Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Spring Training in Fort Myers
I admit I’m not a baseball fanatic. I don’t have stats memorized, I’m not sure who won the World Series three years ago, and I never sent hate mail to Steve Bartman, the poor guy who “ruined” the
Cubs by snagging that notorious foul ball.
I’m not a fanatic, but I love baseball. I remember little league, and how magical a well-used leather glove smells. I remember that sudden leap in my chest when I realized a ball was
coming my way in centerfield, and I remember the feel of my cleats gripping the grass as I ran to make a catch.
I’m convinced I would love baseball even if I’d never played it. That’s the beauty of this great American game. When you get down to it, it’s
about the hot dogs, spending a sunny day with a friend, and singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” It’s about cheering and stomping and booing the umpire.
That’s all you really need to know.
So when I suggested to my fiancé, Kim, that we go see a spring training game while on vacation at The Outrigger Beach Resort, she couldn’t say no (even though she tried).
“I know nothing about major league baseball,” she said.
I shrugged. “Don’t need to.”
“I’ll be bored,” she said.
“Pretzels and beer,” I said.
She smiled. “Guys in tight uniforms.”
“Hey, now,” I warned.
Fort Myers is home to spring training camps for the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. The Twins play at Bill Hammond Stadium on Six Mile Cypress Parkway. This state-of-the-art
stadium was built in 1991 and seats 7,500 people. The Red Sox call the City of Palms Park home, which is in downtown Fort Myers on Edison Avenue. Built in 1992, it seats 7,300.
It took a little work getting Kim off the Outrigger’s beautiful white-sand beach and away from the Tiki Bar, but she finally got into the spirit once we reached Hammond Stadium.
As the crowd poured in, we settled into our third baseline seats.
“Cold beer here!” called a vendor.
“Hot peanuts!” cried another.
I adjusted our new Twins hats and popped one onto Kim’s head. She looked cute – and content. And why wouldn’t we be in heaven? The sky was blue, the sun was shining, and
by the third inning, we’d nearly caught two foul balls.
“Whatever you do,” I warned, “don’t get in the way of a player who’s leaping to make a catch.”
Kim laughed. “Who do you think I am? Steve Bartman?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I thought you said you knew nothing about baseball.”
She shrugged. “I played softball when I was a kid.”
“I didn’t know that,” I said.
“Shortstop,” Kim said. “I had fast reflexes.”
And with that, there was another crack of the bat, and a ball sailed our way. Kim held up her glove like a pro and snagged it without blinking.
“I know nothing about baseball,” I mocked. “I’ll be bored.”
“Oh, stop!” she laughed. “So I’m having a good time.”
“Glad to hear it,” I said.
“And tomorrow,” she said, “when we go shoe shopping all day, you’re going to have a great time, too.”
(To purchase Minnesota Twins spring training tickets, go to the Hammond Stadium Box Office, or order by phone: (612) 33-TWINS or 1-800-33-TWINS. To buy tickets to a Boston
Red Sox spring training game, call 239-334-4700 or stop by the City of Palms Park for more information.)
Ice Cream Mania!
Where to Go for the Good Stuff
“Did you see that?” Sandra asked as she pointed at a little boy dressed in a bright blue bathing suit and green flip flops. He was heading down the beach in front of The Outrigger,
splashing through the shallow surf.
“Yeah,” I said, “cute kid.”
“Did you see what he was eating?” Sandra said, sitting up in her beach cabana. She’d been sleeping for an hour, and now she was wide awake.
I turned and smiled at my friend of twenty years. I knew exactly what she was thinking. “Looked like mint chocolate chip,” I said.
“Come on, Nicole,” she said, grabbing my arm. “Time for a snack.”
Love Boat Homemade Ice Cream
16229 San Carlos Boulevard, Ft. Myers
It’s a Fort Myers fixture. This tiny storefront was established back in the sleepy days of undeveloped southwest Florida. According to the current owner, Ray, the Love Boat has been an ice
cream shop since the 60’s. With seating for twelve (plus some outdoor picnic tables) the interior is aptly decorated with oldies and vintage signs (remember Hopalong Cassidy Radio?) and a
wide variety of sports pennants.
Sandra and I took a long look at our choices. There are thirty six flavors of homemade ice cream! So whether you’re in the mood for Rocky Road or orange creamcicle, key lime or
Heath Bar crunch, maple walnut or vanilla fudge, Love Boat keeps the possibilities coming.
“What’s the most popular flavor?” I asked Ray.
“Butter pecan,” he replied, motioning to a tub of rich and creamy ice cream.
Love Boat also offers fat-free, sugar-free ice cream, a couple flavors of yogurt, as well as a few sorbet flavors. Sundaes are a favorite, and Love Boat has a lot of choices here as well:
hot fudge, strawberry, black & white, marshmallow, fudgy banana, turtle, and Hawaiian.
“Nicole, how about some pelican poop?” Sandra giggled. She read the sign. “It’s a truffle-like chocolate with a sweet cream cheese filling.”
“I’ve got my heart set on the homemade cinnamon caramel pecan,” I replied, not sure I was ready to try pelican poop, even if it was made of chocolate!
Cold Stone Creamery
13711 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers (in the Super Target plaza on the corner of Daniels Parkway and U.S. 41)
Put your creative thinking cap on, because Cold Stone Creamery allows you to become your own ice cream flavor creator. First you start with a base ice cream, such as chocolate, vanilla, strawberry,
mint, cheesecake, or coffee. Then you get to add your “mix-ins.” Mix-ins include candy, fruit, nuts, and other goodies like brownie chunks, peanut butter, and cookie dough.
“I must be in heaven,” Sandra gasped. This was her first time at a Cold Stone Creamery. “I’m feeling inspired.” She pressed her finger tips to her forehead. “I’m getting a vision. It’s
chocolate ice cream with all my favorite candy bars mixed in. Butterfingers, Snickers, and Kit Kats.”
“Don’t forget the Heath Bars,” I said.
Sandra stepped up to the counter to order, where she was told there was no such thing as small, medium, and large. Or one scoop, two scoops, three scoops. The way you order here
is “Like It,” “Love It,” “Gotta Have It.”
“Love it!” she exclaimed.
We watched as the crew member scooped Sandra’s chocolate ice cream and took it over to the frozen granite stone slab. There he mixed in Sandra’s favorites and piled it into a waffle cone.
In the meantime, I was stumped. I wasn’t having any inspired visions. (Sandra’s always been the creative one.) Luckily, if you can’t dream up your own ice cream medley, there are over
thirty pre-concocted flavors to choose from. “Nights in White Chocolate” is white chocolate ice cream, double white chocolate chips, caramel, and whipped topping. “Berry Berry Berry Good”
is sweet cream ice cream with raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. “Coffee Lovers Only” is coffee ice cream with roasted almonds, Heath Bar, and caramel.
“I’ll take the ‘Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip,’” I said, thinking of that little boy on the beach in front of The Outrigger. After all, if we hadn’t spotted him splashing
through the surf, eating his mint chocolate chip ice cream, we might not be indulging in these wonderful ice cream outings!
Strawberrie Corner
7205 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach
Less than a mile down the street from The Outrigger Beach Resort, Strawberrie Corner provides a very convenient way to get your ice cream fix. Nestled in the Santini Marina Plaza,
the parlor is among retail shops that include a book store, beach clothing and swim wear, and various gift shops. So when you’re done with your ice cream, you can pick
up a few keepsakes and presents to take back north.
“Nicole,” Sandra said as we walked into Strawberrie Corner. “Look at the adorable, strawberry wallpaper.”
The restaurant is decorated in a country-cute style, and is rather large. Sandra helped me count about 60 seats. So if you’re having a family reunion or wedding at The Outrigger, it’s
the perfect place to bring the whole gang for a sweet treat.
“They’ve got a full menu,” I noted, scanning items such as deli sandwiches, hamburgers, crab cakes, soup, French fries, pasta salad, and chef’s salad.
“But we’re here for the good stuff,” Sandra said, not needing to remind me that we’d just had a great steak dinner at Charley’s Boat House Grill. (Across the street from The Outrigger.)
“Right,” I said. “What’ll it be? Cookie dough, spumoni, vanilla, strawberry cheesecake, chocolate, chocolate chip mint, strawberry, cherry vanilla, orange sherbet, peppermint, Rocky Road, or coconut.”
“Or a banana split?” Sandra added.
“Or a hot fudge brownie,” I said with wide eyes. “That’s what I’m getting.”
“I’m having a vanilla sundae,” Sandra decided. “With butterscotch, crushed nuts, and whipped cream.”
Because the weather was gorgeous as usual, we sat outside and watched people walk past in their tank tops and shorts. The sun was getting low on the horizon, so we began our stroll
back to the resort. We didn’t want to miss a spectacular show of colors.
Sandra and I settled into a couple cabana chairs and sighed as the sun met the horizon in a burst of purple and orange.
“So where are we having ice cream tomorrow?” Sandra asked. “It’s our last day.”
“I think I’ve had my fix,” I said. “What do you say we just park ourselves on the beach, have a few drinks at The Tiki Bar, and work on our tans?”
“Sounds perfect,” Sandra said. She was silent for a moment. “Nicole?”
“Yes, Sandra,” I said.
“Maybe next year we should do a key lime pie tour.”
(For a complete list of nearby ice cream parlors, the friendly staff at The Outrigger’s Guest Services Center can help you satisfy your sweet tooth.)
Did you know?
The Outrigger Beach Resort is honored to produce and host hundreds of weddings, vow renewals and family reunions each year. It makes sense as you enjoy your visit each year with us,
why not bring a group of your friends or family members with you. The Sales office is available to help in planning your big event. Just give us a call at (800) 211-8441.
