All Star Game Fan Guide: Angel Stadium in Anaheim

The 2010 All Star Game will be held in Anaheim this season at the Angel's Stadium. With Disney nearby, there is not much in the area that is cheap and much of the area is just outright expensive. Many of the "cheap" places in the area can also be a horrible experience. There are several things that you will want and need to know before heading out to Anaheim to catch the All Star game this year.

Where to Stay -

This area is not very friendly to the frugal traveller at any time of the year, but in the heat of summer with the All Star game in town, it will be even worse. There are a couple things that you can do to help keep the costs down though. Hotwire and Priceline are two major ways to take care of the cost. Location is another way that you can cut the costs. With some very good public transportation in the area, you can easily stay a ways away from the stadium for much cheaper and even skip the cost of parking. This can also get you into a cheaper area for food and other entertainment.

How to Get There -

Both Amtrak and the MetroRail drop off right in the parking lot. This greatly increases the distance you can have your hotel. From downtown LA all the way south to Oceanside, you can easily and cheaply make it to the stadium and skip the parking nightmare. During this week, if you do drive, expect to pay a pretty penny. You won't be able to park within miles of the stadium without having to pay. There are several busses in the area (the 460 from LA County or OCTA from Long Beach or any Orange County location).

Inside the Stadium -

Angel Stadium is one of the best in Southern California and has a little something for everyone. The seating is arranged so that even if you get the nosebleed section, the view is quite good. There are really no bad seats here. They have a very nice kid's area just beyond center field with a lot of activities for the kids. When it comes to eating at the stadium, they have it all. From Mexican to Sushi, you can get what you are looking for here. There are several places to grab some grub. You need to try the carne asada or California burrito from Angelito's. It is never a complete trip to SoCal without a good carne asada or carnitas burrito.

If You Can't Get Inside -

There are several spots just outside the park to catch the game. When it comes to tailgating, you won't find it here. There are too many rules and regulations in the parking lot and throughout the surrounding area. There is no alcohol consumption in the parking lot at all and very strict liquor laws along the street. There are, however, several venues in the vicinity that are full of fun. If you don't mind paying a little extra, The Catch is at the edge of the parking lot on the left field side. This is a very nice place and can get hopping at night. There is a lot of energy here and important games will be aired in the restaurant and club. For the more budget minded fans, there is a Hooters within a couple blocks. There are several other spots nearby and all of them will have the game turned on.

Nearby Sites -

We all know about Disney and the stadium is only mile from the entrance. There is a lot more to do and see around here though. If you head north and a little west you can find an ice skating rink. Anaheim Ice is at the corner of Lincoln and Harbor and is the training grounds for the local Ducks hockey team. They have open skating daily though and are not very expensive. Pirate Dinner Theater and Medieval Times are both very fun dinner theaters just up the street in Buena Park. Located just south of Orangethorpe on Beach St., these two spots are great family fun with dinner and a show. Both of these are also located just blocks from Knott's Berry Farms. Knott's is a great amusement park for the more budget minded travellers. If you want the rides and fun without the Disney prices, Knott's can be the answer. eBay has some very cheap tickets as well. For real thrill rides, it is a little farther to North LA, but Magic Mountain is known for the extreme thrills.

Best Eats in the Area -

There are a couple spots in the area where you can get some great food without taking out another mortgage. If you are trying to save a little, stay away from the Disney area. The only thing there that is affordable (other than IHOP and Denny's) is Captain Kidd's. This buffet may be cheap in price, but you will be hurting for days from the food there. You could literally have a cheesesteak mailed to you from Philly and it will be fresher than what graces their buffet line. There are several Denny's in the area with the new $2, $4, $6, $8 menu as well as a couple IHOP's. For some real authentic food, you may need to travel a bit. There is a great pizza buffet called Shakey's at the corner of Harbor and Ball. This is not too far from the Stadium. For Mexican food, there are at least three choices for great food. The closest to the stadium is the Fiesta Market on the corner of Lincoln and Anaheim. This is a grocery store, but they have some tables and some great food. The carnitas are a little dry, but still good. The rotisserie chickens are some of the best on the market though. There is a place called Night and Day Market just north of the Econolodge on Harbor. This place is great and you can get real Mexican. They have 50 cent tacos and $2 burritos. The tacos are like the T.J. street tacos. There is some occasional gristle in the asada, but it is pretty good. For the best carnitas in all of SoCal, there is a place in Buena Park called Belinda's Authentic Mexican. It is just east of Valley View on Orangethorpe. For the best quality and best prices, Belinda's is the top choice.

There are all sorts of things in the area if you are willing to travel a bit. If you head farther west than Disney, north of Ball, and stay east of the highway you can find several options for food and drinks in the area. Everything in the Disney area is a little expensive though and cheaper alternatives can be found. One sort of game that the city is setting up is a hide and seek with Mickey. They have placed statues of Mickey Mouse painted in each team's colors throughout the area. The A's and Angels are fairly easy to find and are near the public library north of the stadium. The rest you will have to find. There are a lot of things to do in the area and with all the All Star hype you can find even more festivities in the area. Hope this helps you to have an enjoyable All Star game in 2010.