Lancer and Justadad bring up an important point concerning club volleyball travel. I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to attend several National Qualifier tournaments and Nationals as both a coach and as a parent on both the boys and girls side of club. I can tell you that when I attended my first travel tournament to Richmond, I was pretty lousy at it. I spent the entire three days of the weekend either inside a convention center or in my hotel room with my family. What a mistake! I have since learned what an opportunity volleyball travels presents in terms of quality time with my kids, the chance to form strong and lasting friendships with parents, and most of all the ability to experience the best of what some pretty cool, major cities have to offer. I now spend countless hours researching the best restaurantes, pubs, museums, local sports, etc. so I can take full advantage of whatever part of the country I am in. Because of club volleyball I have:
Played blackjack in Reno
Waited for a million bats to fly out from under the Congress Bridge in Austin
Been to the Atlanta Aquarium and Coca-Cola Museum
Seen Lake Tahoe
Had a cold beverage in the Gingerman in Austin
Eaten ice cream at the Berkey Creamery at Penn State
Had a team dinner at Hard Rock Baltimore
And so much more
My advice to all parents who are new to the whole travel tounament thing is to wrap yourself up in the entire experience. Yes, the volleyball is always fantastic, but only half of the fun. Experience each weekend and the new city it presents to the absolute fullest extent possible. I will meet you all at the Minneapolis Town Hall Brew Pub in July or Taco Macs in Atlanta in June!
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