Spotlight: NYC - The Empire State Building

Spotlight: The Empire State Building is quite possibly the most famous skyscraper in the world. With a height of 102 stories, and 1,454 feet (including its antenna spire), it held the record as the tallest building in the world from 1931 until the completion of the original World Trade Center's North Tower in 1972. Nearly 85 years after it's completion, it remains one of the 25 tallest buildings in the world, and one of the top 5 in the U.S. Named for New York's nickname as the Empire State, the Empire State Building has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Built in the Art Deco style, and designed by William F. Lamb, it was ranked #1 on the AIA's List of America's Favorite Architecture (2007). The limestone used to build it came from the Empire Mill in Sanders, Indiana.
     On Saturday, July 28, 1945, a B-25 Mitchell bomber crashed into the north side of the building, between the 79th and 80th floors. One engine shot through the opposite side of the building and landed on a rooftop a block away, causing a fire that burned down a penthouse. The other engine fell down the elevator shaft starting a different fire that took 40 minutes to put out. Fourteen people were killed in the disaster, but elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a 75-story plunge in an elevator - making the Guinness Book of World Records.
     The Empire State Building was the world's first building with more than 100 floors. It has 6,500 windows, 73 elevators, 1,860 steps (from street level to the 102nd floor), 71 miles of pipe, 2,500,000 feet of electrical wire, 9,000 faucets, 2,768,591 sq. feet of floor space, and houses 1,000 businesses with more than 21,000 workers. Original building costs totaled $40,948,900. In 1964, floodlights were added to illuminate the top of the building at night. The color of the lights often reflects seasonal holidays, sporting events, or commemorate the deaths of significant celebrities. The 203-foot pinnacle on top is covered with broadcast antennas and is capped by a lightning rod. The ESB is so big, it has its own zip code.

     The Empire State Building has been featured numerous times in Hollywood movies or TV shows, including: An Affair to Remember, On the Town, Love Affair, Sleepless in Seattle, King Kong, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Fail-Safe, The Producers, Independence Day, The Time Machine, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Enchanted, Dr. Who, Fringe, MythBusters and I Love Lucy.

Location: The Empire State Building is located at 350 5th Avenue in Manhattan.

Cost: Observation Deck (86th floor): $32/adult, $29/senior (62+), $26/ child (6-12), kids (under 6) are free; add on the 102nd floor observation deck for an additional $20/ticket
- New York Skyride: $42/adult, $32/child (12 and under), $37/senior (62+)
- NY Skyride & Observation Deck combo: $64/adult, $49/child (12 and under), $56/senior (62+)
- The Observation Deck (86th floor) is included in several other combo packages including the New York Pass and the New York CityPASS

Time: open from 8:00 am - 2:00 am daily; allow 2-3 hours for both observation deck and NY Sky ride

Description: The main indoor/outdoor observation deck is located on the 86th floor and offers a fabulous 360-degree view of the city. Multi-media handheld devices (included in ticket price) teach visitors about the various places you can see in every direction. High-powered binoculars offer a close up view of the sights. A second, smaller, indoor observation deck is located on the 102nd floor.
     The New York Sky ride is a motion simulator attraction located on the 2nd floor. It is a simulated air tour of the city and lasts about 30 minutes. The original ride, hosted by James Doohan (Star Trek), was redone in 2002 following the World Trade Center tragedy of 9/11. The new host is Kevin Bacon, and the ride has more patriotic overtones. My initial reaction was Sourin' Over California (New York style) meets Star Tours.

NYC at night

NYC - The city that never sleeps

Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - The observation deck has been visited by more than 110 million visitors. The building makes more annually from observation deck ticket sales than it does from renting its office space.
- If you plan to visit the observation decks of both the Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock, I suggest that you visit one during the day, and the other at night to get two distinct views of the city.
- Be prepared to wait in line. The typical visitor to the observation deck has to wait in five lines before finally reaching the top. The least crowded times are between 8:00-11:00 am. Or you can buy express passes ($65) online and skip the lines altogether.
- The last elevator up leaves at 1:15 am.
- Guests may only climb the stairs as part of the annual Empire State Building Run-Up in February.
- We thoroughly enjoyed both the observation deck and the Sky ride, but I don't think that the Sky ride is worth the price unless you can get major discounts in some sort of combo package. When we went, it was included in the New York Pass, but it doesn't look like it is included any longer.

The Chrysler Building

Nearby: Madison Square Garden, The Morgan Library & Museum, Macy's Herald Square, Penn Station, the Chrysler Building

Travel Tip #28 - Earn Free Nights at Hotels

     One way we cut down on travel expenses is by getting free nights at hotels/motels. Many years ago, when we were looking at hotel prices, my wife came across a rewards program in which we could earn free nights by staying in motels from the same chain. Since we'd had good experiences in some motels, and bad experiences at others, we chose two chains that we'd enjoyed in the past. We've always had good experiences with Best Western, and they are usually within our price range, so they were a natural choice. Unfortunately, sometimes they are over our price range, or sometimes don't have a hotel near where we've wanted to stay the night. Therefore we also signed up for the Choice Hotels rewards program. Choice Hotels include about nine different branches: Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban, EconoLodge, and Rodeway Inn. Almost everywhere we travel, we can find one or more hotels from one of these two chains within our price range. We prefer some of the Choice Hotels over others, based on past experience, but we now almost always read the customer reviews before choosing one. Now we are rarely unpleasantly surprised.
     Both rewards programs are similar. Basically, you earn points each time you stay at one of the chain's hotels - depending on the price of the hotel, not the number of nights. Once you've earned enough points, you can exchange them for a free night at one of their participating hotels. Of course, the more expensive the hotel, the more points it costs to get a free night. The main difference between the programs is that the Choice Hotel points expire within a couple of years after you earn them, and Best Western's points don't. Occasionally, there are certain promotions to encourage travel during non-peak times, but since we almost always travel during school vacations, we never qualify for those. Still, we've earned several free nights over the years, and there is no fee to sign up for the program. I call that a win-win situation.
     So, if you haven't already signed up for a rewards program, it's worth taking a look. If you are going to be spending money anyway on a hotel, you might as well get some of that money back.

Spotlight - NYC - The Rockefeller Center

Spotlight: The Rockefeller Center is one of the most iconic landmarks in New York City. The Center is made up of 19 buildings, covering 22 acres between 48th and 51st Streets. It was named after John D. Rockefeller Jr., who leased the land from Columbia University and began developing it in 1930. Rockefeller personally financed the construction of 14 buildings in the Center, using the Art Deco style, providing employment for over 40,000 individuals during the decade of the 1930's, at the height of the Great Depression. International Building North was originally slated to house German commercial interests in the U.S., but Rockefeller nixed the idea in response to the Nazi's aggressive movements leading up to WWII. Instead, it became the headquarters of British Intelligence during the War, with Room 3603 becoming the principal operations center of Allied Intelligence. Additions to the Center include the Lehman Brothers Building, and four International style towers built during the 1960's & 1970's.

looking up

     The Rockefeller Center is one of the last public building projects to focus on the artistic design of its buildings. A huge statue of Atlas faces 5th Avenue, creating a symbol for the Center itself. Other works of art are found throughout the complex including friezes on the buildings themselves.

Hanging art display

Location: The Rockefeller Center is located just east of Times Square, in between 48th & 51st Streets, and between 5th & 6th Avenues. The centerpiece of the Center is the Comcast Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza,

Cost: Free to walk around; tours and other activities cost extra.
"Top of the Rock" Observation Deck - $30/adult; $28/senior; $24/child (6-12)

Time: Open from 8:00 am - midnight. Plan on 1-2 hours for the Top of the Rock Tour.

Description: The Rockefeller Center is a collection of 19 buildings. Most of these buildings are office buildings of internationally recognized companies such as Time-Life, NBC, and McGraw-Hill. One of the more famous buildings is Radio City Music Hall, which became the premiere showcase for films from the RKO-Radio Studio. The format for these shows included both a feature film with an accompanying stage show. These popular performances helped Radio City become the most popular attraction in NYC for many years until changes in film distribution made it difficult for Radio City to obtain exclusive bookings. The Music Hall has presented performances of many top rock and pop performers over the past 30 years, and has hosted celebrated TV events such as the Grammy Awards, the Tony Awards, and the NFL Draft.

     The centerpiece of the Center is the Comcast Building (AKA - 30 Rock) - currently the home of NBC studios. This 70-floor, 872-foot tall skyscraper is the setting for one of the most famous photos of all time - Lunchtime atop a Skyscraper taken by Charles C. Ebbets. The Observation Deck on top of the skyscraper is known as Top of the Rock, and offers visitors a 360-degree panoramic view of the city. The famous Rainbow Room club restaurant is located on the 65th floor.

View of the Empire State Building

View of Central Park

     In front of 30 Rock is the Lower Plaza, which is reached from 5th Avenue via the Channel Gardens and Promenade. The Gardens change from season to season, with a different theme each time. Each winter, the Lower Plaza hosts the famous Rockefeller Ice Skating Rink and the iconic Rockefeller Christmas Tree.
     A series of underground shops and restaurants are located underneath the Plaza and can be accessed from stairways located in the lobbies of the six landmark buildings.
     About 200 flagpoles line the Plaza at street level. The flags often display the member nations of the United Nations. Occasionally, they display various holiday motifs, and on U.S. holidays they each display a U.S. flag.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5); 5 stars during the Christmas season

Things You Should Know: - The Top of the Rock tour is included with the New York Pass.
- The last elevator to the observation deck leaves at 11:00 pm.
- The public entrance for the Top of the Rock Tour is on 50th Street.
- The Rock Pass is good for the Rockefeller Center Tour and the Observation Deck.
- Various other tours are available at the official Rockefeller website.
- There is a subway station entrance below 6th Avenue for Trains B, D, F & M.

Nearby: St. Patrick's Cathedral, Times Square, Carnegie Hall, MoMA, Central Park

Travel Tip #27 - Build Flex Time into your Itinerary

     People who have traveled with me, particularly my wife, will probably say that I have the tendency to over plan. Whenever we go somewhere, I try to pack in as much as I can into every day. There are two reasons for this: 1) I have a 27-page long list of "travel ideas" (places I'd like to visit someday) which keeps growing every year; and 2) I have a limited budget to spend on each trip. Since hotel bills are often the biggest expense on any given trip, I try to do multiple activities each day in order to cut down on the number of nights we are there, allowing us to go more places. The problem with doing this is that sometimes we are so worn out from traveling, that we need a vacation from our vacation. Luckily, since I'm a school teacher, we usually do have time to relax after the vacation is over. Still, I always have to remind myself that if I want to keep everyone happy, I have to make sure we have flex time built into each day - time to just sit back and relax.
     On our New York trip, we crammed about 15 activities into 3 days. Part of the reason was because we bought a 3-day New York Pass, which meant that most of the activities we did in those three days were "free" since we'd already paid for them. If we could have squeezed in another activity or two, we would have been sorely tempted to do so (pun intended). We returned to our hotel each night with aching feet. On the positive side, we were asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. If I could do that trip over again, I would have only bought a 2-day pass, and used the third day to do some our non-pass activities at a more leisurely pace. We would have had to cut out one or two of our activities, but we also could have spent a little more time at one or more of the places where we felt rushed. One of the places I would have built in more flex time would have been Central Park. I could have spent all day there exploring the various nooks and crannies of the park.
     I realize that this tip is probably more for my own benefit than others. Still, if you are like me, and have the tendency to over plan, I recommend taking a hard look at your itinerary. If you notice that you are trying to do a little too much, cut out one of your activities. Then you will have the flexibility to spend more time at one or more of your other activities.
     Have fun on your next vacation, and make sure that it is truly a vacation.

Spotlight: NYC - Central Park

Spotlight: "Central Park is the 843-acre masterpiece of landscape architecture designed in the 19th century by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and designated New York City's first scenic landmark in 1974. As one of America's greatest works of art and the nation's first public park, Central Park has become the most famous and beloved urban park in the world." (Official Website of New York's Central Park)
    During the early 20th Century, many of Central Park's major features began to erode due to overuse or neglect. Robert Moses, Park Commissioner from 1934-1960, received federal funding to restore many of the damaged landscapes and structures. Unfortunately, the restorations were temporary since no permanent structure for maintaining the Park had been established. During the mid to late 1900's Central Park developed a negative image due to unchecked garbage, graffiti, vandalism, and other illegal activities. In an effort to remedy the situation, Elizabeth "Betsy" Barlow Rogers was named Central Park Administrator. Using both public and private funds provided by agencies such as the Central Park Conservancy, she launched a series of campaigns designed to revitalize the Park. More important, the Conservancy set up an endowment to ensure the continued maintenance of the Park's natural features and facilities. Today, Central Park has been restored to its place as a national treasure, as evidenced by its 42 million visitors a year. 

View of Central Park from the Top of the Rock

Location: Central Park is located in the middle of Manhattan, between 5th and 8th Avenues and between W. 59th Street and 110th Street. For an interactive map of the Park, click here.

Cost: Free to enter, but some activities cost extra: tours ($15), Central Park Zoo ($13-$18), Carousel ($3/ride), rowboat rentals ($12 for first hour)

Central Park Carousel

Time: Open daily from 6 am - 1 am. You could spend anywhere the entire day just wandering around - and you still might not see everything.

Description: Central Park has a wide variety of activities and facilities for people of all ages. Since we were only there for a short time on our way to the American Museum of Natural History, we only visited a few areas of the Park. Our girls (then 6 & 11) had a blast playing at the Adventure Playground, which had a variety of different activities for them to do. They also had fun riding the Carousel with its brightly painted horses. We also enjoyed looking at the turtles at Wagner Cove.

Adventure Playground

Wagner Cove

     It would be almost impossible to list all the possible recreational activities available in Central Park, so here is just a summary of some of the more popular ones. The Park provides facilities (such as the North Meadows Recreation Center) for a variety of sports including: football, soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, handball, swimming, boating, cycling, ice skating, rollerblading, cross-country skiing, and jogging. Some of the popular tourist sites include: Belvedere Castle, the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, the Dairy Visitor Center, the Central Park Police Precinct, the Delacorte Theater, the Lasker Rink & Pool, Wollman Rink, the Loeb Boathouse, the Rumsey Playfield, the Conservatory Garden, the Central Park Zoo, Vista Rock and the Chess & Checkers House. There are dozens of other interesting gardens, fountains, water falls, lakes, ponds, statues, bridges, arches, playgrounds and trails throughout the park. Other popular recreational activities include: concerts, horse-drawn carriages, bird-watching, kite flying, hiking and fishing.

Rating: 4+ stars (out of 5) - we only saw a small portion of the Park; but looking at others' pictures, I'm sure I would give it 5 stars on a second visit

Things You Should Know: - Information kiosks are located throughout the Park.
- Concession carts are scattered throughout the Park. In addition, Central Park has 3 full service restaurants, and a 6 permanent concession stands.
- There are 7 restroom facilities that are open from about 7 am - dusk.
- Central Park offers tours to those who would like to gain an in-depth understanding of the Park's history and activities. Some tours are free, others cost about $15/person.
- Cars are only permitted on four drives within the Park, and only during posted hours.
- Dogs are permitted in many areas of the Park, but must be under the control of their owners at all times. Dogs are prohibited on all ballfields, recreational courts, playgrounds, water bodies, streams, ornamental fountains, elm islands at the Mall and the Great Lawn Oval, Lilac Walk, and the Reservoir running track.
- Alcohol is prohibited in the Park.
- Urban Park Rangers are available to help with any questions or problems (212-360-2774).

Nearby: American Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine

Travel Tip #26 - Souvenirs

     When you go on vacation, a fun tradition is to get a souvenir from the place you are visiting. The problem is deciding what kind of souvenir to get. When I was young, my dad would give us souvenir money to buy something to remind us of our trip. Unfortunately, it was never enough to buy anything really cool; so we ended up buying something cheap and using the rest of the money to buy candy or comic books. As a result, most of my childhood souvenirs ended up getting broken thrown away within a year or two of the trip. The ones I do have are from when I was older and had a bit more money. In 1988, we went on a marathon 5 week trip across the United States. I was more particular about what I bought, and purchased three statuettes which I still have: Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, and a Pony Express figurine.
     If you travel as much as we do, it's a good idea to find something small and inexpensive, yet durable, to collect as your standard souvenir. I would suggest choosing something that will be available at most vacation locales. For example, my wife has collected souvenir spoons since she was a young girl. Today she has more than 100 of them displayed on racks hanging on our wall. Not only do they serve as a reminder of the places we've been, but they are also an instant conversation starter whenever someone visits our home.
     Since my wife already collected spoons, my daughters each chose something else to collect. My oldest daughter collects pins and/or pressed pennies. She displays her pins on a banner in her room, and the pennies in a special collector's binder.
     My youngest daughter collects key chains. She's not old enough to drive, but she has enough key chains to own dozens of cars. Every trip we go on, she gets a lanyard to hang her key chains on and wears it everywhere. The added benefit of this is that it's easier to keep track of her in a crowded store because she jingles.

     I never really collected figurines after the 1988 trip because they were too expensive or would take up too much space in the tiny apartments we lived in as a young couple. Instead, I started collecting books of several of the places we've been. Some are picture books with awesome photos of some of the beautiful places we've visited. Others are historical books that let me learn more about the places we've toured.
     Other items I've seen people collect are postcards, T-shirts, rocks, soil samples in miniature bottles, hats, decorative plates, shot glasses, or Christmas tree ornaments. You can even go eclectic and choose something unique for each vacation. No matter what you choose to collect, make sure to give it some thought before deciding. Ask yourself where you are going to put it, and if it is something you will really want five years from now. You might decide to avoid souvenirs altogether, and collect your memories in the photos you take.
     Whatever you decide to collect, make sure you have fun doing it. If a destination doesn't carry "your souvenir," or if a souvenir breaks, don't let that negatively affect your enjoyment of the trip. Life is a journey; make sure you enjoy the ride!
   
   

Spotlight: NYC - The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Spotlight: The USS Intrepid is a U.S. aircraft carrier which fought in World War II, surviving 5 kamikaze attacks and a torpedo strike. It also served during the Cold War and Vietnam. In the 1960's, it served as a NASA recovery vehicle. In 1974, the Intrepid was decommissioned, and now serves as the centerpiece of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, which first opened in 1982. The carrier was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It later served as FBI headquarters during the 9/11 investigations. Today it displays a wide variety of aircraft from a variety of countries and eras, a space shuttle, and a full size submarine.

Location: The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is located at Pier 86 on the Hudson River, at the intersection of W. 46th Street and 12th Ave. in New York City.

Cost: adults - $24; seniors and U.S. college students - $20;  youth (7-17) - $19; children (3-6) - $12; active/retired U.S. military - free; several city pass deals include free admittance to the museum

Time: 2-3 hours; open daily from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. The museum stays open until 6:00 pm on weekends and holidays from April 1-October 31.

Description: The Explorium Hall is a fully interactive exhibit that allows visitors to climb aboard a helicopter, steer the wings of an airplane, or participate in a variety of other interactive displays. Various simulators allows visitors to experience the g-forces of flying a supersonic jet plane, or the adrenaline rush of flying through a war zone.

     The Space Shuttle Pavilion showcases the Enterprise - the prototype NASA used to launch its space shuttle program. There are 17 exhibit zones which feature original artifacts, photographs, and films to teach visitors scientific and historical aspects of the U.S. space program.
     The USS Growler is the only U.S. guided missile submarine open to the public. Visitors can get a feel for submarine life while inspecting the once top secret missile command center.
     The Concorde Alpha Delta G-BOAD made the fastest recorded flight across the Atlantic (2 hours, 52 minutes, 59 seconds) on February 7, 1996. That same plane is on display at the Intrepid. Other aircraft on display include a Tomcat (1974), a Sea Cobra (1971), an A-12 Blackbird (1967) and many more.

     Other collections include diaries, log books, letters, uniforms, patches, flight suits, medals, photographs, certificates, newspapers, posters, cartoons, and a wide variety of other WWII memorabilia.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - Admittance to the Space Shuttle Pavilion costs extra.
- The Intrepid currently offers 6 different guided tours are available for an additional cost. Audio tours are also available with your paid admission.
- The Intrepid hosts a variety of temporary exhibits. For example, they are currently hosting an exhibit on the Hubble Telescope. View their website for a full listing of current exhibits and special events.
- There are height requirements of either 38 inches (or 48 inches) to ride the 3 simulators.
- All guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Nearby: Central Park, Radio City Music Hall, Times Square, the Rockefeller Center

Top 10 - Major League Ballparks

It's time for another Top 10 list - my 10 favorite MLB ballparks. Once again, I haven't visited every MLB; in fact I haven't quite hit half of them, so I reserve the right to edit this list as I visit new ones in the future. With that said, here are my top ten current MLB stadiums:

10. Petco Park - San Diego, CA - Petco Park is the home of the San Diego Padres. It opened in 2004, and seats 40,162. Its most unique feature is the outfield - which is made to feel as if you are outside of the stadium. In left field, the park is adjacent to the Western Metal Supply Company, a 100-year old building that was scheduled for demolition, but incorporated into the design for the park. It was renovated and includes a team store, a restaurant, private suites, and rooftop seating. In right-center field is the "Park at the Park" - a grassy hill where fans can lay out a blanket and sit on the grass to watch the game while their kids play on the playground. It also has a statue honoring Tony Gwynn - the all-time greatest Padre.

9. Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, CA - Dodger Stadium is the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It opened in 1962, and seats 56,000 - the largest capacity of any MLB ballpark. Its most unique feature is the wavy roof atop the twin set of outfield pavilions. Also of note is the THINK BLUE sign (reminiscent of the HOLLYWOOD sign) erected on the hills outside the stadium.

Dodger Stadium

8. Chase Field (AKA - Bank One Ballpark) - Phoenix, AZ - Chase Field is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. It opened in 1998, and seats 48,519. Its most unique feature is the swimming pool sitting in the right field stands. Guests can reserve the pool for parties during the game. It was also the first stadium built with a retractable roof.

7. Angel Stadium of Anaheim (AKA - The Big A) - Anaheim, CA - Angel Stadium  is the home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It opened in 1964, and seats 43,250. Its most unique feature is the Disneyesque rock pile waterfall in the outfield. Fireworks explode from the rock pile after every Angel home run and victory. Also, the parking lot hosts a "Big A" which stand 230 feet tall and is topped by a halo which it lit after every Angel victory (whether at home or on the road) to let fans driving along the freeway know the good news.

6. Kauffman Stadium (AKA Royals Stadium) - Kansas City, MO - Kauffman Stadium is the home of the Kansas City Royals. It opened in 1973, and seats 37,903. Its most unique feature is the waterfall display (known as the Water Spectacular) behind the right field fence. The 322 foot display is the largest privately funded fountain in the world. The fountains are on display in between innings as well as before and after games.

5. Coors Field - Denver, CO - Coors Field is the home of the Colorado Rockies. It opened in 1995, and seats 50,398. Its most unique feature is the Rocky Mountain style landscaping beyond center field - including a waterfall, pine trees, and fountains that shoot in the air when the Rockies hit a home run. Also, Row 20 in the upper deck is purple (instead of forest green) to mark the mile high elevation level.

Coors Field

4. Wrigley Field - Chicago, IL - Wrigley field is the home of the Chicago Cubs. It opened in 1914, and seats 41,160. Its most unique feature is the ivy-covered walls in the outfield. A chain-link fence (known as the "Basket") runs along the top of the wall, jutting out at an angle to keep fans from falling onto the field. Also of note are the neighboring rooftops, where enterprising owners have erected seats which they sell to fans.

3. Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Baltimore, MD - Camden Yards is the home of the Baltimore Orioles. It opened in 1992, and seats 48,876. Its most unique feature is the B&O Warehouse that runs along the right field pavilion. During Cal Ripken's chase of Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak, large numbers posted on the warehouse wall kept track of each game played, dropping a new digit after the fifth inning of each game. Also of note are the bronze statues of six Oriole greats whose numbers have been retired by the club.

Camden Yards

2. AT&T Park - San Francisco, CA - AT&T Park is home to the San Francisco Giants. It opened in 2000 and seats 41,915. Located in the South Beach section of San Francisco, its most unique feature is McCovey Cove. Set right on the ocean front, with a tiny right field section, home runs hit to right field often leave the stadium and land in the Cove - named after superstar Giant Willie McCovey. Kayakers will often park their kayaks in the Cove during baseball games and chase down these prized souvenirs. Most seats in the park offer a beautiful view of the ocean beyond the park.

AT&T Park

1. Fenway Park - Boston, MA - Fenway Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox. It opened in 1912, and seats 37,673. Its most unique feature is the large, 37 foot tall, green left field wall (known as the Green Monster) and its hand-operated scoreboard.

Spotlight: Boston - Fenway Park

Spotlight: As the baseball season draws to an end, a couple of teams have received their second wind and are sprinting to the wire in hopes of gaining one of those prize postseason spots that define October. Although the Boston Red Sox have officially been eliminated this season, the Sox and their iconic stadium, Fenway Park, have played a big role in many postseasons past. It has hosted ten World Series, with the Red Sox winning five and the Boston Braves winning one.
     Home to the Red Sox since 1912, Fenway is the oldest ballpark in the Major Leagues. Because it was built decades before the birth of modern day ballparks and their spacious parking lots, it is squeezed into a dense neighborhood, resulting in various quirky features - most notably the famous left field wall affectionately nicknamed The Green Monster. The fact that it has the 4th smallest seating capacity in MLB (37,673), despite being one of the 3 most popular teams, is a major reason why Fenway holds the MLB record for most consecutive sellouts with 794 regular season games (plus 26 postseason games). In addition to baseball games, Fenway Park has hosted professional football games, soccer and hockey games, concerts, political and religious campaigns. In 2012, as part of its centennial celebration, Fenway Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Location: Fenway Park is located at 4 Yawkey Way, near Kenmore Square in Boston.

Cost: Most tickets will cost between $44-$200. Of course luxury seats can sell upwards of $1000 for weekend games against the Yankees. Tours of the park run about $18/person.

Time: Most games are about 3 - 3 1/2 hours long. Some fans like to show up a couple of hours early to enjoy watching pregame activities such as batting practice.

Description: Fenway Park is not your typical baseball park. It is one of only two MLB stadiums older than 100 years (the other being Wrigley Field in Chicago). As the second smallest stadium in total capacity, Fenway has many unique features. The most obvious feature is the "Green Monster" - the 37 foot left field wall which daily affects the course of play. It was built so tall in an effort to offset its relatively short distance from home plate (310 feet). The original wooden wall was covered in tin and concrete when a scoreboard was added in 1934. The scoreboard is one of the only manually operated scoreboards in use today, with Boston employing a scorekeeper who spends the game inside the Monster updating scores from around the league. The wall was painted green in 1947. In recent years, highly coveted seats were added to the top of the wall.

     Other quirky features of Fenway include "The Triangle" - a section of field in right-center field that juts out 420 feet from home plate. "Williamsburg" is the nickname given to the bullpen area in right field. It was built in 1940 primarily to benefit left-handed slugger Ted Williams, since it brought in the right field wall 23 feet, making it easier for him to belt home runs. The Lone Red Seat in the right field bleachers (section 42, row 37, seat 21) commemorates the longest recognized home run hit in Fenway - officially measured at 502 feet (hit by Ted Williams on June 9, 1946). Pesky's Pole is the name given to the pole on the right field foul line which stands a measly 302 feet from home plate (the shortest distance of any pole in MLB) before curving out to a more reasonable distance. The pole was named after Johnny Pesky, a light-hitting shortstop who managed to sneak six home runs just past the pole during his career. The left field pole, atop the Green Monster, has been nicknamed Fisk Foul Pole after catcher Carlton Fisk hit one of the most famous home runs of all time off the pole in the 1975 World Series. In the 12th inning of Game 6, he hit a long drive that appeared to be headed foul. Fisk, though, started skipping up the first base line, waiving the ball fair for the walk-off win. There are 9 retired numbers above the right field grand stand, representing some of the greatest players in Red Sox history. Behind home plate is the highly coveted EMC Club (.406 Club) luxury seats topped by the Press Box with flags representing the AL pennants the Red Sox have won over the years.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - Because of its old design, there are several seats with partially obstructed views.
- The stadium has no parking lot, so fans are encouraged to use public transportation. Even then, you might have to walk a bit, so arrive early.
- Gates open 90 minutes before game time.
- The baseball season goes from April to the beginning of October. Also, the Red Sox play half of their games on the road. So, if you want to catch a game at Fenway, make sure you check the schedule before you book your reservations.
- Royal Sorell is a world-famous balloon artist. He can usually be found outside of Fenway Park making balloon pets for fans. So if you buy one, don't ask for something simple; he can make anything. Other entertainment options along Yawkey Way on game day include: a stilt walker, a brass band, a face painter, a juggler, a caricature artist, and speed pitch.
- Fenway Park offers tours where you can go out on the field, touch the Green Monster, visit the press box and the Red Sox Hall of Fame wall. For more information call 617-226-6666.
- If you don't have tickets, take a stroll down Lansdowne Street. That's where most of the ticket scalpers are located. It might cost a bundle, but if you've never been to Fenway, it might be worth it.
- If you have never been to Fenway Park before, make sure that you stop into one of the Fan Services booths (located at Gate E, Gate D, and Gate B) to receive your "First Timers" fan items.
- If you are a Red Sox fan, you might want to try Autograph Alley at the team store. There is almost always some former player there signing autographs.
- For any other questions, go to the Red Sox official web site.

Nearby: Fenway Victory Gardens, MIT, Boston Public Garden, Freedom Trail

Field Report - Texas 2014

Travel the Path less Trodden did a guest Field Agent Trip Report on our Texas trip (2014) for another travel blog that I enjoy: Around the World in 80 Diapers. To view the report go to: http://www.80diapers.com/…/field-agent-trip-report-texas-2…/