Hohokam Park

There are a variety of seats including field box seats and terrace premium seating.

Although you'll be in the Valley of the Sun, that doesn't mean you have to watch the game at Hohokam Park under the warm rays.

If you prefer to be out of the sun, seats in Hohokam Park Sections 200 – 212 and 201 – 211, plus the Budweiser tent, have the most shade.

The outfield lawn seating is on a berm and fully in the sun.

Hohokam Field has over 12,000 seats and Chicago Cubs spring training fans usually fill them up

There's quite a hot dog menu including the Arizona Fajitas Dog, slathered in salsa, onions, green peppers and guacamole.

From the other side of the nation, try the New York City Rueben Dog, piled high with sauerkraut, cheese and 1000 island dressing.

If hot dogs aren't your favorite, there are also concessions serving pizza, burritos, burgers, fries and, of course, plenty of beer.

You have three spots to try for an autograph.

Some Chicago Cubs spring training fans try at Fitch Park, which is the practice field for Hohokam Stadium and the Minor League Complex. It is located at 651 N. Center Street, just south of the stadium. Practice generally starts around 9:00 a.m. and is free.

Hopeful autograph seekers wait at the entrance to the players' parking lot here, hoping to snag an autograph as the players arrive in their cars for practice.

At Hohokam Park, hang out close to the fence near the dugouts at least 1½ hours before the game starts.

The Chicago Cubs spring training dugout is on the 1st base side of the field. The opposing team dugout is located at the 3rd base side.

Tailgating is allowed in the parking areas, though you cannot consume alcoholic beverages in accordance with city and state laws.

Recently, however, this casual, former farming community has spruced up its downtown and added a sparkling arts center.

A dinosaur perches outside the Arizona Museum of Natural History

After the game, take a drive to downtown Mesa. The renovated, historic buildings along Main Street are now filled with a variety of boutiques and art galleries.

When you are downtown, don’t miss the Arizona Museum of Natural History (53 N. McDonald; 480-644-2230), formerly known as the Mesa Southwest Museum.

This diverse museum explores the natural world and the history of the Southwest with displays that includes a replica of a Native American village, and an impressive fossil collection.

Kids will love seeing the animated dinosaurs at Dinosaur Mountain, panning for gold and seeing the "rainfall" during a summer monsoon storm.

Mesa has focused on art and you will see public art on display on most downtown street corners.

Another great place to see art is the Mesa Arts Center (1 E. Main Street; 480-644-6500).

This stunning site combines visual arts, performing arts, and arts education all in one impressive space that's the largest center for the arts in Arizona.

Outside, the Mesa Arts Center is striking with its angular, modern architecture of jagged angles, glass walls and sloping roofs. The outdoor spaces contain trees, water features and a running arroyo meant to evoke the area's desert landscape.

Inside, there are five galleries showcasing curated and juried permanent and traveling contemporary art exhibitions. Works have included neon art, glass sculpture, pastel landscapes and bead work.

The Mesa Arts Center's four state-of-the-art theaters and outdoor entertainment venues offer an eclectic mix of performing arts programs.

The large Bass Pro Shops store has everything outdoors from boats to boots

The center is home to the Symphony of the Southwest, Ballet Etudes, the Southwest Shakespeare Company and the East Valley Children's Theatre among others.

You can also see national performing acts like Lyle Lovett, Vince Gill, the American Ballet Theatre and Bryan Adams.

If you enjoy the outdoors, you might want to check out the gigantic Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World (1133 N. Dobson; 602-606-5600) on your way out of Mesa.

Its located at Mesa Riverview Center - a 240-acre retail and entertainment development just south of the Loop 202 freeway in northwest Mesa.

The Bass Pro Shops has 170,125-square feet of outdoor sporting goods including camping equipment, hiking boots, men's and women's clothing, fishing gear and even boats.

Even if you're not looking to shop, the store is worth a look to see its outdoors décor and elaborate nature displays.

The store's centerpiece is a rocky "mountain" complete with "trees," taxidermied elk, turkeys, a mountain lion, and a large tank filled with live fish.

To get out into the natural world in all its living glory, take one of the most scenic drives in all of Arizona – the Apache Trail.

This 42-mile route passes through some of the most beautiful Sonoran Desert scenery in the state.

Saguaro cactus and craggy mountains along the Apache Trail

If you'll be checking out the Bass Pro Shops, consider eating at the adjoining Ismeralda Fish Company Restaurant (1133 N. Dobson Rd.; 602-606-5500), which started in Florida in 1948 and now has locations across the U.S.

The menu is fish dishes such as crab cakes, clam chowder and grilled seafood as well as steaks, chicken, pasta and salads. It also has a massive aquarium as its centerpiece.

There are no restaurants next to the stadium, but it's only a short drive to downtown Mesa or other areas of town where you'll have several options.

Diamond's Sports Grille, formerly known as Sluggo's, (161 N. Centennial Way; 480-844-3888) near Mesa's Civic Center, has long been a popular spot with Cubs' fans.

That's probably because the original owners were the legendary Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray and former Major League Baseball pitcher and current Cubs announcer Steve Stone.

Although the ownership has changed, this sports bar and grill is still filled with sports memorabilia and big screen TVs for watching games.

Diamond's serves all the traditional grill favorites including potato skins, wings, nachos, and burgers.

You can also get Baja tacos, hot dogs, and hot sandwiches such as bratwurst, Philly cheese steak and pulled pork.

Their entrees include spaghetti and meatballs, New York strip steak, big salads, and shrimp and veggie skewers. They have a separate kids' menu too.

East of Hohokam Park is the family-owned Rancho de Tia Rosa's (3129 E. McKellips Rd., 480-659-8787), a wonderful Mexican restaurant that resembles an old hacienda replete with hand-hewn wood beams, fountains and stained glass windows.

This is a large and popular cantina known for its scenic pink adobe courtyard filled with flowers and trees.

You can have a nice, sit-down meal in the main restaurant or get take-out from the taqueria next door.

Try specialties like the grilled salmon enchiladas with avocado sauce or the chicken mole with six varieties of chiles and twenty-two spices, herbs, nuts, dried fruit and chocolate.

You'll have your choice of ten homemade salsas to top everything off.

For something a little different, there's Inside the Bungalow (48 N. Robson St.; 480-844-2353).

Located downtown, this bohemian arts and crafts style home was converted to a coffeehouse that offers natural foods like veggie sandwiches and vegan curry plus organic teas, frozen Mexican-spiced mocha and green tea smoothies.

There's also a studio for yoga and stretching classes and massage, providing a complete mind-body experience.

Other Mesa restaurants to try include:

• Blue Adobe Grill (144 N. Country Club; 480-962-1000): this popular, highly rated restaurant serves New Mexican specialties like stacked enchiladas, posole and carne adovada.
• Sweet Cakes Café (21 W. Main St.; 480-461-9529): a casual eatery with gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads plus a variety of sweet treats including cinnamon rolls. Open for breakfast and lunch.
• Vito's Pizza Place and Ristorante (1947 N. Lindsay Rd.; 480-832-3311): homemade Italian-American food in a family style setting.

Location:   Also known as Dwight W. Patterson Field, Hohokam Park is in north central Mesa.

Hohokam Park practice fields are at Fitch Park at the corner of Center and 6th Streets, a little less than one mile south of the stadium.

Click here to see a map of the Greater Phoenix Spring Training Locations

Address:   1235 N. Center St., Mesa AZ 85201. Center Street is between McKellips Road and Brown Road.

Phone:   480-644-4451

Number of Seats:   13,074

Seating Note: Children under the age of 3 who sit on a parent's lap do not need a ticket. Gates open 2 hours prior to game start time (subject to change).

See the full Arizona Spring Training Schedule.

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