The Hungry Fan Guide to Taking Kids Out to the Ball Game
Got Kids?
The Hungry Fan guide to taking kids out to the ball game
By Isabelle Jenner
The weather’s getting warm, school is almost over, and the summer is going to be long. But wait, I have kids! What activities can I do with them for a whole three months?! If you ask us at Hungry Fan, there’s no better way to pass the time than by enjoying America’s Pastime. Baseball is extremely family-friendly (and if done strategically can be a cheap outing) and plenty of America’s ballparks have attractions and food just for your kids! Here are our Top 6 stadium picks to take the kids this summer:
- AT&T Park — San Francisco Giants
At AT&T Park, kids can play on super slides, sit in a human sized glove, and play during the game on a mini diamond in the Fan Lot. On most Sundays after the game, kids can run the actual bases just like the Giants. The San Francisco Giants have possibly the only baseball stadium where you can bring your own food! That’s right parents — you can pack your own cooler with all your kids’ favorite foods and bring it into the ballpark, making AT&T Park a cheap family outing.
- Citi Field — New York Mets
Young Mets fans will love what Citi Field has to offer, and so will you! Children in their Kids’ Club get to run the real bases on Sundays after games, on-field recognition, t-shirts, and a scoreboard message! Kids feel extremely welcomed at Citi Field. But no ballgame is complete without a hot dog. A Mets kids’ meal is only $7 and includes Nathan’s hot dog, juice box, popcorn and a prize — everyone loves prizes!
- Kauffman Stadium — Kansas City Royals
If you live in the Kansas City area, there is so much for kids to do at a Royal’s game. Kauffman Stadium’s Outfield Experience has plenty of activities for children, including a mini ballpark with batting cages, bases, and pitcher’s mound to play on. They also have a baseball-themed electronic gaming lounge and a full-sized carousel! If that’s not enough for your little one, there’s a playground and miniature golf, too! Hungry? Kauffman caters to kids’ taste buds too. They offer kids’ meals like the Slugger Lunch Box, which includes a small entrée and even healthy sides like an apple, milk or juice, plus a toy! Can’t get better than that.
- Comerica Park — Detroit Tigers
Carousels feature horses, right? At Comerica Park, the Tigers run the show and kids can ride tigers, not horses on their carousel. On Sundays, children 14 years old and younger can ride the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel for free (in the Big Bat Court, section 119)! All that fun makes a kid hungry. Good thing there are $5 kids meals at almost every concession stand in the park!
- Turner Field — Atlanta Braves
Turner Field in Atlanta is perfect for family fun! Their Taco Mac Family Zone includes a mini baseball field for kids to play on and a tree house with a slide! If video games are your youngster’s forté, they can test their gaming skills in the Xbox Kinect Area. $4 kids’ meals can be found throughout the stadium. Looking for a place to eat in the stadium? There are pavilions and picnic tables located in Sky Field (upper level along left field), right next to the ginormous Coca-Cola bottle made of over 11,000 items of authentic Braves’ merchandise — not to mention an amazing view of the game!
- Miller Park — Milwaukee Brewers
In Milwaukee for the summer? Bring your kids to a baseball game at Miller Park. They’ll love Bernie’s Clubhouse; an interactive playground (on the Terrace Level behind home plate) surrounded by nearby concession stands catered to kids. Kids’ meals include a hot dog, chips, small drink, and a surprise for $4.25! The clubhouse is open starting from when the gates open on into the 8th inning so kids can play all game!
Finally! Bringing kids to a baseball game and enjoying America’s Pastime has never been easier. Navigating baseball stadiums with your little ones is easy thanks to the Hungry Fan App. It’s free to download and includes concessions information for every kid-friendly stadium we just mentioned and more!
