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In Honor of America, Salute America's Favorite Pastime By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large July 2006 Who doesn't remember his very first baseball game? Mine was at Memorial Stadium, the former home of the Baltimore Orioles. I was with my Pop, who was there on business. It was a big deal! Before we even entered the park, it was evident that baseball was going to be our thing. My Dad would light up talking about games he went to as a kid. He would go on and on about the Brooklyn Dodgers and how they broke his heart when they moved West to California. Imagine that. … I was mesmerized and joyously overwhelmed from the moment we walked into the park. I had never seen so many people in one place. And the food! Hot dogs. Soda. Popcorn. Peanuts. It was endless--whatever I wanted, Dad let me have. Mom would never have let me have any of this junk. The baseball game was an added bonus! Though I'm a New Yorker, I have to admit, because of my early experiences, the Baltimore Orioles will always occupy a special place in my heart. For me, the game is evocative of a time long gone and yet still alive. And for some reason, baseball seems to have that effect on a lot of people. So this summer, why not take in a game at one of the great parks this country has to offer. (It just so happens that a lot of the best ballparks are in some of the most popular summer destination cities.) Fenway Park, Boston America's oldest major league ballpark (it opened in 1912) is one of the most nostalgic. PNC Park, Pittsburgh With city and water views, many fans claim this is the best and most underrated baseball park in the country. Petco Park, San Diego The newest park on the line-up, Petco opened this spring as a state-of-the-art facility designed for luxury and comfort, though always keeping the game as top priority. Seats are close to the field and angled towards the pitcher's mound. Oriole Park, Baltimore A baseball park sporting a retro feel, Oriole Park is only two blocks from the birthplace of baseball's most legendary hero, George Herman "Babe" Ruth. (Ruth's father operated Ruth's Cafe on the ground floor of the family residence located at Conway Street and Little Paca, now center field at Oriole Park.) Yankee Stadium, Bronx , N.Y. Perhaps the most famous stadium of them all, “The House that Ruth Built,” is renowned for creating baseball's legends and a history of winning. Wrigley Field, Chicago Wrigley Field is a must-visit for any true fan. Nothing compares to watching the Cubs from the bleachers at Wrigley with the notoriously rowdy fans and original scoreboard still intact. Coors Field, Denver They say that at this mile-high stadium, the ball travels nine percent farther at 5,280 feet than at sea level, which makes it a power-hitter's dream field. (Your chance of catching a home run is greater here than anywhere!) SBC Park, San Francisco Home runs splash into McCovey Cove (named after another Hall of Fame Willie) at this park where some of the best seats are found in rowboats or kayaks outside of the park. Rogers Centre, Toronto The stadium is known for its leading-edge technology in both design and function, with its retractable roof (at 310 feet, it holds the record for being the tallest in Major League Baseball) that opens and closes in just 20 minutes and the largest "jumbotron" in North America. America is a nation of impassioned baseball fans. We're all a bunch of would-be fly-ball catchers rooting for base-stealers to do their thing while eating hot dogs and drinking a coldy. Baseball is about so much more than the peanuts and Cracker Jacks. It's a chance to spend time together. It's about fun. It's about tradition. It's about what America used to be, what it still is, and, what it could be. For the most recent travel news check out Amy Ziff's Travel Tips from AtoZ at www.travelocity.com/atoz. If you have a question or topic you would like me to cover in a future column, please e-mail Amy Ziff at ask.amy@travelocity.com ask.amy@travelocity.com. Come back monthly to see if your question has been answered.

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