City: Seattle, WA

Category: Spectator Sports

Telephone: (206) 346-4000

Description: The Mariners are the most popular sports team in Seattle. The MLB team has a devoted following, and tickets can sell out early—especially for big games and when they play against certain teams. The Mariners play at Safeco Field, one of the prettiest ballparks in the country. It’s also one of the only ones with a retractable roof—almost a necessity in rain-soaked Seattle. The roof can open or close in just 20 minutes, allowing the team to play on a real grass field without the worry of getting rained out. Sweeping views of Seattle’s downtown skyline and breathtaking sunsets over Puget Sound, combined with excellent views of game action from all angles, give fans at Safeco Field an experience unequaled in Major League Baseball. Tours are offered, including areas of the ballpark that are not normally open to the public, such as the press box, private suites, field, dugouts, and visitors’ clubhouse (all areas are subject to availability depending on activities within the ballpark). Tours are given several times throughout the day when there are no games, and cost $9 for adults and $7 for children ages 3–12 (2 and under are free). Check the Web site for seasonal tour schedules.Tickets for games start at $7 for center-field bleachers and go up to $65 for lower box and terrace seats. You can buy tickets online, at the stadium box office, or at Mariners Team Store locations around town, including downtown, Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Tukwila. As far as parking goes on game days, with the location on the outskirts of central downtown, parking is difficult. You can purchase parking tickets ahead of time for the Safeco Field garage or Qwest Event Center garage for $15–$30. Expect heavy traffic getting into and out of the area. The best bet is to take public transportation—the “Metro to the Mariners” service runs special routes to the game for $5, and regular Metro and Sound Transit routes stop within a few blocks of the stadium at regular fares.