Great American Bro'd Trip Day Six

A look at PNC Park, the best stadium with the worst team

It turned out to be a quiet night in DC — Obama didn't even invite the road duofor hamburgers.
Locals rave about the park — ESPN recently rated it the best in the MajorLeagues. And everyone hates the team.
Photo by Jeremy C. Little

After several frozen cocktails at Under the Volcano on empty stomachs, converted Houstonians Jeremy C. Little (a publicist) and Colin “Dabbo” Dabbs (a junior high history teacher) finally decided to do it. Eight days, 10 Major League ballparks, the Budweiser brewery, and enough fried food to give Carlos Lee the gout. It’s the Great American Bro'd Trip and this is the account of day six, a rare day of near rest in the epic journey.

Day 6: Mars, Penn.—Washington,, DC: 261 miles

Major League park for a minor league team
Still reeling from Daniel Bard’s meltdown against the Indians, we rolled into the Steel City (Pittsburgh if you didn't know) to check out PNC Park, home of the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates, the once proud franchise that Stephen Strasburg memorably eviscerated in his first career major league start.

Conforming to the architectural trend of classic / modern fusion that started with the opening of Baltimore Orioles' Camden Yards in 1992, PNC Park is nothing short of thrilling to see. With Pittsburgh’s surprisingly dynamic skyline looming in the outfield, PNC should stand as the template for any future ballpark construction.

The locals had nothing but great things to say about the park, even if I can’t reprint what they had to say about the team.

The seventh-inning stretch
After six days and over 2000 miles, we decided to lay low for a night in the nation’s capital. Dabbo shacked up with a childhood friend and his wife, while I temporarily relived my “wandering year” of 2006 by linking up with the DC contingent of my old college drinking team; the same group with whom I lived for several non-consecutive weeks in the spring and summer of 2006 before migrating south to the green pastures of Houston.

Baltimore drive-by tomorrow . . .

unspecified

Riverside Reno

Fresh makeover turns Hill Country hotel into modern riverside refuge

Photo courtesy of Hacienda Del Rio\u200b

No matter how cosmopolitan the hotel gets, nothing can beat the trees around this pool.

After a two-year renovation and rebranding, Hacienda Del Rio Hotel and Bar has opened in Gruene, a historic district within New Braunfels. Formerly the Gruene Outpost River Lodge, the property along the Guadalupe River now has 48 renovated rooms, new outdoor sports like pickleball, and updated amenities at the pool.

The River Lodge's previous aesthetic was DIY and rustic, but the new Hacienda Del Rio has a much more cosmopolitan, contemporary design. The new look is full of midcentury styles, but with other eclectic elements mixed in. A press release declares the space was "designed in the spirit of Spanish colonial architecture," but don't expect anything old-fashioned.

$Hacienda Del Rio\u200b Hotel and Bar interior$ These earthy tones mellow out an otherwise energetic space.Photo courtesy of Hacienda Del Rio

Texas-based hotel group French Cowboys was behind this major makeover, which started in April 2023. That puts Hacienda Del Rio in a family with Camp Comfort and The Meyer Hotel in the Hill Country town of Comfort; the Claire Hotel near Canyon Lake; the Gruene River Inn and Heidelberg Lodges in New Braunfels, and Webber East in Austin.

The Hacienda can accommodate up to 178 guests in a variety of room layouts including kings, double queens, and suites. Bathrooms and showers are new, and rooms are outfitted with smart TVs, plus custom steel doors and windows. Photos of guestrooms, although they are colorful, show off a streamlined sensibility.

A new clubhouse and cocktail bar draws guests who may not be staying overnight. Coffee and breakfast will be available in the morning, followed by daytime snacks, and finally a full bar in the evening. Anyone who stops by can enjoy beer, wine, and signature cocktails, plus shuffleboard, a pool table, and even some workspace. There will also be a new conference room for presentations, retreats, and more.

$Hacienda Del Rio\u200b Hotel and Bar interior$ This lounge is open to hotel guests and the public.Photo courtesy of Hacienda Del Rio

Departing from the artsy interior to New Braunfels' beautiful surroundings, guests can play pickleball, beach volleyball, and basketball on a half-court, plus fire pits near the river and kayaks, paddleboards, and floats. River adventures will be facilitated by Paddle Texas, which will offer rentals and experiences. Finally, a renovated pool and deck provide more leisure space.

“‘Del Rio’ reflects the area’s deep connection to the Guadalupe River, where guests can jump in, float, or just hang out by the water, whether it’s at the river or our pool," said French Cowboys co-founder Dylan Petrich in a press release. "And Hacienda captures our vision of creating a vibrant, social place where people can kick back, enjoy the outdoors, and grab a drink, all in one of the Hill Country’s most iconic destinations, without breaking the bank."

Rates start at $125 per night, and the food and beverage space is open every day. Introductory rates are available for those who book through December 31, 2025.

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