Take Me Out to the Ball Game

The last weekend in July we dropped the pups off with their grandparents and headed off for our last trip of the summer. Ashley is a huge Atlanta Braves fan and wanted to see her team play at Turner Field just one more time before they move to a new field next season.

We stayed at the Renaissance Midtown Atlanta which was perfectly situated near the ball park and many of the local attractions.

Our first stop was the incredibly amazing Centennial Olympic Park. I pulled up directions on my phone and saw that the park was just over a mile walk away. Now, anyone who has driven in Atlanta knows how crappy the traffic can be. Parking in Atlanta is less than ideal as well, so I proposed we walk. I thought for sure Ashley was going to kill me by the time we made it back to the hotel that night. It was hot. Dreadfully hot. But... I mean...at least it was scenic...

Centennial Olympic Park is a gorgeous green space. It was filled with sculptures, vendors, performers, tourists and Pokemon. The park was one of Atlanta's many projects they created in preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games. 20 years later it is still in picture perfect shape.

Our last stop for the day was a trip to CNN and the Cartoon Network Studios. In true Swimadoo fashion we managed to sneak our way into a tour of CNN.

The next day we paid a visit to the College Football Hall of Fame. I was excited to see the history of football and search for some of my favorite players and Ashley was super stoked about the interactive zone. We checked out the different displays, recorded videos of the Florida Gator Fight Song, tried our hand at being broadcasters, tossed footballs, practiced making catches and played a bit of cornhole. What an awesome setup they have there! It was the perfect location to escape from the storm that was ripping through the area. Oh...and to top it all off; it was Educator's Day! Even though I didn't have my badge, I showed the ticket office an email from my boss and I got in free and was given a goodie back.

Next we visited the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum. It was neat to see the random collection of memorabilia they had on display. We even spotted our favorite presidents!

Finally, it was time to head to the game so Ashley could watch her last game at Turner Field.

It was Alumni Night so many of the Braves greats were paraded around the field in celebration of their careers. We had a great time at the game and as a bonus I didn't get smacked in the face with a baseball.