Making the Most of Orlando City’s 2020 Away Schedule

Orlando City SC announced its schedule for the 2020 MLS season yesterday. At first glance, I was a little bummed to see that the away match in Miami is on a Thursday night and the away match in Atlanta is only three days later. Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United are our most accessible opponents to visit, but it looks like my husband and I will miss them this coming season.

If we had the time to travel to away games, I’d look to make the trip a small vacation. With 17 away matches, how is one to choose which one’s to plan a trip around? Let’s break down a few options.

Most Accessible

Miami is the clear winner here for distance. The fact that you could take the train into Fort Lauderdale and not have to actually drive is a nice addition. That was our plan until the whole Thursday night wrench got thrown in, but if you’re able to make the trip here are some things you might enjoy if you can tack on a day or two.

• Walk and eat your way through Little Havana, taking in the art, music, and more.
• You can visit Zoo Miami, because zoos are always fun and you can check out their newest exhibit centered around the Everglades.
• Of course, you can always head to iconic Miami Beach and explore the Art Deco District.

West Coast Pick

You might be dying to go to Los Angeles or maybe you’d like to spend some time in Denver. I would absolutely love to make my way to Denver, but I’m going with Vancouver for the best destination out west. Don’t judge me, but I’ve never left the country and one of my best friends loves going to Vancouver, so it could be a great option to make the most out of a long-distance trip to see Orlando City.

• Drive the Sea-to-Sky highway. The 1.5-hour, breathtaking drive will take you from downtown Vancouver to the ski town of Whistler with waterfalls and suspension bridges along the way.
• Dress up and stroll around Gastown where you’ll find European eateries, fancy boutiques, and cocktail lounges.
• Hike or walk around the parks. Everything I’ve read says you won’t be disappointed if you do and rumor has it Lynn Canyon has a less-crowded suspension bridge that won’t cost you.
• Head to Granville Island with an empty stomach to take advantage of the many food and drink options.

Favorite City

I’ve yet to attend a New York City FC or New York Red Bulls game, but I love New York City. Pick either match and stay for a while. It’s going to sound trite, but there’s really something special about NYC. I didn’t believe it until we went for the first time and public transit makes it incredibly easy to experience it to its fullest. Be aware though, that the Red Bulls game is in New Jersey, so you’ll need to make arrangements to get out there from the city. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in the Big Apple:

• See a show — literally any show. You can find discount tickets for day-of shows right at the kiosks in the middle of Broadway. There are so many incredibly talented performers, and the theaters are stunning, unlike anything we have around here.
• Grab a bagel and a slice. Friends would tell me all the time how good the pizzas and bagels are in NYC, and I’d laugh it off or nod and smile, but it’ll ruin you. You’ll never be able to even look at them the same when you get home.
• Stroll through Central Park. It’s really quite incredible how something so peaceful, lush, and green can exist in such a loud, busy, concrete world.
• Take a trip into Brooklyn. In downtown Brooklyn you can shop, eat, and catch a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Its no-nonsense noise and phone policy and absence of paid ads before the show is a dream for people who go to the movies to actually watch them.
• Visit one of the amazing little bookstores all over the city. Some are tailored to classics or collectibles and then there’s Strand near Union Square—18 with new, used, and rare titles.

With my two easy away matches seemingly out of reach this season, I’m not sure we’ll be able to make any but let us know in the comments below if you’ll be heading to any away games this year.