…is a trip to Orlando, Florida. Yes, we all know about Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World, and all of that. But did you know that there is minor league baseball in the Orlando area?

Yep…it’s true! You see, there’s a chance that I might be taking a trip down there soon. And when I go anyplace new, one of the first things I do is look online to see what, if any baseball teams are in the area. Miami, where the Florida Marlins play, is a bit of a hike, but the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are quite a bit closer (but there’s still a bit of a drive involved, though).

But I found two minor league teams that are closer to Orlando. One is the Daytona Cubs (Class A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs). A bit further away in the other direction is the Lakeland Tigers (Class A affiliate of the Detriot Tigers). And remember, if you go to Orlando in March, you are within an easy drive of several Major League teams’ Spring Training facilities!

When I was researching the cost of hotels in the Orlando area, I found that they can get VERY expensive. A surprisingly affordable alternative would be to look into an Orlando vacation rental. This makes a lot of sense if you are traveling with a whole family, or a group of friends. Rather than renting a whole bunch of hotel rooms to accomdate everyone, why not consider just renting a whole house? There’ll be room to spread out a bit, more privacy…and if you are traveling with a group of adult friends, everyone can chip in on the rent, which will make it even more affordable.

Also, since these are fully-equipped houses, you will have a kitchen, so you can buy groceries and cook some meals, rather than spending a ton of money on restuarants. This is yet another great way to make your vacation dollar go further!

If I do go down to Orlando, maybe I will find the time to check out one of these ballparks!