How to Enjoy a Day at the Baseball Stadium

A fun outing that is available during the majority of the year is spending a day at the baseball stadium. Most professional baseball parks are located in a downtown area where there are always many interesting places to visit. Enjoying a day at the ballpark involves more than the game itself. It is the time spent together, the delicious hot dogs you cannot find anywhere else and the hope of catching a wandering baseball.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Sun block
• Baseball glove
• Hat
• Umbrella
• Blanket

1. Pick a game to go to with your friends or family and make an all day event out of it. Look at team schedules and buy tickets at websites like ESPN.com and Tickco.com.
2. Leave for the park early. Bring an umbrella, hat and sun block to protect you from the sun. You'll also need a baseball glove to catch a foul ball or homer.
3. Visit the shops around the ballpark that have baseball-related items and gifts. If you do not visit the ballpark often, buy something to remember the occasion.
4. Buy a program as you enter the stadium. It has a handy seating map and it's interesting to read about the ballpark's history.
5. Find your seats and get comfortable. There are plenty of things to observe from the players warming up to the entertaining mascot. Go down to the lower levels and to see the players up close before the game starts.
6. Eat a hotdog even if it's not something you normally enjoy. For some reason, they taste better at the ballpark than any other place. Whether it is the Cuban Panini’s at Jacobs Field in Cleveland or the Skyline Cheese Coney at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, every ballpark will have their local favorites.
7. Stretch, take a break and walk around during the seventh inning stretch. This is where they stop the game for about 15 to 30 minutes so you can leave without missing anything.

Tips & Warnings

• Go to the bathroom before or after the seventh inning stretch. It will be crowded during the seventh inning and you will miss part of the game anyway.
• Do not leave early just to beat the traffic. You cannot call it a full experience if you do not stay for the whole game. The fever after the game, especially if the home team wins, is something that cannot be explained or substituted.
• Most ballparks will not let you bring in your own snacks or beverages.