In Town for a Ball Game? How to Tour the World Series Hosts On a Budget

photo: Chase N.

Go Giants! Or is it “Go Rangers!”?

No matter which team you’re rooting for, there are games to be played in this World Series in two fantastic cities – San Francisco and Dallas-Fort Worth. And if you’re fortunate to have tickets to any of the remaining games, when you’re not sitting in the bleachers catching fly balls, consider these fun (and budget-friendly!) ways to tour the host cities.

San Francisco

Cheap

One of the more interesting local tours of San Francisco is on the island of Alcatraz, accessible via Hornblower Hybrid yacht from Pier 33. Splurge on the cell house audio tour, which explains all there is to know about this federal penitentiary and home to many notable criminals of the past. (It’s definitely worth the money.)

Bring a jacket – even with sunny skies, it can be quite windy out on the Rock. Tickets start at $26 for adults and $16 for children for the 2.5 hour tour– buy online through Alcatraz Cruises, the official ticket site, for the best deals.

Cheaper

Ride a bike from downtown San Francisco to Sausalito, via the Golden Gate Bridge. Don’t worry if you didn’t bring yours, rentals are available from Blazing Saddles and Bay City Bikes. For a scenic trip back, hop the ferry in Sausalito. Rentals start from $32 per day for standard mountain bikes.

Cheapest

Check out San Francisco City Guides – Free Walking Tours of San Francisco.  With local volunteers who unabashedly love the city of San Francisco, you are in good hands. Choose one of their many pre-scheduled free tours, or for a modest donation, set up a private tour of your favorite area of interest.

Other inexpensive, not-to-be-missed activities include exploring the Ferry Building and taking part in a weekly farmer’s market; walking out to Lands End, after a tour of the old Sutro Baths and the newly remodeled Cliff House; and, of course, exploring any of the individual city neighborhoods with interesting character, including Noe Valley, Hayes Valley or the Marina.

Dallas – Fort Worth (The Metroplex)

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For a unique way to see historic and modern downtown Dallas, check out Dallas Segway Tours. These 1.5-2.5 hour tours begin with Segway orientation in the West End Welcome Center. Prices range from $50 – $70, plus tax and tip. For those interested in gliding through their day, check out the tour through Katy Nature Trail, including Victory and Reverchon Park. For a more traditional tour, try the West End Adventure Tour with stops at the JFK Memorial, Pioneer Plaza and Dallas City Hall.

Cheaper

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Opened in 1989, the museum contains over 35,000 items of documentation about this pivotal event in U.S. history. Tickets for adults are $13.50, youth and seniors $12.50. For an outdoor tour of Dealey Plaza and the important sites related to the JFK assassination, consider the Dealey Plaza Cell Phone Walking Tour, $2.50 with museum admission, $5 if purchased separately.

Cheapest

The online photo tour of Arlington, Texas, viewed from the comfort of your own home (or mobile device). Heck, you don’t even have to leave the stadium for this tour, which includes great photos of the Rangers Ballpark and Six Flags Over Texas.

If you want to get out and about in the city, check out the list of free things to do in Dallas, Texas, including the Outdoor Sculpture Tour; the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, designed by I.M. Pei; and the Dallas Central Library, with an original copy of the Declaration of Independence.