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West Coast Baseball Trip

I'm headding out to the West Coast

Star-divide

in about two weeks (I leave July 19th) to tour each California MLB park, plus Arizona.  I'm doing this through Diamond Baseball Tours, and their "West Coast Swing":

http://diamondbaseballtours.com/

What I was hoping was that some folks that have been to these ballparks (or live in that area of the country) could recomend some of the "can't miss" items right around the park.  

Specifically, I'm looking for 1) a restaurant to eat dinner at just before the game (must be walking distance); 2) items that make that park unique; 3) anything else that you can think of.

Thanks in advance for your help!  This will be my third trip with Diamond Baseball Tours, as I did one three years ago simelar to the current "Classics" trip (2005's was Wrigley, the Jake, Fenway, Yankee Stadium, Camden Yards, Cooperstown and Comerica), and a "Dixie Swing" two years ago (started at Great American, then Busch, Kauffman, Ballpark in Arlington, Minute Maid, day off in New Orleans and finaly Turner Field).  I'd highly recommend the tours to anyone...

Moose

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Petco Park
Pregame restaurant: "The Tin Fish." It's a mostly-outdoor, very informal patio-style restaurant with good beer and food. It's the closest I can find in downtown San Diego to a good pre-game atmosphere. Alternatively, you can stroll the Gaslamp District where there is an assortment of bars and restaurants, but the pregame atmosphere is almost always decidedly lacking. If you like a good dive bar, "Tivoli's" is also nearby and has good pregame feel and has a sorta Chicago feel to it. Petco itself: What makes the park unique is definitely the Western Metal building straddling the left field foul pole. Go up to the "Hall of Fame" grill which is kind of more like a sports bar. They have a patio on which you can sit and watch parts of the game if it is not rented out to some corporation. There's a lineup procedure to get out there for a few innings. Petco also has the "park in the park" with a kids-baseball field which is definitely worth strolling around. There's a HUGE screen on the back of the batter's eye so you don't miss much of the game if you decide to take an inning or two away from your seats. Petco has lots of standing room areas so it's also worth strolling around the concourse and checking out the various vantage points. ENJOY!

by paulucla on Jul 3, 2007 2:02 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium is kind of its own island up in Chavez Ravine, but I'd recommend a visit to the Original Tommy's hamburger stand on the corner of Beverly and Rampart.  It's a 61 year-old local hangout that's open 24 hours a day; the chili burgers or chili cheese dogs are a must.

If you hate chili, I suggest Philippe's, home of the French Dip, in downtown LA, or the Original Pantry, which is in the same area.  Obviously, if you've never been, the Hollywood tourist spots (Grauman's, the walk of fame, Cinerama Dome, and Hollywood & Highland complex) are fairly close as well.

Have a great trip!

"Something has to give and since there aren't 8 or 9 pitchers sitting around on the trade market, I think it has to be El Suckerpuncho." - TMOX, 6/14/07

by TMOX on Jul 3, 2007 4:32 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

My suggestions
I've been to all six of those parks multiple times.  

First off, you don't want to do anything within walking distance of the Coliseum in Oakland.  If you feel the need to eat in the neighborhood around the stadium, I recommend the In-n-Out Burger on Hegenberger and not much else.  You're better off eating in Berkeley or San Francisco.

In San Francisco I think Sections 305 and 307 have the best view of the surrounding environs (plus you have a great angle on anything that ends up in McCovey Cove).  Check it out up there if you can.  The food at SBC tends to be very good.   There aren't too many places to eat right next to the park, but you can go a little farther afield (use MUNI if you have time) and find almost anything.  If you're sticking to the waterfront, there are a couple of good places in the Ferry Building; Taylor's Automatic Refresher is a good bet if you're looking for something relatively quick (think somewhat upscale drive-in food).  Fisherman's Wharf is one gigantic tourist trap.  If you find yourself in North Beach, Caffe Greco has fantastic dark chocolate gelato.  And if you're going to a night game, it will be cooler than you think.

Dodger Stadium:  as noted above, not much immediately surrounding the stadium.  The reserved level (blue seats) tends to have the roughest crowd.  I've seen fights in that level (including the largest stadium brawl I've ever witnessed, and I've seen quite a few) probably four out of the last five Dodger games I've been to.  If you're sitting there, be aware--particularly with the Mets in town.  (Mets fans get routinely pelted with garbage, etc. at Dodger Stadium.)   Also, everyone raves about the garlic fries in San Francisco--well, it's a lesser known fact that they serve the same ones at Dodger Stadium.  If you can find one of the stands that serves both the garlic fries and grilled (NOT steamed) Dodger Dogs, you've hit the jackpot.

Anaheim:  also not much within walking distance.  Lousy stadium food.  Much better baseball atmosphere in the lower level than in the upper level.

Petco Park:  in my opinion one of the most overrated parks in baseball.  It looks beautiful, but try to watch a game from the upper deck (broken up into three separate pieces) or the obstructed-view bleachers in center field and you'll see what I mean--it just doesn't work from a fan's standpoint.  (Can't see the field from the concourses, etc.)  Eat at least one fish taco, but the food there is nowhere near as good as it was at Jack Murphy.  (Which, I realize, does you no good.  Sorry!)

Chase Field/the Bob:  Pizzeria Bianco (within a few blocks of the stadium) is rumored to be one of the best gourmet NY-style pizzerias in the country and might be worth checking out.  I still haven't made it there, so I can't tell you firsthand.  Beware the back half of the upper deck, because you won't get any of the air conditioning.  If you're there early enough to watch them open the roof, it's kind of neat.  There is one concession stand by third base on the lower level where they sell the "big dog," which is simply the largest hot dog I've ever seen.  It's not always listed on the menu, so you may have to ask.

Let me know if you have any more specific questions, as I'm happy to share whatever knowledge I've accumulated!

by markr99 on Jul 3, 2007 9:29 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Angel Stadium..
Is located near Disneyland so there is so much to do there.  ESPN Zone in Anaheim was a great experience for me when I went to an Angels/Rangers game on Ring Night in 2004.

by gocubs40 on Jul 4, 2007 1:07 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

In SD's Gaslamp
There are multiple restaurants everywhere -- outside of Tinfish, if you want a sports atmosphere -- Trophy's is just 2 blocks west of the park. There a 'modern' pizza place -- I believe it's called 'Basic' Pizza (for the sparse warehouse decor) just north. Rockin' Baja Lobster is about 3 blocks away, on 5th....It's like Wrigleyville, somewhat due to the heavy concentration of bars/restaurants, but in some cases -- the restaurants are more upscale. The ones listed here are moderate.

And, I would disagree with Petco as 'overrated.' Nobody is forcing you to sit in the 'bleachers,' and avoid the upper LF corner, where there are obstructed views due to the Western Metals Building. You can see the field from most of the main concourse, but not in the upper deck concourse. (It appears the poster has never sat in the lower seating area?)

Overall, Petco's a darn good ballpark, as long as you know the quirks, and areas where not to sit.
I wouldn't consider the berm outside CF a great place to sit, but it seems to be packed with families with kids every night -- the kids can run around, the parents don't have to spend 40-bucks for kids seats and they still have the ball park experience. (while waiting for the kid to grow up and appreciate the game)

Also -- somebody's sending you to the Rampart district in LA for a Tommy's burger? Daytime only, please. 20 years ago, I'd go into that 'hood at night, but not now. I'll get my Tommy's burger at a somewhat less gang-ridden location, thank you very much. However, both touristy areas Olvera Street (Mexican Pueblo, the birthplace of Los Angeles, by Union Station) and Chinatown are close enough for visits -- I've had many great Mexican meals at Olvera St before heading up the hill to Chavez Ravine -- watch out though, most of the signage to the park fom those neighborhoods has vanished, so mapquest your way to the park from those 'hoods.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 4, 2007 12:59 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I would say
we must have very different tastes in "pregame atmosphere." Sure, there are places all over the gaslamp to go, but it seems absurd to compare it to Wrigleyville for atmosphere. Plenty of places to have a quiet drink and some mediocre food, but comparing Rockin' Baja Lobster to, say, Murphy's, for pregame atmosphere? Hahahahahaha.

by paulucla on Jul 4, 2007 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Of course
it's not the same, but 75% of the Gaslamp restaurants/clubs are upscale -- really too upscale for the baseball crowd. I threw in a few of the middle-of-the-pack joints, excluding the miserable "Dick's Last Resort."

You have the 2 upscale locations nearby --  Dussini's and the other steak place at the foot of 5th -- I really don't consider them baseball destinations.  100-checks just for food (exclude any alcohol) let's say, for a party of four. I feel I need to be dressed up in those locations, not on my way to a ball game.

I believe the poster wanted restaurants/bars, so I listed what I thought to be appropriate for baseball -- not upscale dining...ya know what I mean?

And, I've just rememberd the dive-bar (in a good way) Tivoli's -- south of Market. That would be an appropriate place to catch a beer.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 4, 2007 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Petco
No, I've sat in several different areas of Petco, including the lower level.  While the lower level did seem a bit better than the upper deck or bleachers, the lower level at Petco didn't seem any different to me than the lower level at any randomly selected stadium that's been built within the last 10 years, and I'm not crazy about some of the stadium's "quirks," like the gimmicky short porch in right field.  To me--and again, this is my opinion--a stadium isn't great if you have to sit in the lower level to have a good experience, and from my visits to Petco that seems to be exactly the case.  I could go on about some of the other things I don't like about Petco--the choice to leave out what would be two of the best seating sections in the upper deck (directly above first and third bases) in favor of light towers and party suites is one example--but I don't think it would help out the OP very much, so I'll let it go.  Suffice it to say I've been to the park several times and sat in several different areas, so I think I have a sufficient basis for my opinion that it's overrated.

by markr99 on Jul 5, 2007 12:04 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'd Second Trophy's.....
...if one is looking for just a sports bar atmosphere that emphasizes the local team, go to Trophy's. Get an outdoor table and watch the world (fantastic San Diego females) go by. However, As others have said, there are a LOT of bars in the area that might strike your fancy.
Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Jul 5, 2007 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Anaheim?
Well, you can go to Disneyland. Outside of that, it's a suburb that has seen better days, and there's nothing but franchise restaurants.  
Have a Carl's Jr burger at the ballpark, if you've never had that franchise burger.
Good place to watch a game, though.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 4, 2007 1:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Thanks
for all the ideas...

Keep 'em comming!

Moose

Hubbs!

by moose97 on Jul 4, 2007 11:30 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Anaheim-
Directly across the street from the main entrance to the Stadium is a restaurant called The Catch. The bar is fine and you won't find a more Angel friendly atmosphere than The Catch. it's been the unoffical/official Angel bar for years and years. There's also a sports bar, The National, further down on Katella Blvd.

As for Disneyland and Downtown Disney, i.e. ESPN Zone, yeah it's in the same town and you can see the Matterhorn from there (if you know where to look), but it's really not all that close for your purposes.

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Jul 5, 2007 3:10 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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