Scoring a Win with a Football Road Trip - written by David Reichman

I'M A 49ER FAN and don't need a road trip planner to drive the 37 miles to Candlestick Park in San Francisco to watch my men in red and gold. I didn't hit the road to go to their Superbowl games either because I always held a huge party at home with TVs in every room (including the bathrooms). And when their 5-time winning streak ended and the 49ers slipped back to the Astroturf, I turned to Fantasy Football.

But now I'm thinking maybe it's time to enter the next level of Football Fandom. I use my trusty road trip planner to plan my summer vacations, weekend getaways, anniversary trips, family gatherings, even my girlfriend getaways...why not a Football Road Trip?

AWAY GAMES: It would be a blast to go on a road trip to cheer my team on against one of their historical rivals. In my case, it would mean traveling to St. Louis, Missouri to battle the Rams, which would actually be a great road trip choice because I could stay with family there and could bunk with them. Plus, St. Louis is a great destination offering many things to do. So check your own team's schedules; a football road trip may be the perfect excuse to visit a city you've always wanted to explore anyway. Here's your chance to visit the homes of the Seattle Seahawks, or the Philadelphia Eagles.

YOUR FAVORITE TEAM IS IN ANOTHER STATE: I'm within one hour's drive of my team's home field but I have friends whose favorite teams are the Dallas Cowboys or the Green Bay Packers (go figure). It's lonely to shout out your team's name in a sea of opposite-minded fans. Or be the only Cheesehead in your section. So plan a road trip there and be surrounded by people who aren't scowling when your team scores.

SPECIAL FOOTBALL DESTINATIONS: Actually, now that I'm talking myself into an actual road trip, I shouldn't restrict myself to just my team's away games. I could use my road trip planner to plot out my route to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Canton, Ohio. Or visit the home city of the ONLY OTHER two 5-Time Superbowl Champions, Dallas or Pittsburgh (ahem, couldn't resist that little nod to the 49er Glory Days).

SPECIAL EVENT GAMES: Get your friends together and have a great time planning a road trip to one of the following events:
* The Super Bowl XLIII will be in Tampa Bay, Florida on February 1, 2009
* The 2009 Pro Bowl is in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 8, 2009

FOR THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL ENTHUSIASTS: Do your road trip planning around these events:
* 2009 Rose Bowl is in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 2009
* 2009 Orange Bowl is at the Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida on January 1, 2009
* 2009 Sugar Bowl is at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans on January 2, 2009
* 2009 Fiesta Bowl will be at the University of Phoenix Stadium (a $450 million state-of-the-art complex ) in Glendale, Arizona on January 5, 2009
* 2009 BCS Championship Game will be held in Miami, Florida on January 8, 2009

All this talk of football road trips is revving me up! In fact, I'm making a commitment right here and now. If the 49ers make it back to the Superbowl again, wherever it is, I'll use my road trip planner to get me there. Ready, set, hut, hut, hike!