The Preakness - travel tips and info
 

Anyone have any good tips on hotels, restaurants etc. while attending the Preakness?

Do you plan on driving to the preakness from your hotel? or take a cab?
there are +/- to both. Cab there would be easier for getting there, but catching one on the way home might be a little tough. If you plan to drive, parking is pretty much available in EVRYONES front or back yard (I drive every year, I live about 60 miles away and i always park near the backstretch, its a pretty good walk but there are usually some decent prices for parking back there in someone's yard $25-40 range). Obviously the logical thing would be to get a parking pass, but not many people want to shell out $75+ to park.

The inner harbor has some nice restaurants a lot of good seafood places from what i hear. But, be aware if you plan on taking in the scenery down there, one wrong turn can put you in a bad part of town real fast.

I've been going to the Preakness for the last 6 years and its BYOB, though they allow only cans (no bottles and they say no liquor im pretty sure, but you can always put some wiskey in a coke bottle or some vodka in a water bottle they don't check that closely). You can't bring in coolers, so your best bet would be purchase some sort of large tupper wear and it has to be clear. No backpacks allowed, but plastic bags usually do the trick. You can bring in your own food as well, so sandwiches are usually a good idea (especially when your drunk and you don't wanna get gouged for a $5 hot dog)

Seats, i try and get Apron Box Seats every year, IMO its the best seat on the grounds. It puts you on the homestretch in folding chairs (usually if you have a big group you can circle yourself or rearrange your seats however your group wants). If you chose infield, the best of luck to ya. I sit in the infield every year for the Derby, but it's a different breed of people in Baltimore then it is in L'ville. The infield in B-more is basically filled with college kids (though im 25, im still to old for full cans of beer being thrown around like grenades in there), you got kids from U Maryland, UMBC, Johns Hopkins, Towson St. etc. its a mad house, usually they all bring there beer in plastic trash cans filled to the top.

let me know if you want to anything else, and best of luck to ya

-bt-

call me and i'll give you the down-low.

Thanks, I'm thinking we'll probably drive there from our hotel...any good suburbs or areas of the city you would recommend for hotels? We're looking at getting tickets in the covered area of the Grandstand, have you ever sat there and is there good view-age?

How is the Friday beforehand? Would you still recommend getting seats?

This will be my first time to Baltimore so I'm looking forward to it. We're planning several trips on the way down like Gettysburg, Hershey Park and the Aqurium (sp?)

Park at the Rogers Ave. Metro Station. Free parking--the shuttle bus to the track is $3 roundtrip---5 minutes to the track. I do it every year--it is hassle free.

Thanks, that could definitely be useful.

Baltimore sucks.

Having said that....get seats for both days though Friday is hardly a big deal. Federal Hill is fun for bars at night. The Aquarium is cool. The area around the Inner Harbor has also brightened up. Also, you should go to Camden Yards assuming the Os are home.

Baltimore still sucks.

you would be seating under cover outside, those seats are to the right in this pic. Those seats are bleacher style seats (IMO small bleacher seats) there is one small tv (as you can see in the pic, its in the middle of the partition) that you usually can't see anything from b/c it's too small and there is usually always a glare on it. If you sit too high up in this section you won't be able to see the Jumbotron.

The seats i was refering to is where the people on the rail are sitting (section 1-81, the higher the number the further down the homestretch the seats) Apron Box seats. I have never sat anywhere else inside, but General Admission is probably the worst way to go, your not allowed entry to anything but inside.

As far as suburbs, i wouldn't know i live in VA.

Black-Eyed Susan day is pretty much geared towards the ladies and hats (ala kentucky oaks), usually if you purchase tickets through Pimlico you get the same tickets for BES day as well. But if you don't do that, you usually can find pretty cheap tickets on Ebay or something for the BES, people are pretty much trying to unload BES tickets b/c not many people will be there for both days

-bt-

Come on!!!!!!

what man? that's what i have been told and that's pretty much what i have seen.

lend me your insight if im wrong

-bt-

You're wrong. Have you spent much time at Pimlico?

hmmmm, maybe the under-covers don't sound so good after all. Glad I asked! :)

I don’t claim to be an aficionado of Pimlico Race Course, I make it out there probably twice a year (Preakness being one of those days).

Instead of just blatantly saying I’m “wrong” tell me how BES day really is then

The lady asked for helpful insight to the Preakness and BES and I’m trying to help as much as I can (from what I know). You jump all over me for one little thing as though I told him the Preakness / BES was really held at Timonium Race Track or something.

The thread was to help the lady out, not ridicule me




-bt-

I didn't jump all over you, take it easy, I was just having fun. I think anyone familiar with Pimlico knows one thing it isn't is a haven for the " ladies " and Black Eyed Susan day is no different.

By the way...Sightseek aint a guy.

I'm a girl! :p :)

Then, apparently, Black Eyed Susan day will be BIG for you!

Got a hat?

I already checked, unfortunately they are on the road all week.

It's being saved for the Saratoga hat contest. :cool:

That's insane. I think that happened last year as well. In the past they always had games.

I am sure MLB doesnt make the schedule based on the Preakness.