| If you're a baseball fan who loves to travel and see | | | | can browse an extensive collection of local and |
| new things, catching a game can actually be a great | | | | organic meats, cheeses, and vegetables. |
| way to start exploring local cityscapes and cultures. | | | | Safeco Field, Seattle: The Mariners' field was built in |
| Especially over the last 10 or 15 years, there has been | | | | Pioneer Square, Seattle's oldest neighborhood and |
| a trend of building baseball stadiums that are integrated | | | | home to much of the city's most interesting |
| with the look and feel of vibrant downtown | | | | architecture and urban spaces. Because of its |
| neighborhoods. Several team organizations have taken | | | | downtown location, the ballpark is also near a huge |
| this step, and fans have benefited considerably. | | | | variety of dining and recreation options. By walking |
| When going to a game at one of these stadiums, be | | | | north or northeast, visitors will treat themselves to |
| sure to leave a lot of room on your itinerary before or | | | | some of Seattle's best unique local flavor. |
| after the game for exploring the neighborhood. | | | | Fenway Park, Boston: Unlike the other parks on this list, |
| Coors Field, Denver: Coors Field in Denver set the | | | | Fenway park is old, now nearing its 100th anniversary. |
| modern trend for downtown ballparks. When | | | | Because of its age, the park has seen all kinds of |
| developers drew up plans for the park, the LoDo | | | | changes to its surrounding area. The |
| neighborhood was a gritty area with several breweries | | | | Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood is home to several |
| and close proximity to 16th street, the main downtown | | | | museums, including the Museum of Fine Art, and it's |
| strip. After the park opened, LoDo quickly became one | | | | within shouting distance from the South End |
| of the most interesting neighborhoods in the city. The | | | | neighborhood, which is one of Boston's hippest and |
| breweries became popular brewpubs, and a wide | | | | most vibrant neighborhoods. |
| variety of dining and bar options began to thrive in the | | | | PNC Park, Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh's downtown area has |
| area. If you're not a fan of the bar scene walk, four | | | | undergone a startling revitalization over the last few |
| blocks southwest to find the 16th Street Mall, Denver's | | | | years, and the new home of the Pirates has played a |
| popular mile-long pedestrian mall. | | | | central role in the process. Located in Pittsburgh's |
| AT&T Park, San Francisco: The Giants' ballpark made | | | | central North Side neighborhood, the park is directly |
| its debut in 2000. Anchoring San Francisco's South | | | | across the river from the city's breathtaking skyline, |
| Beach neighborhood, the park is in easy walking | | | | and park visitors are treated to a clear view of the |
| distance from a variety of hip and lively bars, cafes, | | | | city's architecture. The park has become the center of |
| restaurants, museums, and markets. It's also very close | | | | a thriving neighborhood for dining and nightlife, and it's |
| to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and it's | | | | just down the street from Pittsburgh's famed Warhol |
| near the Ferry Building farmers market, where visitors | | | | Museum. |