Since their return, wherever it is the Winnipeg Jets happen to play on the road there's always a small army of people there to cheer them on.

From Columbus to Colorado, fans of the National Hockey League team are always noticeable in the stands by their Jets attire and especially via the vocal pronouncement of True North during the signing of O Canada.

Jets fans in opposing buildings are not hard to find!

You could say the Jets, or at least their fans, travel well.

As someone that has been fortunate to travel to most of the other 29 locales throughout the NHL over the last few years of covering the team, here are my Top 5 road cities to aid any Jets fan looking to book a trip to catch the team in action away from the MTS Centre.

Now, of course, this is one man's opinion, but generally this quick guide should at least provide a starting point for planning your Jets roadie getaway.

1. Nashville – There isn't a better city in the league for fun outside of actually taking in the hockey game. Even if you aren't anything close to a Country Music fan and you wouldn't know Garth Brooks from Garth Snow, the Music City will somehow have you finding a little two-step in your stride at the end of your visit. The beauty of Nashville is its core. All of the bars and restaurants have live bands and everything in the downtown area is within walking distance or a $5.00 cab ride. This includes the Bridgestone Arena where the Predators are very well supported. Booking a hotel in the downtown area would be a sage move. You might find other accommodations that may appease your budget more favourably, but staying downtown puts you right amongst the action and car rental isn't required during your stay. Even the Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry are right downtown; too, so walking is always an easy and cheap way to travel. This even holds true for January since winter in Nashville is nothing like Southern Manitoba.

2. St. Paul – Simply put, if airline travel is out of your budget this is your best destination for a Jets road trip. Just a short seven-hour drive from most anywhere in the capital region of Winnipeg, you can cruise to the Twin Cities via Interstate Highway from the Canada/U.S. border right through to downtown St. Paul. It might be suggested to stay on the St. Paul side of this metropolis to avoid a lot of extra driving if the game is what you're really interested in first-and-foremost, although if shopping is to be included in your stay the freeway system within the Cities gets you around easily. Perhaps the most interesting part of taking in a Jets/Wild game is the amount of Winnipeg fans you'll find at the Xcel Energy Center. You'll be in good company. And, the rivalry that is developing between the two Central Division foes makes the atmosphere within the building that much more passionate, especially when you mix in a little Canada vs. U.S. feel to the game and ambience to the building - and that's never a bad thing.

3. Montreal – Like Nashville, if you stay downtown in Montreal you're able to walk everywhere including to the Bell Centre for the game. Shopping in the downtown area is excellent (especially on the high-end side) and there's always a pub or great restaurant nearby. If you enjoy foot transportation, a colleague of mine walked from our hotel through McGill University and up to Mount Tremblay. It was about a two-hour stroll but something he recommends I do upon my next visit there. Now, to the game itself. Watching a game in Montreal is like nothing else. Even if you're not a Canadiens fan, you will still appreciate the history and lore of the Montreal Canadiens upon entering the Bell Centre. It's a must visit for any hockey fan and combining a Jets game there accomplishes both on one sojourn. Moreover, Montreal is a very unique city with its French culture, but it's also very cosmopolitan, so if English is your only language, the city is still very navigable for a unilingual tourist.

4. Tampa Bay – There is nothing better than combining a winter getaway with a Jets game abroad and Tampa offers both. Of course, the weather during the winter months is always spectacular in Tampa/St. Pete. Seldom will you find a need to wear anything more than a long sleeve shirt or light jacket – and that's likely only in the evening. And like last year's visit there with the Jets, it was downright hot in December. In a place like Tampa, there is always so much to do if you want an extended stay that includes a Jets game within your visit. This includes golf, deep sea fishing or a Disney World adventure down the road in Orlando. But again, it does come back to the hockey and the Lightning are very well supported and the atmosphere in the T.B. Times Forum is as exciting as you'll find. And since Tampa has one of the best players in the league in Steven Stamkos and a Stanley Cup potential winning team overall, you're probably setting yourself up for a thrilling game – even if it doesn't go Winnipeg's way. In fact, if the Lightning do move deep into the playoffs next spring, you can tell all your buddies that you saw them play earlier in the season when the Jets were there and you're not at all surprised by their post-season success.

5. Arizona – Let's face it, there's always going to be a connection for some of us between Winnipeg and Phoenix when it comes to hockey. All of us are well aware of the history connecting the old Jets with the Coyotes. For this reason, it seems like there's a quiet undercurrent for most Jets 2.0 fans to cheer against Arizona. And there's nothing better with that in mind than watching the Jets actually beat the Coyotes as they did this year to open the regular season. But taking in a game in Glendale is almost a must for other reasons too. This includes the beautiful new building the Coyotes play in and the development of hotels, restaurants and shops within the complex around the facility. I would recommend staying in the West Valley or even right in Glendale for this experience and convenience. That is, unless you already have some sort of connection to a relative or friend in the Phoenix area who will put you up, as many of us from Manitoba do. Finally, the weather in Phoenix is almost always perfect, especially after the New Year when the rainy season of December is over.

Bon Voyage!

Travel safe.