Top 3 Cities for Sports Enthusiasts: East Coast Edition

By Ella Harrison

THE GAME PLAN

A sports-centered vacation is an ideal way to throw a trick play into your typical vacation game plan. Let me be your head coach and detail three cities any sports enthusiast should visit. Located on the eastern coast of the United States, Atlanta, Boston, and Philadelphia are perfect places to travel to during the 2023 vacation season. These three cities boast some of the country’s top tier teams and stadiums as well as rich athletic achievements.

THE ATL

The A” brings its A-game when it comes to the sports scene. Atlanta is home to 5 major professional sports teams and holds strong ties with college football. Atlanta was also the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Relive that victorious summer at Centennial Olympic Park and explore the various monuments in the beautiful downtown park that is the legacy of the Olympics.

Stop by State Farm Arena to see Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks dribble around competitors. Then, head on over to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to catch both types of football teams in action. The Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta United FC (MLS) play their home games in this state-of-the-art stadium. The Mercedes-Benz offers tours for guests where you can explore the locker rooms, fields, Skybridges, and Clubs that have housed countless professional games as well as the SEC Championship Football Game and the CFP National Championship.

If you are interested in the college basketball scene, Atlanta is also the nest of the four-time men’s basketball ACC Champions – the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets. “The Thrillerdome” is the place to taste the excitement that is college basketball.

Truist Park is another grand slam vacation spot as it is home to the 2021 World Series Champions – The Atlanta Braves. Take your friends or family out to the ballpark, and then shop and dine at The Battery, located right beside Truist Park.

Before you speed out of the city, make sure you NASCAR fans check out Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Timeout: To get away from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta for a day, take a day trip over to Augusta National Golf Course where PGA Players tee off at The Masters each spring.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Along the Charles River, avid travelers can find “The Hub” of athletics. Boston’s culture arguably centers on its love of sports. For the winter sports lovers (especially), Boston is the place to be.

The Boston Celtics program was one of the 8 original teams in the National Basketball Association. Currently, Jayson Tatum and his teammates are leading the NBA Eastern Conference. If you are lucky, you will catch both the Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins in action at TD Garden. The six-time Stanley Cup winners, the Boston Bruins, provide one of the most exciting ice hockey atmospheres in the country.

Not only can you find professional hockey in the beautiful city, but college ice hockey as well. Both the Boston College Eagles and the Boston University Terriers field teams with more than 100 years of history. Any game is a goal with these two programs.

I may be biased, but Boston also features one of the most beloved teams in the MLB – The Boston Red Sox. My dad’s favorite baseball team, and historically one of America’s favorite teams, plays its home games at the infamous Fenway Park. Take a tour of Fenway to see the “Green Monster” and much more.

Timeout: Just south of Boston, in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots. Make a fast break to the NBA Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, just 90 minutes outside of Boston.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

Philly is a city that will knock your travel game out of the park. This historic American city is hailed by many as one of the most sports intensive cities in the country and shows off an impressive list of sports venues.

Start off your trip on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps and re-create Rocky’s famous two arm salute. Travelers can also see the statue that now memorializes the movie hero. Another attraction for boxing fans is Joe Frazier’s training gym which is now on the National Register of Historic Places. See the place where “Smokin’ Joe” prepared during his Olympic winning career.

After you KO the boxing scene, hurry to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. This complex is home to the stadiums, arenas, and fields for the Philadelphia Eagles(NFL), Flyers (NHL), ‘76ers (NBA), and Phillies (MLB). Located conveniently next to each other, Philly makes travel easy for visitors. Catch multiple kinds of professional sports games all in one weekend.

The Wells Fargo Center at the sporting complex, hosts a select few Villanova Basketball games. Villanova is known for electric games and most recently won the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2018.

Villanova Basketball finds its match in excitement and rivalry at “America’s Game” each year. The Army vs. Navy football game has historically been played in Philly. One of the greatest rivalries in college football, this game is a must-see the next time it returns to “The City of Brotherly Love.”

Timeout: If Philly does not offer enough sports action for your taste, New York City is just two hours away and has a plethora of professional and college sports teams. Only wins come out of a quick day trip to the Big Apple.

IT'S GAME TIME

The East Coast is full of opportunities for sports fanatics to travel to exciting cities. Atlanta, Boston, and Philadelphia offer endless fun. The ticket for this vacation can be yours today! See the schedule below to find the best time of year to travel to each city.