Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

The Boston regional is very close to the coast, maybe only a couple miles, but Boston harbor isn't very scenic and it doesn't really smell or sound like a beach at all.

Besides that though, if you're planning on a regional to attend, Boston was estimated to have over 7,200 people attend on Saturday. It was definitely one of the best run regionals as well.

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Ocean? Well, St. Louis is located on a major tributary of the Gulf of Mexico. That tributary was made world-famous in the nineteenth century via stories written by a fellow named Samuel Langhorne Clemens. He was a native of Florida, so it is likely that he had seen the ocean.

From St. Louis, the ocean can be reached by air, or steamboat, or a log raft if your budget is really low. ;)

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Richard, you guys are landlocked. Landlocked. The muddy Mississippi does not count, log raft or no.

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Even at the Sports Arena, L.A. isn't too far away from the beaches--more like 15-20 miles than 5 miles, but that's still only about half an hour, traffic permitting. And there is a freeway route there...

And Clemens, as I recall, did see the ocean, as he traveled over it on some occasions. He left from the eastern seaboard (after living in CT, as I recall).

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Well, if a bay is good enough for clean air, Chesapeake most definitely. I loved just walking down to the academy in the morning with the entire huge team. The clean crisp air is really refreshing. Also, the small museum that is connected to the stadium has a balcony up top that's a wonderful place to hang out. 10/10

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

the new orlands one takes place in the convention center... thats on the water

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Oh tell me about it!
We were freezing butt there and it was already JUNE!
Then I come home, get off the plane, and everyone is wondering why I have a jacket on, after wearing it for a week and a half straight.:eek:

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Florida, Missouri, that is-- and you forgot to mention that an ocean can also be reached from St. Louis by bus, car, or train in at least 3 directions!

I wish we could have the Los Angeles Regional at the Long Beach sports arena--it's close to the water (port of Long Beach) and the weather is usually decent, when it's not outright wonderful.

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Maybe in the ocean? Just one of the events that this year's Chairman's team does to "spread the message of FIRST"
21 teams, some are already FIRST teams, many will become rookie teams in the fall.

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Boston's Southie's Carson Beach they say is nice, but it's no Tel Aviv :), at least from comparing photos. I've only driven by it to/from a job, and either direction I was in no mood to stop. Sorry, Long Island's Jones Beach spoiled me, though I have no desire to go back. And having grown up an island, it would feel odd being able to drive in any direction and not hit water.

Reader's Digest story badly re-told: A group of sailor recruits arrived at their new station in Florida, and for their last night of freedom another sailor wanted to know where they wanted to go celebrate. They requested the beach, as they were all from the midwest and had never even seen the ocean!

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Why wait for a regional competition? My most recent visit to the ocean was a side trip the afternoon of the Kickoff in Manchester this year.

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Was it Hampton Beach, NH?
If so, good choice!
That's one of my favorite (Northern) beaches. I haven't been there in a couple of years though, but my Dad & I used to go there every summer, & always had a great time.

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Using that logic, so it Detroit... and you get to big water MUCH sooner. Pay attention when it narrows back up though... it gets a little rough. :rolleyes: If the timing works out you can travel to the Toronto regional this way.

You might want to use a barrel as opposed to the log raft though.

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

So I guess Lone Star can't count the Houston Ship Channel?

And the irony of that is that the water temperature was probably only 2 degrees colder than it will be in late summer.

Re: Any 2009 regionals near the Ocean?
 

Don’t book your trip to New Orleans just yet. Yes, the Convention Center is on the river, but otherwise, it’s not near the Gulf. That’s 90 miles downriver to Pilottown, and you can only get there by boat. You could drive 60-90 miles east to the Mississippi beaches. Ship Island is beautiful there. The next-closest gulf view is Grand Isle, LA- almost a 3 hour drive southwest. But if the thread HAD BEEN about “Regionals closest to National Parks that include bayou preserves,” New Orleans would be all over that!
Proud to call it home.

http://www.nps.gov/jela/