City: Chicago, IL

Category: Spectator Sports

Address: 1060 W. Addison St.

Description: As much about the stadium they play in as the team itself, the National League Chicago Cubs have held a special place in the hearts of Chicagoans (predominately those living on the North Side) for decades. Affectionately nicknamed the Lovable Losers for their persistent World Series-less record since 1908, they attract swarms of positive-thinkers who try to convince themselves that “This is the year,” along with legions of visitors who come to experience a game at the “friendly confines,” the second-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball. Seating capacity is about 41,000, and it’s typically sold out (unless they’re not doing well and it’s a cold day in May), including the famous bleachers that leave attendees baking in the sun (bring a hat if these are your seats). If it’s your first time to the stadium, head over to Fan Services for a special commemorative photo. The Cubs have seen many outstanding players, including Sammy Sosa, Mark Grace, Ryne Sandberg, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo (the latter three have statues at the field). And truly, most games are a good time whether the team wins or loses. Beer, Vienna-beef hot dogs, the changed-by-hand scoreboard, and the 7th-inning stretch with its rousing round of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”—a nod to the late great Cubs announcer Harry Caray, whose image also graces a Wrigley statue. If you can’t get game tix, grab a seat at the onsite Captain Morgan Club (773-404-4750), as close to the action as you can get and where you can still share the action amid a rowdy crowd. Or take a stadium tour. Individual game tickets range from $8 to well over $100, depending on the opponent and seat selection. Street parking is hard to come by with resident permit-only parking in the closest vicinity. You can order parking passes online for the small Cubs-run lots, and you can find plenty of neighboring residents and business owners charging to park in their own lots, but we recommend taking the Red Line El train, which stops practically on top of the stadium at the Addison stop and, on game days, is practically a party on board. The Cubs season starts early April and either ends early October or continues beyond that (fans always have fingers crossed).