MomsTribute
With summer just around the corner, there are so many wonderful ballparks in the Chicagoland area to adventure to with the littles. From minor league parks that host the Chicago Dogs or the Schaumburg Boomers, to Major League Baseball’s iconic Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, you can make kid-friendly memories on any budget.
The Village of Rosemont, a gateway jewel to the city of Chicago, revamped its entertainment district to include various dining, shopping, and experiences, with the most kid-friendly being the addition of the AAA baseball team, The Chicago Dogs. Impact Field, located at 9850 Balmoral Avenue is a 6,300 seat stadium, with kid-approved experiences and family-friendly pricing. Your kids will love running the bases after each game. The Hot Dog Mascots entertain the kids in between the innings and a fireworks show after most games gives parents literally more bang for their buck, all the while enjoying competitive and energetic baseball action.
Amenities at the Chicago Dogs Impact Field include:
Similarly this is a Frontier League team, which houses much of the same experience as the Chicago Dogs - but it is a little more convenient for patrons from the Western and Northwestern Suburbs. The Boomers Wintrust Stadium, located at 1999 S Springinsguth Rd, Schaumburg, IL, is a 6,000 seat stadium where kids become a part of the action, clowning around with the mascot, Coop, in between the innings. With kid-favorite and affordable dining options like Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream, families can create memories at this quaint ball park. The Boomers even hosted players who eventually moved up to the MLB, such as Justin Erasmus and Willy Garcia.
Amenities at the Schaumburg Boomers Wintrust Field include:
My family’s favorite place in the entire world is Wrigley Field, located at 1060 W. Addison - a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan. This Northside team has completely revamped the look and vibe of Wrigley Field, while still managing to keep the nostalgic feel of the second oldest ballpark in America. While tickets are pricier here than any other baseball excursion noted in this blog, the Cubs do a decent job of offering tickets to certain games at a discounted rate for families. This coming May, my children and I will attend a 6:40pm night game, with a decent seat, soda, and hotdog included for $21 apiece! Join their email promotions list to take advantage of these offers because they sell out quickly, so act fast!
At times, getting to Wrigley can prove a challenge, but with the renewed 1060 project, more parking options are available, but certainly check out the mass transit opportunities for easy in and out of the area. Not only does the El provide a quick and easy ride, but Pace Bus out of the NW suburbs offers a quick shuttle express service for home games. The Metra train line has a shuttle bus to take families the four miles from the Irving Park stop to the front door of the park.
Gallagher Way is a highlight of our time at Wrigley Field, so bring a ball and a glove so you can take advantage of the grassy space to have a friendly game of catch prior to the game. This is only available for ticketed guests, so you will have to have your ticket ready to enter. Gallagher Way frequently has live music before and after games, so there are some snacks and beverages for purchase at this location as well. Kids can cool off in the splash pad after working up a sweat!
Inside the park, you can take your child to the information booth to receive a “First Timer” certificate and enjoy watching some batting practice before the games. Typically, food is 25% off in the 75 minutes before game time, so get there early. Clark the Cub is the loveable mascot, who goes out of his way to make even the littlest fan feel welcome. On Sundays, kids can receive a wristband to run the bases after the game, and sometimes, they can even visit the Kids Corral for the visiting team’s batting practice, where kids can step onto the dirt behind home plate for a chance to get an autograph. If this is something that you think you’d like to do more than once a summer, join the Chicago Cubs Kids Club for a nominal fee and you don’t have to wait in line for the running of the bases on Kids Sundays, and you will receive some cool Cubs swag as well. In addtion, Kids Club offers members-only events that are some of the most valuable memories I have ever experienced with my children. From a parade on the warning track before a game to a “Catch at Wrigley” on a beautiful June Sunday morning, we have taken full advantage of the membership perks.
Amenities at Wrigley Field include:
In Chicagoland, there is no shortage of kid-friendly opportunities for all types of baseball experiences. Now… pass me the Cracker Jack!
Dana H
A unique platform for all-things-mom. A shared, nurturing community for moms that empowers, brings convenience, and removes chaos from their everyday lives.
