The highlight of my trip to Chicago was definitely watching a Cubs game at historic Wrigley Field. Seeing the ivy-covered walls and the building-top seats across the street, all of the things that we have seen hundreds of times on TV were awesome. The scoreboard is still manually operated. You can actually see the guys changing out the numbers when someone scores. There is no hint of the sterile surrounds of Comiskey Park. The friendly confines of Wrigley Field is America’s second-oldest ballpark, and is where baseball was meant to be played.

We had quite an adventure on our way to the ballgame. We jumped on the "L" downtown. From there, it is only a short ride on the Red Line, which stops directly at Wrigley Field at the Addison Station, except when there is a fire on the track. Our train moved forward about 50 feet, then retreated back into the station. Every train in the downtown area was stopped and evacuated. It was a weekday about 6pm, so there were thousands of people coming up from the subway. There were no available taxis, so we jumped on a waiting bus. After about 45 minutes, we had moved maybe a mile. The bus driver gave us directions to Wrigley Field. We had no choice except to walk the remaining couple of miles. We arrived at the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

We had just purchased our tickets on the internet earlier in the day and we had great seats. We were on the field level, about 15 rows behind home plate. I was amazed to see that the screen protecting the fans from foul balls was made of old, rusty chicken wire. I probably missed the first few pitches by just looking around and soaking up the wonderful, old-fashioned ballpark atmosphere.

The walk to Wrigley Field had left me quite hungry and thirsty. I quickly found my way to the pizza and beer. I am used to normal mediocre ballpark food. I was pleasantly surprised that the Chicago style pizza was so good. The beer was frosty cold and really hit the spot.

On the field, the Cubs were hosting the San Diego Padres. Sammy Sosa hit his eighth home run of the early season to help the Cubs defeat the Padres 8-3. My heart was pounding when I sang "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the Seventh Inning Stretch.

Wrigley Field has been the site for many of baseball’s historic moments. Babe Ruth’s "called shot" during the 1932 World Series; Ernie Banks’ 500th career home run; and Pete Rose’s 4,191 career hit, which tied him with Ty Cobb for the most hits in history, all happened at Wrigley Field.

Without doubt, this was my best baseball experience ever.

It is America’s pastime, baseball. Almost nowhere else in America will you get the same experience as you do at Wrigley Field. It is considered one of the best baseball fields to visit in the United States, and the atmosphere at a Cubs game is like no other.

Baseball is in its purest form at Wrigley Field. The stadium was built in 1914 and little has changed since then. It is the second oldest major-league ballpark in the nation and brings feelings of nostalgia anytime you are there. Wrigley Field still has its original scoreboard, and you can tell if the Cubs won or lost their game that day by the flag flying from it (W = Win, L= Lost). You feel like you must root for the home team here (and it will be the Cubs, not the Socks); you must indulge in beer, popcorn, ice cream, and peanuts to your heart’s content; and you will sing "Take me out to the Ballgame."

I would suggest purchasing tickets online or through Ticketmaster. The scalpers jack up the prices a ton, especially if the Cubs are on a winning streak. Unlike other parks, there is really no bad seat at Wrigley Field, so you will always have a chance to watch the game or the other fans.

Getting to Wrigley Field is easy enough. I would suggest taking public transportation; just jump on the Red Line "L" and get off at Addison. You are able to see the field from the platform, so you can’t get too lost, or you could always just follow the crowds in red-and-blue apparel. There is parking but not a lot, and you will pay anywhere from $10 to $30 for parking spaces. Once again, these prices go up depending on how the Cubs do.

Once inside the stadium, make sure that you check out the buildings across the street. These are some of the best places to watch a Cubs game in Chicago. These are rooftops that are rented out on game days, usually to companies, and are fully catered. If you have a chance watch a Cubs game from these rooftops, they are arguably the best view and a unique experience.

There is tons of traditional baseball food in Chicago, and the prices reflect the fact that you are in Chicago. If you don’t feel like playing the game-day prices, I would suggest you check out some of the many restaurants located around the ballpark. In addition, if you are looking for Cubs apparel, look into a few of the shops. The prices may very well be better than the hawkers out on the street.

Wrigley Field is the host to America’s most lovable losers when it comes to baseball. In addition, there is the feeling of old-time baseball that adds to the feeling of the ballpark. Not much has changed here since 1932, when Babe Ruth called his shot (a moment in baseball history).

On summer weekends, when the Cubs are out of town, you can take a tour or Wrigley Field. For a $10 donation to the charity Cubs Care, you will get a great behind-the-scenes look at beautiful Wrigley Field. Tickets will need to be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster because it sells out every time. You will tour the press box, Cubs locker room, the Cubs dugout, the bleachers and more. You will learn about the security system, the scoreboard, movies filmed at Wrigley (like "A League of Their Own" starring Madonna). You can ask questions of your host - like what do the players eat before a game? Bring a ball and glove because you will be able to play catch on the field and take all the pictures you want - even in the on-deck circle!

Over the years, I've spent many, many afternoons at Wrigley Field. This is one of the highlights of any Chicago trip; obviously, the baseball schedule will determine whether or not you have an opportunity to attend a game.

Most games start at 1.20pm. Some start later. The best way to kick off a day in Wrigleyville is to arrive early and preparty in the neighborhood. The stadium is practically surrounded by bars and restaurants. The Cubbybear is probably the most famous, but it's also the most touristy. On game day, a can of Miller Lite will be four or five bucks. Go a block away to Texas Star Fajita Bar for some decent Tex-Mex. On Sheffield (beyond the right field wall) there are two bars: Murphy's and the Sports Corner. Both are good places to primer.

If you have the prized bleacher seats, you might want to enter the gates early (at least 1 hour before game time) if you actually want a decent seat. On hot days in the summer, the most comfortable "seat" is to simply stand against the chain-link fence in right or left field, behind the seating area. You're simply a few feet farther away from the field, and you get a decent breeze.

Stick around through at least the seventh inning - sometimes someone halfway famous will sing. I've seen Jimmy Buffett do the seventh-inning stretch in the past. If anyone halfway cool is in town for a concert, there's a decent chance they'll sing at Wrigley. Always fun to see who it will be (just hope it's not Da Coach).

After the game, postparty in the neighborhood or walk a couple blocks away for any one of the good restaurants in the area. Sheffield's in a fun place...a few blocks south on Sheffield.

Note about tickets: Bleacher tickets can be hard to get, especially if a division rival is in town or if there's a good pitching matchup (i.e., Kerry Wood vs. Anybody). In fact, bleacher seats to almost all of the premium games sell out before the season even starts. If you are serious about attending a Cubs game, try to line up your tickets ahead of time, either by buying them the day the go on sale (in Feb. 2002), picking one of the rare games with tickets will available (Marlins, etc.), or get seats to the game you want via an online broker (at a premium, of course). If you really want to experience Wrigley, I would definitely advise getting into the bleachers, but I would not advise relying on the (semi-illegal) scalping scene on game day to get your tickets. It can be done, but if you show up on a Friday and it happens to be Wood vs. the Unit, you will be watching the game from Murphy's. The bleachers may not be suitable for young children, as it can be quite a debaucherous and well-hydrated crowd.

Watching a Cubs game is nice, a little piece of heaven. If you love baseball, or for that matter, even if you don't, the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field is a great place to be. The atmosphere is amazing all around, from the smell of hot dogs to the yell of "fresh, cold beer" or of the fans when they sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame! It is fun for the whole family.