Shh. If you listen closely, you may hear the faint sounds of cracking baseball bats in the distance. It can only mean one thing: Opening Day is upon us.

If you’re looking forward to skipping work — not that we’d endorse that — OnStar¹ can help make your ballpark outing run smoothly. So as you head out, remember these six tips designed to knock Opening Day out of the park.

1. Give yourself plenty of time. Mid-day games mean mid-day traffic, so allow plenty of time to get there before the first pitch. When you’re using Turn-by-Turn Navigation, you can ask the Advisor for an alternate route should you run into a traffic jam. Still running behind? Give your friends a call and let them know when to expect you with Hands-Free Calling. (Or go ahead and call your friends who are still stuck at work. Home plate seats are worth rubbing in.)

2. Use accurate directions. Before you leave, you can use OnStar eNav to download the destination from MapQuest.com^® directly to your vehicle. Or you can always hop in the car with the confidence that Turn-by-Turn Navigation will get you there even if you only sort of know where you are going. Simply push your blue button and tell the Advisor where you want to go. You won’t even need the address because OnStar has over 13 million points of interest in the database, including major stadiums.

3. Lock your car from afar. You’ve finally got your hot dog and are settled into your seats when a sinking feeling starts to overtake you. Did you remember to lock your car? Luckily, OnStar can lock it for you. Just call OnStar and ask the Advisor to lock your door remotely. (And while we’re on the subject: Make sure to save the OnStar number (1.888.4.ONSTAR) in your cell phone before you leave home.)

4. Follow some simple anti-theft precautions. Follow these quick tips to protect yourself from theft. But if you’ve taken every precaution and the worst still happens, Stolen Vehicle Assistance from OnStar can help recover your car.

5. Forget where you parked (on purpose). Stadium parking lots are big — and it’s easy to forget where you parked. But you don’t need to remember which letter you parked your car under — or spend hours wandering around trying to find it. Just give OnStar a call and an Advisor can flash your car horn and lights until you locate your car.

6. Refuel with food. Need a place to nosh after the game? With Information & Convenience Services, available with the Directions & Connections subscription plan, you can request the address to a local restaurant — then download the phone number directly to your vehicle. And with Hands-Free Calling, you can call ahead to reserve a table for you and your friends to relive the game highlights.

What are your plans for Opening Day? Do you have any yearly traditions?




¹ Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. Services vary by model and conditions.

“It was Xmas Day 2 yrs ago. I had my grandchildren’s xmas presents with me and I had stayed at a friend’s house the night before. 10:30 the next morning I headed for Boston as I was in Hull. My transmission broke down as I was on the road home. OnStar called the police to protect me from an accident, called roadside assistance and on a national holiday, I was treated very well. I also did not have my insulin with me and was concerned. The police
stayed with me and as soon as they towed my car, he drove me to Quincy (another town) and asked the police there in Quincy to drive me home to Jamaica Plain, 30 minutes away. Everyone was absolutely nice and on a holiday when there were very few people working. Thank you Onstar for protecting me.”

What is the one simple gift you are hoping to receive this holiday? What is the one simple gift you are prepared to give?

Share your answer with others in our OnStar Connections forum.

Santa Claus’ sleigh got a technology upgrade this Christmas season with OnStar. In partnership with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), OnStar allows subscribers to follow Santa’s global journey beginning at 6 a.m. EST on Christmas Eve. Subscribers simply push the blue OnStar button in their vehicle and request a “Santa Update”. An OnStar Advisor will give children and the kid-at-heart updates on Santa’s journey.

Want to follow Santa online? Just visit NORAD Santa 2009 or NORAD Santa on Facebook. Want behind-the-scenes Santa preparation footage? Check out the video below to see Santa picking up his OnStar-equipped sleigh and visiting the OnStar Command Center.

Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — officially kicks off the holiday shopping season. Just about every store will be offering great sales and bargains. Even the most prepared shopper could use a little extra help.

That’s where OnStar comes in.

For one day — Black Friday, November 27, 2009 — all OnStar subscribers, regardless of subscription level, can push their blue button for navigation routes to any place on their list, at no additional cost. Let OnStar help plan your day — whether you travel to one store or 100.

OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation can help you make the most of your Black Friday shopping trip. No stressing about the best way to get from one store to another — just push the button and go.

Check back later this week for Black Friday bargain shopping tips from guest blogger, The Broke Socialite.