The Phillies pitchers and catchers are due to report tomorrow morning to Clearwater, with the first workout coming on Thursday. As I write this, the weather is 72 degrees in Clearwater, with partly cloudy skies, while I am putting off going outside to shovel out my car and walkways. If you are like me, you have the itch to head down to Florida for Phillies Spring Training.
This is the first in a series about how to head down to Clearwater and get the most out of your Spring Training trip. The first installment is how to get to Clearwater.
Driving
You might be thinking: that's a long drive! It is indeed, but there are some benefits to driving down to Clearwater. The ride down is something I actually enjoy, though I do not do it every year. The ride, without stopping or traffic, is about 17 hours long. There are some benefits to having your own car there, though.
For one, you will likely need to either bring your own car or rent a car for Phillies Spring Training, if you plan to take advantage of the area attractions. You are looking at a 20-minute ride to the beach from Spring Training, a 20-minute ride to Tampa, and a 30-minute ride to St. Petersburg. So, factoring the rental car in with the flight costs, having your own car might be a good financial move, depending on how many are with you.
Driving gives you the flexibility to stop on the way down or the way home. Along I-95 you can find places such as Savannah (on the longer end of a drive, but a really neat place to visit), South of the Border, or check out a city like Raleigh or take a quick visit to Myrtle Beach on the way down or the way back.
One thing I do when I drive is stop by some of the southern road-side produce stands. I usually come home with some fresh-picked strawberries, fresh honey, or other produce that is just light years fresher and better than anything available in the supermarket back home.
Plus, the Gulf Coast beaches have a plethora of some really neat seashells. They are a nice touch to a garden back home, so consider taking some home with you. When you have your own car you do not need to worry about taking them back, as long as you have room in your trunk.
Chances are you will need to spend the night at a hotel along the way; there are plenty for around $100.00 a night. If you have someone going with you that you trust with driving, you can give it a shot. I have driven straight and done so in 17 total hours.
Gas prices are low this year, and airlines cost a fortune to check bags, so maybe this is the time to go for a drive.
Flying
There are plenty of direct flights between Philadelphia and Tampa. St. Pete-Clearwater does have their own airport, but flights are rather limited, and do not originate from Philadelphia. The airport features Allegient, Sun Country, and Sunwing Airlines. Unless you live somewhere such as Lexington, KY, or Grand Rapids, MI, that use these airlines, focus on Tampa Airport.
Southwest, US Airlines/American Airlines, and Delta Airlines can all get you to Tampa. Frontier just began service to Tampa from Philadelphia, which makes sense if you are traveling light. The baggage fees on Frontier negate their low prices, if you are one who needs to check luggage. Southwest usually is a good bargain for a direct flight with baggage included.
Remember, when you arrive to Tampa, you will need a rental car. You have many rental car options in the airport, or you can take a van service such as Super Shuttle to get to your hotel, if you wish to rent a car near your hotel later.
Train
I did this once. The train ride from 30th Street Station to Tampa is a 24-hour drive. If you are comfortable in an Amtrak seat, you will be able to sleep for eight of those hours, and do other productive things while on the train. You can get up, walk around, buy a drink or snack from the drink car. That is, if all goes right.
The one time I decided to try a train ride to Tampa, our train hit a car in Garner, North Carolina at 10:26 p.m. in 2012. Think it was a stroke of bad luck? It happened again in the same city just six days ago. One major issue that blocks train service has lasting effects. It may be a bit of a risk on a 24-hour train ride. A fallen tree, car on the tracks, etc. could set you back. For us, our 24-hour ride became 31 hours and we missed our rental car in Tampa.
The ride can be very nice if things go smoothly. Note that there is little scenery along the way down to Florida, if that is what you are searching for. The train is about the cost of a flight, and you will still need a rental car/ride to your hotel like flying. Still, some people do not like to fly and this is indeed an alternative to avoid driving and not fly.
Up Next: Where to stay when visiting Phillies Spring Training
