A beautiful park with a welcoming, neighborhood-like feel, Petco Park proved to be the perfect next stop in our adventure. The park sits at street level and is surprisingly unobstructed, so the approach seems like the yellow brick road leading to Oz. Just inside the gates, lies The Park In The Park, a sloping grassy area with a kids’ miniature ball field to play on, and lots of room to stretch out a beach towel and watch a game, (giving SRO the new label SITTING Room Only.) They open the area during the day, and when the Padres are away, fans can catch the game on the special screen provided for that use. Nearer the field, just outside the center-field fence is the area called “The Beachers,” a bleacher-like area with a large, sandy play-area for the kids. Inside, they have creatively designed the seating to incorporate The Western Metal Supply Company. The old brick building is charming, and adds a Camden Yards feel to the design of the park. The concession areas are spacious and open, many of which have good views of the field. A giant to-scale model (18 feet long?) of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway is on permanent display, complete with Veteran docent to explain its details to anyone who cared to listen. The ushers and concession workers are friendly and helpful, adding to the welcoming feel of this park.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since out last baseball adventure, the way we picked right up where we left off! During batting practice Robert caught two home-run balls out in The Beachers. Carter was tossed 3 balls from various players, AND he rescued one intended for a toddler-girl. Our hero! At Guest-Services and the Padres “Frequent Friar” booth, just the mention of our adventure caused an immediate search of all cabinets and drawers for things to give us. Baseball cards, pins, squishy baseballs, tattoos, and a Padres pennant came our way from the delighted workers. 
Our seats were terrific, and for $17 each, one of the great deals in BABA history. The view of the field was great and unobstructed. And the crowd around us was fairly easy-going.
The action was focused primarily on the baseball game at hand, with few games or contests between innings. The t-shirt and baseball cannons did come out at one point. And each fan in the entire stadium walked away the winners of a coupon for two free tacos at Jack in the Box, thanks to one lucky contest-winner!
To top off the excitement of the game, Carter lost a tooth! Yep, right there at Petco Park, during the 4th inning. The amazing part is that we got it back to the hotel without losing it!
On the down-side we all agreed that The Padres have about the ugliest mascot going.
–Sorry Padre!
All in all the Belove Family rates this park very highly. For those of you who have been following our adventure, we would place it up there somewhere around Cincinnati. Its best feature was the great, open, welcoming architecture of the park. This is a place you could really feel comfortable returning to again and again. Athletics, are you taking notes?
A day of rest, then to Legoland with us!
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