Baseball diamonds for the young at heart

As teams build new stadiums and renovate old ones, they are putting more and more kid-friendly features in place. For example, many ballparks now have a specialized play area that offers batting cages, base running, or other baseball-related activities. These parks offer some of the best family-friendly features for fans who like to do more than just sit back and watch the pros play.

Houston Astros
<br>Minute Maid Park

<br><br>The ballpark, built on the site of a former train station, has a train out front and a massive, working steam engine high atop the left field outer wall. A conductor drives the train along its track after each Astros home run, and whenever the team wins. The park also has quirky features for kids to spot, like an actual hill in centerfield and a roof that opens and closes. Tickets from $1 children, $5 adults, hot dog $4.75, 501 Crawford St., 713-259-8000, www.astros.com

Boston Red Sox
<br>Fenway Park

<br><br>Fenway Park hasn’t got the amusement park features found in some new ballparks, but it still delivers when it comes to kids. Fun can be found at Wally’s World, on Yawkey Way, where boardwalk games, a speed pitch, a bean-bag toss, and the Red Sox mascot Wally await. Wally’s World is open every Saturday and Sunday game day in June and September, and every home game in July and August. Tickets from $12, hot dog $4.50, 4 Yawkey Way, 877-733-7699, www.redsox.com

San Francisco Giants

AT&T Park

The Giants put a real (retired) cable car near the outfield stands. Kids can climb aboard to watch the game or ring the loud bell. And since the ballpark abuts the bay, kids can watch for “splash hits’’ that fly over the stadium wall, drop into the water, in the water and are scooped up by waiting kayakers. Tickets prices vary, but can start below $10, hot dog $5, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, 415-972- 2000, www.sfgiants.com

Baltimore Orioles

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Camden Yards

<br><br>Camden Yards updated its Kids Corner to feature a moon bounce, speed pitch, a batting cage, and more. The park should also be a favorite of baseball-crazy kids also because it’s one of the easiest ballparks to snag a real MLB baseball during batting practice or a game. Tickets from $9, hot dog $2.50, 333 West Camden St., 888-848-2473, www.orioles.com

Atlanta Braves
<br>Turner Field

<br><br>The Braves have one of the biggest children’s areas in baseball, starting with its Sky Field attraction on top of the outfield roof. Kids can work off energy on the nearby miniature baseball fields or work on their finger dexterity in the Xbox Kinect area. In addition, the team’s Scouts Alley has two speed pitch and two hitting games. Tickets from $6 for selected games, hot dog $4.50, 755 Hank Aaron Drive Southeast, 404-522-7630, www.braves.com

Kansas City Royals

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Kauffman Stadium

<br><br>This stadium is hard to beat for kid-friendly activities. The team’s Outfield Experience area has batting cages, a timed base run, a pitching mound, and a full-scale carousel with galloping horses. But perhaps the most unique attraction is a five-hole miniature golf course (baseball themed, of course). Tickets from $10, hot dog $5, 1 Royal Way, 800-676-9257, www.royals.com

Washington Nationals
<br>Nationals Park

<br><br>Children ages 4-12 can run the Nationals’ bases after select Sunday home games. They can also cheer on racing presidents during the fourth inning of home games. George Washington, Tom Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt, dressed in costumes and giant foam heads, dash from the outfield to first base. Tickets with a hot dog, chips, and a soda start at $14 on Saturdays and Sundays, hot dog $4.75, 1500 South Capitol St. Southeast, 202-675-NATS, www.nationals.com

Detroit Tigers
<br>Comerica Park

<br><br>The Tigers Comerica Park has a definite amusement park feel, with an actual Ferris wheel and a customized carousel. The Ferris wheel has 12 baseball-shaped cars, while the carousel features tigers instead of the usual horses. Postgame fireworks light up the sky after many Friday and Saturday night games. Tickets from $5, hot dog $5.50, 2100 Woodward Ave., 313-962-4000, www.tigers.com

Milwaukee Brewers
Miller Park

Even though he doesn’t drop down into a giant mug of beer anymore, Bernie Brewer still lights up games for kids and fans at Milwaukee’s ballpark. The funniest part of the game is the Famous Sausage Race, when a bratwurst, Polish, Italian, hot dog, and chorizo compete in a silly foot race. Tickets from $9, hot dog $3.25, 1 Brewers Way, 414-902-4000, www.brewers.com

Miami Marlins

Marlins Park

The Marlins take bobbleheads to the next level in their new ballpark. The team’s Bobblehead Museum houses almost 700 bobbleheads from different MLB teams. On Saturday Spectacular days, fans can sit back after the game and enjoy fireworks and a laser show. Tickets from $10 or $13 for most games, hot dog $6, 1390 Northwest 6th St., 877-411-2012, www.marlins.com