1. Full Throttle, Six Flags Magic Mountain, California

The tallest, fastest looping coaster in the world, Full Throttle begins with a 70-mile per hour launch into the record-holding 160-foot tall loop. Two more launches follow, including one backwards from a dark tunnel. If you’re looking for a white-knuckle ride that can make you scream like a six-year-old, this is it.

2. Outlaw Run, Silver Dollar City, Missouri

Western-themed Outlaw Run hurls you through both the world’s first double barrel roll inversion on a wooden coaster and the world’s first outside banked turn on a wooden coaster. It also boasts the world’s steepest drop, 81 degrees, and at 68 miles per hour, it’s the second fastest wooden coaster anywhere.

3. Transformers: The Ride 3-D, Universal Studios Orlando, Florida

I know. Transformers: The Ride 3-D isn’t exactly new – it opened last year at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Singapore – but the Orlando version, which opens June 20, 2013, improves the already spectacular battle with new projectors and screens. Fight with a 30-foot Optimus Prime against Megatron and his Decepticons in a battle zone that spans two stories.

4. Gatekeeper, Cedar Point, Ohio

Faster, longer and taller than other “winged” coasters, the aptly named Gatekeeper dominates Cedar Point’s entrance. Riders race at speeds up to 64 miles per hour along a circuit that includes two dive loops, an Immelmann loop, a giant corkscrew, and two zero-g rolls.

5. Iron Rattler, Six Flags Fiesta, Texas

Originally built in 1992, the Rattler received a makeover and new name, Iron Rattler, just in time for this summer season. The rechristened ride stands 18 stories high and features the first zero-g barrel roll on a hybrid coaster plus four over-banked turns, the most of any roller coaster in the world.

6. Dinosaurs Alive!, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Missouri

The Dinosaurs Alive! parks feature life-size animatronic dinosaurs that thrash their tails, gnash their teeth and roar in themed settings. So far, there are seven parks in the United States and one in Canada. This summer the concept opens in Carowinds, NC, Minneapolis, MN, and Kansas City, MO.

7. Hades 360, Mt. Olympus, Wisconsin

Voted the Best New Ride by Amusement Today when it opened as Hades in 2005, Hades 360 adds a loop and a new over-banked turn for 2013. The revamped ride also extends its 800-foot underground tunnel to 1,400 feet but retains the 90-degree underground turn in complete darkness that makes you feel like you’ve truly entered the underworld.

8. Aquatica, Sea World San Diego, California

Let’s be clear: Aquatica isn’t a ride, it’s a waterpark. And, no, it isn’t the first of its kind either. Sea World introduced the concept in Orlando in 2008 and in San Antonio in 2012. But the new San Diego experience, which lets you zip down waterslides, lounge on a beach, and watch a flamingo parade, definitely deserves a mention.

9. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, Sea World Orlando, Florida

Another Sea World offering, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin replaces the park’s 24-year-old Penguin Encounter with an adventure from the penguin’s point of view. Bring a jacket. The interactive ride features 55-foot-tall glaciers and claims to be the world’s coldest theme park attraction.

10. Safari Off Road Adventure, Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari, New Jersey

More than 12,000 animals from six continents populate Safari Off Road Adventure, the 350-acre safari component of the world’s largest theme park. Board an open-air vehicle and let guides drive you to roaming park animals. It’s the closest thing to a safari you can experience without the expensive plane ticket to Africa.

What’s your favorite amusement park attraction? Are you planning on seeing any of these this summer?

Among the travelers who’d strongly agree with Gellhorn’s words are multitudes of children who grimly realize that their family vacations are riddled with “in-between moments.” Sitting in the backseat of a car during heavy beach traffic. Being dragged on what feel like pointless walks through a destination’s neighborhoods. Killing time in a hotel room before bed. Moments that won’t be remembered fondly, or at all, because they were boring. Transforming these potentially dull moments into fun ones is an ongoing challenge for family travelers. Here are a few ideas on how to stop vacation boredom before it starts.

Frecklebox Personalized Sketchbooks, $9.95

Over the years I’ve tried out every kind of travel journal on my children – the traditional diary with the flimsy lock and key, the “inspiring” journal pre-seasoned with sayings, and yes, even the minimalist Moleskine diaries used by Hemingway. But after scribbling on a few pages, the kids invariably lose interest. Given how effortlessly you can personalize products on the Internet these days, you might want to give Frecklebox a look. You can order journals with your child’s name on the cover and, very helpfully, preview the results of the design before you buy. I like the 8.5 x 11-inch personalized sketchbooks, whose blank pages and flexible wire binding make the books accessible for younger kids.

Aha Radio for iPhone and Android, Free

Describing itself as a product that does “for car radio what Tivo did for television,” Aha Radio is an app that lets you harvest and sort more than 30,000 audio stations that play music, audiobooks, and other potentially engaging family content in the car. Getting all your car passengers to tune into one station has always been a challenge, but it’s worth a try in this case, as you’ll have lots of stations to argue about. But if everyone prefers to tune into their own gadgets, your kids can select from audiobooks and podcasts that are arguably better for their brains than most of the other apps you’ll find on their phones.

Taking the Kids NYC Walking Tours app for iPhone, $1.99

While strolling through New York City with kids may not seem like a pursuit that requires a playful app, Taking the Kids NYC spices up walking tours with interactive activities that help elevate what’s fun about the sights you’re seeing. Particularly clever options are scavenger hunts in Central Park and Times Square that enable you to answer questions throughout the hunt by entering text or taking photos. The app will also let you geo-tag photos of your family and pin them to your walking tour map, which you can then share on Facebook if you like.

Scrabble Travel Edition, $19.99

One way to make a boring in-between moment even more disappointing is to discover that those board games your hotel keeps in its lounge are missing important pieces. So if your kids get as excited as mine do at the idea of playing board games in the hotel lobby, take a minute to pack a game of your own. In our case, the oversize checkers with woven fabric board that we picked up at the beguiling Cracker Barrel general store comes with us wherever we go. Another good bet for killing time productively is the Scrabble Folio Edition with its nifty folding plastic board and snap-in tiles.

What do you do to keep your kids happy on vacation?

Much like cognac and champagne, Tequila is an appellation of origin. Besides being made from one kind of agave, it can only be produced in certain areas of Mexico (the entire state of Jalisco, and parts of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas) to truly be called tequila. The finished product must contain at least 51 percent agave; the remaining 49 percent can include other sugars. Tequilas that are mixed in this way are called mixto, but the best quality products are 100 percent agave, with no mixing allowed.

The immediate distilled drink is called blanco tequila (it’s also referred to as “silver”). Aging the liquid in oak yields either reposado (rested) or añejo (aged) tequila, depending on the period of time it’s been in oak barrels. Reposado tequila is aged anywhere from two months to one year. Añejo tequila stays in oak for a minimum of one year. There are “very aged” products as well – some muy añejos live in oak barrels for 7 to 10 years!

Jalisco contains the two most popular regions for producing tequila: The area surrounding the town of Arandas, Los Altos (the heights) and the area outlying the town of Tequila. Just over 2,000 feet lower than the Los Altos region, the soil of Tequila’s fields contains the evidence of millions of years of volcanic activity. The variation in the soil from the two areas yields a subtle taste difference. Tequilas made from Los Altos agave taste fruitier (a good example is El Tesoro). Tequilas made from Tequila agave have an earthier taste (a good example is Herradura).

Guadalajara is the ideal jumping-off point for visits to Tequila, conveniently located on a newly government-recognized Tequila Trail. Judge first whether you want only a day trip with the agave spirit, or if you want to plan a few days touring and sampling.

The fastest and easiest way to see the region on a day trip from Guadalajara is via the Tequila Express, a train that transports passengers to the town of Amatitan, home to Casa Herradura and the Hacienda San José del Refugio, which has been producing tequila since 1870. While at the hacienda, you’ll have tours of the old and new factories, a tequila tasting, and dinner with local cuisine. Get in the spirit all day with mariachi music – you’ll be serenaded on the round-trip train ride, as well as at dinner.

A multi-day tasting itinerary in and around Tequila (rent a car or take the bus from Guadalajara) should include big name distilleries you’ve heard of, and those you can’t find in your grocery store liquor aisle. Here are a few of my favorites:

Start with Jose Cuervo
A trip to Mexico for Tequila wouldn’t be complete without a stop at this world-renowned distillery if only to see where the first bottles of tequila were made – they started back in 1795! Tours of Cuervo’s La Rojeña distillery are offered by Mundo Cuervo, where you’ll learn the history of the company and watch the production process. Ask to see the cellar where Reserva de la Familia (the distillery’s most-aged tequila) sits in oak barrels. Jose Cuervo also has a rival train to the Tequila Express, called the Jose Cuervo Express – which you can choose to take as a day trip from Guadalajara.

Next, head to La Preservancia Distillery at Tequila Sauza
Sauza is another internationally recognized tequila, which makes a variety you’ll find in your local bar at home. Tours start at the Rancho el Indio, where you’ll watch how a jimador harvests agave. Then, you get to see the entire tequila making process at the distillery and taste the product (naturally). Of course there’s a gift store where you can buy something to take home, or enjoy during your trip in Mexico.

Wrap up your Tequila trip at La Cofradía
This distillery offers tours and tastings (and like the others, the opportunity to stock your bar at home). As opposed to the previous two big-name distilleries, La Cofradia is an example of a tequila business that stayed small and has changed little over the years. Avoid drinking and driving with a stay at the distillery’s Estancia La Cofradía Hotel Boutique, a small property right next to the agave fields. Don’t leave town without taking a photo of yourself next to the Tequila town sign, because that’s what everyone does.

1. Map it. Themed trails usually require you to drive unfamiliar roads. Don’t rely on a website or brochure map, both of which will likely only show the major streets. Before you go, familiarize yourself with the route, and always travel with a paper map just in case your GPS or navigation system fails.

2. Designate a driver. We’re not just talking about someone who agrees not to sample the wine, beer, or spirits along the trail; that should be a given. Even if you plan to just spend the day comparing barbecue joints, single out someone who drives safely: No hasty u-turns or lane changes, and make sure they can take directions.

3. Be realistic. There just isn’t enough time (or, in some cases, room in your stomach) to visit every establishment on a culinary trail in 24 hours. Decide which ones are a must, and plan accordingly. Also, take into account driving distances and tours.

4. Dress appropriately. Farm and vineyard tours may require you to be outside and to walk on uneven ground. Bring a jacket if it’s cold and sunscreen if it’s sunny, and wear shoes you can walk in comfortably. You’ll also want to ditch strong perfume and aftershave, which can overwhelm your sense of smell and affect your ability to taste.

5. Budget the trip. Each meal you order costs money. Add to that the culinary souvenirs you buy along the way, tastings, and tours, and your trip can get very expensive, very quickly. Try to price out each element before you go, and set a budget. Then, stick to it.

6. Call ahead. Just because the website or trail brochure indicates a listed restaurant serves lunch and dinner doesn’t mean it actually does. Or, that it’s even open at all. Restaurants and shops go out of business; hours at farms and other seasonal establishments vary. A quick phone call before you go can save a lot of time and frustration.

7. Try something new. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to explore new flavors on a culinary trail. That’s half the fun. Challenge yourself to sip an unfamiliar style of beer, dip your chip into that fiery salsa (just have some milk on hand), or sample a side you’ve never tried, like fried pickles.

8. Start a conversation. Ask the waitress serving you about the town; talk to the bartender at the winery about the vineyard’s history. You’ll learn things about the community and the people who live there that you wouldn’t if you focused exclusively on your traveling companions.

9. Take a break. You can only sip so many chardonnays or devour so many ice cream sundaes in rapid succession. Break up the day with other attractions. Tour a museum, shop for souvenirs, or hike through a local park or preserve (if only to work off some of those calories!). Visitors’ centers can suggest activities if you’re not sure what your options are.

Blue Ridge Parkway: Regardless of whether you hop on after a stroll through Shenandoah National Park, or if you fly into Asheville and grab a rental, this 469 mile motorway is not to be missed. Various sections of it are blocked off during the winter due to intense snowfall, but as of now, the full stretch is open for visitors. There’s really no bad spot here; vistas are around nearly every turn, and the quaint towns that line the road are chock full of friendly people, delicious home cooking, and unique stores. If you’re blessed enough with a few days on this route, driving the entire stretch is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Going-to-the-Sun Road: Glacier National Park is one of America’s finest gems, and this particular road is one that provides views for days. As of now, a total of 17 miles are open for travel, but the park service expects the full stretch to be accessible by late June. If you’re driving it, make sure you take a small, nimble vehicle; most of the roadways are scarily narrow with few guardrails. Harrowing though it may be, crisscrossing the vast mountains in the park provides for outstanding photographs, wildlife spottings, and incredible hiking.

Circumnavigating Lake Tahoe: Unlike the first two options, there’s no hard-and-fast rules surrounding this route. My preferred method for those visitor via air is to fly into Reno and rent a car. If you’re already in the Bay Area, driving over through South Lake Tahoe is a fine alternative. Highways 28, 50, and 89 run together in a loop around one of the most sterling lakes this country has to offer, and while speedsters can complete the journey in around four hours, you’ll want to budget for more. There are countless opportunities to grab photos across the lake, hike in the surrounding forests, and toss a fishing line in with local anglers. As a bonus, you can stand in two states at one time twice while making your way around.

Have any favorite road trips that aren’t listed here? Be sure to share in the comments section below!

Cash gift cards
Not a day goes by when one of my kids isn’t pressuring me to buy them something, and of course it builds their character and saves me a bundle if I say no a lot. The problem is that kids never think it hurts to ask, especially on vacation, when they know their mother and I are in more charitable moods. That’s when cash gift cards prove quite useful. Give each child a card, budgeting $10 a day for every day you’ll be away. As soon as they use up their cards, tell your kids they need to supplement with their own money if they want to buy additional stuff. This rule will keep your vacation spending in check and will teach your kids to take a pass on some of those crappier souvenirs they couldn’t previously live without when you were paying for them.

Prepaid phone card for emergencies
If you or your kids can’t get cell service or one of your phones dies, how prepared are any of you to pick up a pay phone, especially if you need to make an out of state call? That’s where the AT&T Virtual Prepaid Phone Card comes in handy. You don’t even need an actual card – you’ll be emailed an access number and pin for a prepaid block of minutes. The minutes can be used from any phone, including payphones. And at seven bucks for a block of 100 minutes (which don’t expire) there’s no reason why each traveler in your brood shouldn’t have a slip of paper tucked away with their own access number and pin for these emergency phone calls.

Antihistamine
If you’re traveling with kids, it’s almost guaranteed that one of them will develop a runny nose thanks to a cold, sinus infection, or seasonal allergy that will intensify the second you arrive in your destination. That’s why having antihistamine in your bag is essential, not just for drippy noses, but for bugs – if one of your kids gets bitten up by mosquitoes, an antihistamine will help dull the itch if your bitten-up child is particularly miserable. For convenience, bring along single-dosage liquid antihistamine packets that can be easily thrown into a bag. And of course, consult with a physician before dispensing any medication and be sure to replace all your meds before they expire.

Homework
A rookie mistake we made early on as parents was not bringing homework along during school vacations. Initially we figured we’d give the kids a break and just let them do the work when they got home, but of course that made the days before school started miserable for everyone. That’s when we realized that if we had downtime at our hotel and we knew there was a pricey activity our kids were begging us to do – but which we hadn’t necessarily budgeted – it was well worth suggesting to them that if they did their homework (rather than watch TV in the room) they might get that special activity as an incentive for getting that homework done.

What’s that one handy – and essential – accessory you pack when your family travels? Share your tips in the comments!

EAT:
You’re not in Vegas, but you’ll still have to work hard to avoid all-you-can-eat steakhouses and the like. You can start by diving into lunch at Rickshaw’s Fine Asian Bistro. It’s definitely one of the best sushi options in the area, but there’s plenty to choose from if you aren’t keen on raw fish.

We typically take time to select a nice dinner spot, but given that it’s Nevada, we’re slotting in a breakfast (or brunch) spot instead. Peg’s Glorified Ham N Eggs is a Reno staple, and if you’re getting up early for a workout, you’ll be in for a treat. Everything from loco moco to a chorizo scramble is on the menu, and the portions are huge.

DO:
For those who packed a bit of outerwear, a visit to Peavine Peak should be in order. You’ll find oodles of hiking and biking trails, but here’s a tip: those in the know will tell you that it’s a great place to drive off-road vehicles. Numerous trails are maintained specifically for use with overland automobiles, and if you grab a 4X4 rental, plenty of adventure awaits.

Speaking of adventure, those who are able to carve out an entire afternoon (or better still, an extra day in town) should take a trip around Lake Tahoe. It’s a solid four hour trip (not counting the various photo stops you’ll undoubtedly want to take), but it’s truly one of the best drives in America. Just shoot down to Incline Village and head for the California border. If you keep bearing left, you’ll end up where you left off.

DRINK:
It really isn’t tough to find a drink in any Nevada town with casinos lining the streets, but finding a pool hall nearby with a bar inside is more of a challenge. For a step back into yesteryear, peek into Q’s Billiard Club. Ending a week of hard work with a few games of pool and an ice cold anything? Not a bad way to spend your final night in Reno.

This is a recurring feature exploring must-visit locales in a variety of cities. If you find yourself traveling to a place for business, why not venture out and enjoy your surroundings?

The Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail

The green chile cheeseburger – a traditional cheesy patty topped with New Mexico‘s infamous Hatch green chiles – dates back to the heyday of Route 66 when one establishment ran out of bowls for its green chile and topped a burger with it, instead. Over the years, the green chile cheeseburger made its way on to the menus of restaurants, cafes, and drive-ins across the state, so whether you find yourself in Santa Fe, Roswell, or beyond, you can try one. One of the must-try highlights on the route is in San Antonio. The Buckhorn Tavern is said to serve one of the state’s best burgers; owner Bobby Olguin even beat Chef Bobby Flay in the Green Chile Cheeseburger Throwdown in 2009!

The Salsa Trail

This spicy route through Southeast Arizona showcases 12 family-owned restaurants, a tortilla factory and a chile farm. Don’t miss El Coronado’s huevos rancheros, El Charro’s chalaca (a fried corn masa cup filled with chili, cheese, and salad), and La Casita Café’s green chile burro enchilada style, all served with salsa (naturally). When you’re not sampling the local cuisine, visit the Rex Allen Museum in Willcox, tour the mine in Morenci, bathe in nearby hot springs, or spend some time at Discovery Park and Mt. Graham International Observatory.

The Blackhawk Chocolate Trail

Winding its way through four counties in Northwest Illinois, the Blackhawk Chocolate Trail guides you to all things chocolate from candy shops to bakeries, tea rooms, and old-fashioned soda fountains. Along the way, you can shop for antiques, visit Ronald Regan’s boyhood home, or taste some varietals at Hailey’s Winery. Burn off those extra chocolate-sampling calories with a hike in nearby state parks, like Castle Rock State Park or Green River State Wildlife Area.

The Hoosier Pie Trail

You may not know it, but Indiana serves some of the country’s best baked goods, including breads, cakes, cookies, scones, and cinnamon rolls, but it’s the signature Hoosier pie – a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth sugar pie – that has put many of the state’s bakeries on the map. This trail directs you to some of Indiana’s small towns where you can walk through historic districts, peruse boutique shops, or explore community museums. If you can only stop at one eatery, though, consider Mrs. Wick’s Pies in Winchester or Triple XXX Family Restaurant in Lafayette, said to be the state’s oldest drive-in.

The Texas BBQ Trail

For a change of pace, communities of BBQ connoisseurs – not restaurants – are the stops along this Texas trail. Start in Taylor, just northeast of Austin, at Louie Mueller Barbecue. Then, head south to Elgin, the Sausage Capital of Texas, where Meyer’s Elgin Sausage and Southside Market and Barbeque serve perfectly smoked meats. In Lockhart, the Barbeque Capital of Texas, you’ll have the choice of four restaurants: Black’s Barbecue, Chisholm Trail Bar-B-Que, Smitty’s Market, and Kreuz Market (don’t even think about asking for sauce here). The trail ends in Luling, home to the Watermelon Thump http://www.watermelonthump.com/, a celebration promoting the city’s watermelon industry, and to Luling Bar-B-Q and Luling City Market.

The Cheese Trail

The Cheese Trail features 13 dairies and farms in the Finger Lakes area southwest of Syracuse, New York. Each produces small batch artisanal cheese ranging from cheddar and Swiss to chevre, fresh curds, and kefir. Local cheese shops, orchards, bakeries, and wineries compliment these stops. Before you go, call ahead, especially during the winter or on weekdays: Since these are working farms, hours may vary depending on the season.

Cherry Blossoms

If you can’t make it to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., your next best bet is to venture to Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey for the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival (running through April 20). Home to the largest collection of cherry blossoms in the country (with more than 4,300 trees, the park has earned the nickname “Cherryblossomland”), Branch Brook Park is bursting with activities throughout the month. Take a trolley ride weekends through April – the 45-minute  tour tells the history of the 118-year-old park, and offers riders excellent views of the main attraction, the trees. (Tickets are $5 and must be bought in advance, call 973-239-2495 for more information.) The festival will close out with Bloomfest on April 14, which includes food vendors, musical performances, Japanese cultural demonstrations, a bungee trampoline, and more.

Dogwood Flowers

Atlanta’s Dogwood Festival, from April 19–21, is celebrating its 77th year in the city. The event is noteworthy not only for the blossoming dogwood trees, but also for the abundance of high-caliber art on display and for sale. Hundreds of art pieces, running the gamut from paintings to sculpture and jewelry, can be viewed in the Artist Market. The festival also does a good job of employing green practices: Visit the Eco-Village for exhibitions on how to remain eco-friendly, or rent an Eco Power Bike to help support education and recycling initiatives. And any festival wouldn’t be complete without plenty of food, arts and crafts, musical entertainment, and more to go around.

Tulips

If you want to tiptoe through the tulips, there are few better places stateside than Pella, Iowa during the Tulip Time Festival from May 2–4. Just 45 miles outside of Des Moines, Pella has a prominent Dutch population, and Tulip Time celebrates that heritage in style. Attendees can clack around town in wooden clogs, wearing traditional lace and britches, and enjoy meals of peppery bologna sandwiches and buttery pancakes called poffertjes. The twice-daily Tulip Time Parade showcases the Dutch influences in full force, as costumed children march through the town. Naturally, the 300,000 multi-colored tulips are a spectacle all their own.

Roses

Portland’s Rose Festival is a West Coast staple, and returns this year from May 19–June 16.  Though The Rose City is dotted with a plethora of, well, roses, the festival’s biggest draw is the Grand Floral Parade, the second largest floral parade in the U.S. The daylong affair features meticulously crafted floral floats, as well marching bands, a cappella groups, and dancing troupes. The Junior Parade, the world’s largest children’s parade, draws over 10,000 tikes, while the Starlight Parade hosts a fireworks display and carnival rides along the city’s waterfront. If parades aren’t your thing, you can check out the festival’s boat races or Fleet Week (June 5–9), when naval vessels from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy dock in port.

Poppies

The Yellow Rose may be  famous in Texas, but in Georgetown, the red poppy reigns supreme. The central-Texas town is hosting their annual Red Poppy Festival on April 26–28, when the bright wildflowers will be in full bloom. The festival is a great retreat for adrenaline junkies, as the event includes a number of sporty activities. Put your hoop dreams on the line with the Celebration Serves three-on-three basketball tournament, cycle through beautiful Williamson County on the Red Poppy Ride (there are routes of all levels including 14, 27, 40, 50, 63, and 100 miles), or take a stroll down Austin Avenue and admire the hot rods at the Car Show. For the less-active, the festival offers musical concerts, arts and crafts, a parade, and food.

Do you have a favorite floral festival that we missed? Tell us about it in the comments!

Raley Field, West Sacramento, California
Opened in 2000, this 14,680-seat home of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate, is a grand-slam ballpark. It boasts fantastic views of the city skyline and the Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River, plus a spacious berm around the outfield and killer concessions: salmon tacos, barbecue nachos, and root beer floats. (An interesting aside: I tripled-checked to make sure I had the team name spelled correctly, as the team recently issued news that it will fine any members of the media or season ticket holders $1 for misspelling the name “River Cats”, with proceeds from the infraction going to a local charity.)

Joseph P. Riley Park, Charleston, S.C.
Concessions at the beautiful home of the Charleston RiverDogs, just steps from the city’s historic district, hit it out of the park season after season: The stadium was even featured on Travel Channel food show Man vs. Food. Recent additions to the always-creative menu include beer milkshakes (news of which went viral), pork rinds and cracklins’, and taco dogs, in addition to mainstays like regular old hot dogs (a RiverDogs rule is that the stadium staple must be sold at every concession stand). Plus, since the team is co-owned by comedian Bill Murray, what’s happening between innings is just as entertaining as the on-field action.

Jackie Robinson Field, Daytona Beach, Florida
Major history happened at this minor league park: Jackie Robinson was first allowed to play here, during spring training in the 1940s, a milestone commemorated in a small museum outside the park. Nicknamed “The Jack,” the 4,200-seat facility, home of the Daytona Cubs, sits on a small island and, despite being hit several times by hurricanes, remains intact with an old-school vibe. Fans will want to snag tickets as soon as possible for games, as this season’s roster boasts a pair of highly heralded players, Javier Baez and Jorge Soler. Plus, the April 12 release of 42, a movie that highlights Robinson’s incredible legacy, is sure to bring additional attention to this beloved stadium.

Fifth Third Field, Toledo, Ohio
It’s hard to decide which is more awesome: the team name (Mud Hens), the architecture that incorporates warehouses, or the economic pick-me-up the ballpark provided to a downtrodden district of Toledo. In 2007, ESPN.com named “The Roost,” the right-field seats in this approximately 9,000-seat stadium among the best in minor league baseball because they offer “fans lucky enough to sit in them an effect reminiscent of the right-field, upper-deck seats at Tiger Stadium.” For a post-game cocktail, bars and restaurants abound just a few steps from the park.

Riverwalk Stadium, Montgomery, Alabama
Home of the AA Montgomery Biscuits, this downtown ballpark features a remarkable mix of modern design, rich history, and tasty concessions that include – of course – biscuits and gravy. Built on land that was once home to a Confederate prison, the 7,000-seat facility incorporates a circa-1900s train shed into its design, providing an ambiance of bygone eras – and trains still rumble past! Seats in the Locomotive Loft, an upper section near the foul pole, offer spectacular views of the field and welcome breezes, especially in the summer months.