Arthur may be out looking for the next best roller coaster, and this blog has been discontinued. Thanks for visiting and happy travels!

Chris sent me this question:

I will be visiting my aunt in Salem at the end of May. How do I get Red Sox tickets without breaking the bank? Thanks for your help.

Thanks for writing. From the nature of your question Chris, I think you already know the likely answer: There's probably no way you'll be able to get Sox tickets, unless you, your aunt, or some kindly and relatively wealthy soul can pony up a lot of scratch. It's a simple matter of supply and demand. The Red Sox are wildly popular and Fenway Park doesn't have nearly enough seats to go around. As you've no doubt discovered, tickets to the late-May series against Cleveland are sold out--as are the majority of home games. That's just the way it is here in Red Sox nation. That doesn't mean you don't have any options, however.

• Many Sox fans purchase tickets for away games and hit the road to see their favorite team play live. It can actually be cheaper (not to mention a fun adventure) to add in the cost of transportation and lodging in another city than to get Fenway Park tickets. But, that wouldn't help you or your aunt in this situation.

• The Red Sox Web site does make tickets to sold out games available through charity auctions and from season ticket holders who want to resell their tickets. There are also third-party ticket resellers who offer Sox tickets. But, the prices for these options tend to be quite high.

• All is not lost, however. Here's my recommendation: Find a decent sports bar, such as Sidelines in Salem, order a pitcher of beer, and watch the Sox crush Cleveland on a big screen TV. There will undoubtedly be a large and vocal hometown contingent on hand to make you almost feel as if you're at the game. But you could still visit Fenway Park. The ball club offers tours of historic Fenway seven days a week. For a mere $12 each, you and your aunt could gawk at the Green Monster, learn some behind-the-bench tidbits, and soak in the Sox ambiance. Have your aunt take some photos of you inside the park, then show them to the folks back home and brag how you visited Fenway. They'll never have to know that you didn't actually attend a game. I promise not to tell. Enjoy your visit to Massachusetts!

Photo: Boston Red Sox