Going to a red sox game for the first time. Will be staying at the ritz carlton. Any advice on what subway to take, time it takes to get to the stadium, safety issues as the game is at night or anything else you can think of would be much appreciated. Thank You.

To get to Fenway Park from the Ritz Carlton, take any Green line T (i.e. our subway system) from the Arlington St. station which is one block from the hotel. Oh, do NOT take the E train...take the B,C,or D train as they all go to the Kenmore Sq. stop. Get off at Kenmore, then follow the crowds to the park, just about a two block walk. I don't think you'll have to worry about safety as the crowds are all going the same place. I'd give yourself about 30 min. to get to the park, but it actually will take less than that. The area that the ballpark is in is very safe anyway (unless it's 3am and you've been partying too much...it's a college neighborhood with the Boston University bookstore right in Kenmore Sq.). Have a great visit.

From the Ritz you can walk down Commonwealth Ave to Kenmore Sq and then follow the crowd to Fenway Park. Or you can take the Green Line from Arlington to Kenmore. Walking is about 15 minutes on a very pleasant street. That's my preference. You can walk back very safely also or take the T - it will be crowded with fans. Traffic is a nightmare so I wouldn't recommend a cab.

Make sure you get to the game at least a half hour before game time and join the crowd on Yawkey Way (it becomes a pedestrian street during the game). There are lots of sausage vendors, peanut vendors etc. You really have to experience this first to truly get the Fenway experience. There are a few dive bars to pop into for a beer if you feel so inclined.

If you want a free souvenir or memento of your visit, find the kids who work for the radio station WEEI - they'll be handing out placards for the fans to hold up during the game. The kids are usually at the corner of Brookline Ave and Yawkey Way. If Pedro Martinez is pitching the signs will have a big red K, I've seen others that say Trot is Hot, or You Da Manny. Not exactly a collectors item but they are colorful and free.

When you enter Fenway you'll be struck by how old, smelly and dark the place is. But just wait until you walk up the ramp to your seat and you see the green playing field. It never fails to stop people in their tracks when they see it for the first time.

When at the game, watch for the peanut vendor that works the area behind home plate. This guy can throw a bag of peanuts at least 3 sections and still remember who to collect the money from.

In general people watching is half the fun of Fenway. The stands will be half tourists who don't know a lot about the game but want to see the oldest park in the major leagues. The other half will be insane Red Sox fans (like me). Don't be surprised if at some point in the game the fans start chanting "Yankees s*ck". This happens no matter who the Red Sox are playing. Also if you see fans holding up signs about someone named Jerry - that's Jerry Remy a former Red Sox player, native of Massachusetts and current tv announcer. Its a ploy to get on TV.

Have a great time. Don't worry about safety. I've gone to 12 games this year and have walked alone at night and never feared for my safety (I'm a woman).

Me, Benny has nailed the Fenway experience, including walking to the park with the crowd, except for one glaring detail.

She says "half the people in the stands are tourists." Uh uh. Wrong ball park. Fenway has sold out all year because most seats are held by season tickets holders. The seats that aren't are the ones, like those in the bleachers, that go to the truly rabid fans.

What she probably refers to are the people in boxes held by companies, which dole out seats as perks. Sometimes, the perkee is less than astute. What you'll find, though, is baseball being played the way it ought to be played; in a small stadium where everyone is close to the field. Enjoy the game and be prepared to scream with everyone else.

Wow!!! Ann, Bennie and Neal - Thanks for the great advice. I couldnt have asked for more. Thanks so much.

Me.

The poor Devil Rays and Vince Namoli would just be drooling if they could read your description of the crowds at Fenway! Don't anybody try to find the Trop by following the crowds...you'll never get there. They built it but they didn't come.........

Once you've seen a game at Fenway, no other park will do...

Hey Neal - Sorry can't agree with you about the tourists. At each of the 12 games I've been to this year (sitting in a variety of seats both box and grandstands) sitting right next to me is a true tourist. I've met people from New Brunswick, Ontario, Syracuse, Florida, California and Chicago. Everyone got their tickets online or through a scalper. It was nice to see their reaction to a paahhk that I love very much.

Maybe stating half of the crowd was tourists was an overstatement but there is a significant number of people there who just want to see Fenway and are not necessarily Red Sox fans. I generally am one the the people getting corporate perks but I also bought 6 pairs of tickets online without a problem early in the season. And getting tickets from a corporation doesn't make me any less of a fanatic - just a happier customer/employee. Season Ticket holders make up a significant portion of the attendees but there were still plenty of tickets available to anyone who wanted them.

But you are absolutely right about small park close to the field and getting ready to scream (even if the Sox lose).

I love that dirty water... Boston you're my home!!!!!