City: Des Moines, IA

Category: Spectator Sports

Telephone: (515) 243-6111

Address: 1 Line Dr.

Insider Pick:

Description: A Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs playing in the Pacific Coast League, the Cubs are a much-loved institution in Des Moines, regularly filling the stands at Principal Park, an 11,000-seat stadium just south of the Court Avenue Entertainment District at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. The golden dome of the Iowa State Capitol looms behind center field, and there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. Players are approachable for autographs before the first pitch gets thrown—just go hang out by the dugout. The Cubs have had some excellent players in recent years, and former Chicago slugger Ryne Sandberg did a stint as manager before leaving the team after the 2010 season. All kinds of goofy games and contests go on between innings—the club does like to keep fans entertained. There’s a plethora of concessions stands, and prices are reasonable by major league standards, as are tickets: No ticket will cost you more than about $25, and that’s for the most expensive seats right behind home plate—tickets for the rest of the ballpark cost much, much less. The lines at the ticket windows can get long right before game time, so try to arrive early. Paid parking is available in lots right next to the ballpark, with just a short walk to the gates.