Spring Training Info......

Cayronut wrote earlier asking about information on Spring Training.  I fired off a slap dash response while trying to get things done at work.  I promised a more thoughtful and well linked response, so here is my attempt at providing that.  My first piece of advice is that you can do this on your own.  I haven't looked at the Cards packages, but I can imagine that they are high end and won't address your needs as an individual.  Unless they are offering some very cool activities for only package participants, like bp off of Gibson, I would shy away.
    The Cards train in Jupiter, Florida, a small community which is twenty-five minutes north of West Palm Beach, Florida.  There are two main highways in Florida that run north and south, the first is 95 and the second is the infamous Florida Turnpike.  Unless you  absolutely cannot afford it, I would recommend that you take the Pike for all your travels, especially between the hours of 7 AM to 10 AM and from 3 to 7 PM at night.  95 becomes the world's largest parking lot between those hours.  If you have a transponder from another turnpike system, it might work down there, call and ask.  My Illinois one works out here in Masschustuess  The toll from West Palm to Jupiter is $1.20 one way.  Check at Floridasturnpike.com for more information.
    If you are flying in, there are a couple of airport options.  The best option is West Palm Beach, Florida, as it is the closest, usually the cheapest, and is quite easy to get in and out of.  Fort Lauderdale is an hour south and Miami is an hour and half south of Jupiter at the absolute minimum.  I cannot recommend or stress enough that West Palm is your best option.  
    On the accommodation front, I ran an expedia search for Jupiter and found four or five hotels, all of which seemed relatively new.  Jupiter is a new area, so most of the hotels should be clean and new.  The next town south is North Palm Beach Gardens, which has some new hotels, restaurants and a mall.  It also has relatively easy access to the beach and it right on the pike and 95.  The hotels there range from traveler no frills to your slightly more luxury but still road motels.  The cheapest I found hotels was in the $130 range.  I know where these hotels are and they are areas I would feel comfortable letting my wife stay in.  
    Let's talk baseball.  The Cardinals share their facility with the Florida Marlins.  It consists of Roger Dean Stadium, a very nice facility, and ten practice fields.  While most people think of Spring Training games, the real work of Spring Training occurs on these fields which are open to the public.  The Cardinals actually make it pretty easy and enjoyable to watch practice.  There are bleachers at the center fields and there are vendors that sell food, drink and souvenirs.  (Though, you can bring in your own, there ARE NO gates or admission fees.)  
    So what are you going to see on these fields?  The center fields are dedicated to your starters and their drills.  One field will be batting practice, one will be fielding drills, and one will be pitchers working on either fielding or something else.  On the outer fields, the rookies, minor leaguers and roster fillers will be working on their skill sets and trying to impress.  My best advice is to print a roster off the internet so you can follow who is wearing what number.  Interaction with the players is almost guaranteed.  
    Once practice gets done, about 12, you can head to one of the beaches on the Gold Coast, or head down to Palm Beach and do some high end shopping.  Just kidding about the shopping, keep away from that.  

I'll take questions......