Grand Slam USA is a 300,000-square-foot facility with fun activities for the entire family. Established in 1984, the family-operated business offers everything from batting cages, laser tag, basketball courts and mini golf to arcade games. It hosts birthday parties, summer camps and softball and baseball instructional programs.
Lincoln Financial Field is a stadium located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lincoln Financial Field currently houses the NFL team the Philadelphia Eagles and the AAC team the Temple Owls. The stadium opened as Lincoln Financial Field on August 3, 2003 with the construction taking just over a two years at a cost of just over $512 million, $639 million in today’s dollars. In 2002 Lincoln Financial signed a 21-year naming rights deal worth $140 million. The stadium was built to replace the aging Veterans Stadium.
The Philadelphia Eagles are three time Super Bowl Champions and are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference within the NFL. They are known by their team colors consisting of dark teal, black, gray, silver and white. The current owner of the Philadelphia Eagles is Jeffrey Lurie.
The Temple Owls play in the American Athletic Conference within the NCAA. The Owls use to be a part of the Big East Conference until they were kicked out due a lack of competitiveness. They are known by their team colors consisting of red and white.
The stadium currently holds 68,532 fans. There are 172 luxury suites and with over 3,000 seats at the club level. Currently, it was the 22nd largest stadium in the NFL. Lincoln Financial Field is also a great venue for concerts and has hosted such musicians as U2, Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen. Other uses include various men and women’s professional soccer games.
The majority of tickets for Eagles’ games are sold out and there is an extensive waitlist for season tickets. However, fans can find available individual game tickets at ticket exchanges.
Strayer University has both online and classroom courses available in the Delaware County area. Fields such as accounting, health services administration, information systems and more are available at this location. Students can earn degrees like Bachelor's degree, Master's, Master's of Science and more.
Located in Trevose, Leaps N Bounders is a gymnastic training and education facilty for young children and teens. With professionally trained staff, boys and girls are instructed in a fun and cooperative manner stressing the graceful gymnastics and good health and fitness. With a fully equipped (parallel bars, balancing beams and padded floors) gym and age appropriate classes offered during the evenings and weekends, Leaps N Bounders offers a great place and value for any aspiring gymnast.
Since 1974, Skatium has been owned and operated by Haverford Township. Skatium hosts school hockey leagues, public skating, and also offers meeting room rental and birthday party packages. Please view their Web site for special group rates and discounts.
Homestead Taxi is a taxi service that serves Lansdale, Quakertown and the surrounding areas. It is open seven days a week and until 3am on New Year's Eve. It specializes in workers' comp transports, school/student transport, local town pick-up, corporate accounts and airport runs.
Tee It Up Golf has a driving range for adults and putt-putt golf and virtual golf lessons for all ages. Birthday parties and group events are available.
Frog Hollow Racquet Club is a full-service tennis instruction and racquet club in Lansdale. Offering programs for men and women, youth and summer camps, Frog Hollow Racquet Club features private lessons and group instruction for tennis enthusiasts of all skill levels. Sixteen courts of various surface types are available for play.
Aerials Fit N Fun Gymnastics Center is located in the Shoppes at Valley Forge shopping center on Schuylkill Road in Phoenixville. It offers gymnastics classes for ages 2 to adult in its state-of-the-art facilities. Classes are available all year, including after school programs and summer camps.
Home to the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2001, PNC Park is a baseball fan's dream stadium. Downtown adjacent location, small capacity intimacy, gorgeous views of the Pittsburgh skyline, great food, and tons of neighborhood amenities nearby make this destination worth the visit whether the Buccos -- as the locals call them -- are playing in the World Series or stuck in last place.
PNC Park parking
Lots and garages abound in the area surrounding PNC, since the Steeler's Heinz Field is just a few blocks away. The stadium lots can be a bit pricey, so try to park in one of the many garages downtown. During games, many only charge between $5-$10. Parking Panda is a great online resource to find the best garages. From downtown, it is a very short walk across the Sixth Street Bridge, also called the Roberto Clemente Bridge after the Hall of Fame Pirate.
Hotels near PNC Park
There are scores of hotels around PNC Park, so you won't be without choices. Residence Inn Pittsburgh North Shore and SpringHill Suites Pittsburgh North Shore are literary right across the street. If you want to splurge and stay in one of Pittsburgh's more beautiful buildings, try Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel. If you get a river-view room on a high floor, you might even catch some long-distance views of the playing field at PNC.
Seating at the PNC Park
The best value is also the best seat at PNC. Sections 321-325 of the upper deck are the least expensive and offer the best views of the Pittsburgh skyline. And since PNC is a small, well designed park, you still feel like you are on top of all the action. If you have restless kids, grab some seats in the right field bleachers, close to the Kids Zone.
Food at PNC Park
PNC Park food is Pittsburgh food. In other words, no frills, immensely satisfying, but not very healthy. Indulge you ballpark cravings at BRGR for burgers, Quaker Steak & Lube for wings, and Primanti Bros. for an iconic Pittsburgh sandwich filled with french fries and vinegar slaw.
Beer at PNC Park
PNC has some of the cheapest beer in Major League Baseball, around $7-$11 for a 20 ounce beer. All the best of the burgeoning local craft beer scene, like Church Brew Works and Penn Brewery, can be found at Beers of the Burgh stand. Rivertowne Brewing Hall of Fame Club, another local brewery, offers cheap pints (under $4) after the final out of the game.
Parking Alternatives at PNC Park
The North Side T stop of the subway is a block from the the park. Take this downtown for free, or continue on to the South Hills destinations for a small fee. If coming from north of the city, many bus routes stop in the North Shore, near the park.
What to bring to PNC Park
The Steel City in the summer can be sunny, stormy, or filled with overcast depending on the day, so check the forecast. But the weather is generally pleasant with not many extremes. Bringing you mitt is a great idea, since the stadium is small and there is a decent chance of fulfilling that life-long dream of catching a foul-ball, or maybe even a home-run!
Insider tip for PNC Park
City officials have worked tirelessly to make the North Shore neighborhood surrounding the park a great place to be. Don't just drive in, watch a game, and leave. Come early or stay late, enjoy the Allegheny Landing Park just outside the stadium, have a beer at one of the nearby bars, or spend time in one of the four museums within walking distance of the park.
Author's bio: Ryan Deto, originally from California, has been exploring the streets of Pittsburgh for more than four years. He has been published in "LA Weekly" and has traveled to more than a dozen countries and more than 40 states throughout America.
