Baseball parks and attractions.
 

My family and I are planning a 2 week trip to california. We would like to visit as many of the baseball parks as we could fit in to that time period. We would also like to visit disney, universal, san diego zoo and any other must see attractions. We are traveling with two boys ages 8 and 12. Any suggestions for this trip would be greatly appreciated as we have never been to the west coast.

When will you be coming? I don;t think the game schedules for next year are available yet - since the playoffs have just started. Which teams are favorites? (I think you might have trouble getting to see all of them in this short time - depending on their home/road schedules - and everything else you want to see.)

If you plan it carefully, it can be done in two weeks. Check the mlb schedule when it comes out. Usually, the nl west is on the road when the al west is playing (and vice versa) so if you plan one week for the al and one for the nl, it might work.

Forgive me if this shows up twice but my first post is not appearing . . .

In September, Conde Nast Traveler's 'Room With a View' was the San Diego Omni's Room 1933 -- it looks directly onto the field at Petco Park.

Start checking the MLB website when the World Series is over. Schedules begin to gel along with single game ticket sales as early as December.

When the schedule comes out, look for days when both teams of a city (Giants/A's or Dodgers/Angels) are playing on the same day. It does happen, with one team playing a day game and the other at night.

Besides your preferred travel dates, you could check the schedules for three-day weekends (Memorial Day, Labor Day). The travel days change, so you would find 3-game series starting Sat. or even Monday instead of the usual Friday.

You would be able to see four of the five MLB teams in 5 days. Padres on Saturday, Dodgers on Sunday, teams travel on Monday, Angels on Tuesday, you fly to OAK and see A's on Tuesday.

Don't miss PacBell/SBC Park in SF!!
A fun experience w/wonderful views.

When you're getting seats later...
look for ones either behind homeplate if you can get them, & love seeing the pitches at their best vantage point...

OR, I highly recommend ones heading towards & even beyond 1st base,
for the absolute BEST views from almost any ballpark to be found.

Nice views out over the water...including of the Bay Bridge.
(which altho' less famous than the Golden Gate...still is a pretty attractively designed bridge)

If it's summer...
I also recommend an early evening game vs. a day game, as w/that...you get the best of all worlds.

The park will start out like a day game...with similar views & 'feel.' Then, it will go into sunset & twilight...with the lights around the bay flickering on.
(and, the Bay Bridge w/its 'strings of lights' will make its evening 'debut' too)

Lastly, the ballpark 'features' like the coke bottle/baseball mitt/kids section will be lit up, as well. Enjoy! :-)