Make travel plans now for March Madness

Get more information about March Madness: NCAA Tournament Travel Deals

Many of you know that I’m a basketball fan, especially college basketball during the annual spring NCAA tournament.

If you want to know how a formerly disinterested spectator became an enthusiast, the Gainesville (FL) Sun newspaper carried my op-ed about the descent into March Madness.

For those families who also follow hoops and would like to travel to see some great college basketball games this spring, time’s a’wasting.

The April 5 and 7, 2008 Men’s Final Four Division I event is in a fun city for travel with kids (San Antonio, Texas) in the Alamodome, but it’s already sold out.

The Men’s East Regional in Charlotte, NC and the West Regional in Phoenix, AZ are also sold out, but there are still tickets for the Midwest Regional in Detroit, MI and the South Regional in Houston, TX.

These cities still have tickets for the men’s opening or early rounds, and might make a good family sports trip: Dayton OH, Anaheim CA, Birmingham AL, Raleigh NC and Tampa FL.

Get hot — the 2009 Men’s Final Four is in Dayton, Ohio, so plan now.

The Women’s 2008 Division I college tournament also has tickets available, and yes, you’ll see some equally exciting b-ball. The Women’s Final Four in Tampa, FL is sold out, but there are still seats for the Regionals in New Orleans LA, Spokane WA, Greensboro NC and Oklahoma City OK.

Women’s opening and early rounds are in Albuquerque NM, Baton Rouge LA, Des Moines IA, Stanford CA, Bridgeport CT, College Park MD, Norfolk VA and West Lafayette IN.

For those who plan way ahead, the Women’s Final Four is in St. Louis, MO in 2009.

Technorati tags: travel, family travel, March Madness, NCAA college basketball, Final Four