BEST BALLPARKS IN AMERICA

If you're super ambitious, you could take a road trip to see all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in the U.S. in about 30 days. For a more relaxed experience, work one or two of the best into your vacation itinerary. You'll even find one where you can take a swim.

AN OLDIE BUT GOODIE: FENWAY PARK

Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, has thrilled millions of fans since it first opened its doors in 1912. Renovations and additions over the years have made the stadium compatible with current times, but it hasn't lost its rustic charm. You can still track the balls and strikes on the 1930s scoreboard that's hand-operated by three people tucked away inside the wall behind it. Grab a seat in the infield grandstands near third base for a great view of Boston’s cityscape. Try to get the blue seats—enthused fans have been watching the action from these historic wooden chairs since the 1930s.

Beat the Heat of Summer: Chase Field

Watching a live baseball game in a city where temperatures can soar up to 110 degrees or higher might seem counterintuitive, but it's actually quite pleasant at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. The climate-controlled stadium is chilled to at least 78 degrees before a Diamondbacks game, and there's even a pool beyond right center field. Take in the views of the skyline and mountains through large picture windows, or relish all-you-can-eat fare at the Picnic Pavilion. If you don't want to leave Fido in your hotel room, buy advance tickets to the park's pet section during the park’s Dog Days of Summer. This is definitely one of the best baseball stadiums for pups. During select games, they can enjoy unlimited dog-friendly ice cream, a private section of patio and access to an indoor dog park.

AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE: SAFECO FIELD

Your smartphone or Nintendo DS is the ticket to an interactive experience at Safeco Field in Seattle. Verizon, Nintendo, Apple and other companies cater to the Pacific Northwest's tech-savvy crowd. Download the MLB Ballpark app and iBeacon technology will alert you to special offers and contests near you at the park. Use Nintendo DS to tap into deep statistical information on the players or to have food delivered to your seat. Check the Verizon scoreboard for trivia questions and text in your answers while you're waiting, or head to the stadium's Golf Performance Center and take a swing at the virtual golf simulator if you feel a need to stretch your legs during the seventh inning.

Doing It Old School: Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field in Chicago offers nostalgia at its best—it's as much of an old-fashioned baseball experience as you can get in the high-tech age. Other than its Jumbotron and stadium lighting, the park looks much the same as it did in the early 1900s—complete with its iconic ivy-covered brick outfield wall. Wrigley Field was cutting edge in its time. It had concession stands and let fans keep foul balls. Plus, the tradition of organ music during the game all originated here. Concessionaires still roam the stands selling snacks just as they have for decades. Colorful team pennants snap in the breeze atop the hand-operated scoreboard, indicating where each team stands in the National League rankings.

That Old Disney Magic: Angels Stadium

To look at it today, you'd never guess that Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California, doubled as a football stadium for many years. Reimagined by the Walt Disney Company in the 1990s, you'll get that same sense of childhood wonder the moment you arrive. Enormous baseball hats—size 849 ½ to be exact—tower over a baseball diamond plaza. Super-sized bats and balls loom above the entrance. You'll also find the most affordable general seating of any ballpark in the nation inside, along with more expensive specialty seating. Get a player's eye view from dugout seating or enjoy fine dining with a view of the game on the Diamond Level.

Old Meets New: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

At first glance, Oriole Park at Camden Yards looks like it's been a part of the landscape since the early days of the ballparks of baseball. With its red brick facade blending seamlessly into the downtown Baltimore cityscape, you'd never guess it's only been here since 1992. The unique park incorporates a nearby warehouse built in the 1890s, which now houses the team's offices, restaurants and space where private parties can watch the game from a unique vantage point. Catch the action in the double-decker bullpen from the Roof Deck in the outfield—the space is open to anyone who holds a ticket to the game.

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