Which cuisine do you think Detroit does best? What is the runner-up?
Detroit has the best burger joints in the nation. In fact I saw in a poll, 3 out of the nation’s top 20 burger joints were in the Detroit metro.
A close second would either be Greek salad or Mediterranean food. La Shish is a hugely popular Mediterranean restaurant chain in MI.

4. What is the best free thing to do?
It used to be the Detroit Electronic Music Festival which was the largest free Electronic Music festival in the world. Now it would be the Dream Cruise, a summer event where car enthusiasts gather around Woodward Avenue to see classic and current hot rods drive the strip.
Visiting one of the Great Lakes is free and beautiful. Michigan has the longest fresh water coast line in the world. Looking at the state on a map you’ll see it is made up of two peninsulas.

5. What is your favorite type of entertainment?
Roller Derby – Detroit has the best roller derby teams in the nation.
Hockey – Detroit borders Canada and the Red Wings just won their 11th Stanley Cup.
Music – World class rock legends have come out of Detroit. The Stooges, The White Stripes, Bob Seeger, Kid Rock, MC5, Patty Smith, Eminem, Detroit Cobras, etc.

6. List the best family friendly activity.
Roller Derby – The bouts can be brutal but the musical chairs, hula hoop, and high school gymnastics in-between periods make it fun for everyone.
Detroit Auto Show – The biggest most influential auto show in North America. Showcasing cool future cars, new green technologies, and tons of people, the whole family could spend all day dreaming of their next ride.

7. What spot would you send a couple, looking for a romantic weekend?
Either Traverse City, South Haven, or the Renaissance Center downtown.

8. Describe a perfect day…one that captures what your area/city is all about. In 3 sentences or less.
A perfect day in Detroit would be attending the Blues festival at Hart Plaza, swimming at Belle Isle (a ten minute drive from downtown), and watching an old black and white at the Detroit Theatre.

9. Tell us about a place that you love to go, whether it is in the guidebooks or not.
Ann Arbor art fair. It is huge and it envelops the entire college town for a week.

10. What should we have asked, but didn’t?
• What’s your favorite sports team in MI? Detroit and the Midwest in general go nuts about sports.
• A question related to the auto industry. People here live and breathe by the success of the Big Three (GM, Ford, Chrysler).
• A question about Canada or Ohio to drive people crazy.

Want to share, brag, or tell about your town? If so, send an e-mail or comment on this post–then you can be our next local expert!

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to Detroit.