If you’re visiting Nationals Park with kids, take advantage of all of the cool stuff the team offers for parents and young fans. Here are my three favorite tips for parents, plus an extra for nursing moms:

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

Endorsed by Screech!

Nationals Park With Kids, Tip #1) Join The Club. If you sign up the kids in the Junior Nationals MVP Club, in addition to the lanyard, hat, duffel bag and other goodies, you’ll get offers for discounted tickets, and a coupon book with discounts on food and other stuff in the ballpark.

The free membership includes e-mail offers, which would certainly be worth the couple of minutes to sign up. But the paid membership is worth the small price too, if only for front of the line privileges on Run The Bases days. If you plan on having the kids run the bases, sign up…you’ll thank me.

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They even pose with big kids.

Nationals Park With Kids, Tip #2) The Presidents’ Race. In the 4th inning, and the 13th if the game goes that long, the likenesses of the Mount Rushmore presidents race from the right field warning track to the finish line near first base.

Be sure to tell your kids not to root for Teddy Roosevelt, because he rarely wins, as documented in the excellent “Let Teddy Win” blog. His defeats are always for some wacky reason…unauthorized use of a feline, pre-game warmup injuries, or dive-bombing a racing sausage when the Brewers come to town.

Because every kid loves the jungle gyms and sugar combination.

Nationals Park With Kids, Tip #3) The Family Fun Area. The kids play area here is impressive…it has simulated pitching and batting cages, a playground area with a very cool jungle gym, a picnic area, photo booths and penny press machines. There’s also a “Rookies” concession stand for kids with smaller portions and prices.

Get here early if you can…the racing presidents greet fans here before the game. There are even bobblehead replicas for photo-ops.

I didn’t take any pictures inside. I’m sure you understand.

Nationals Park With Kids, Bonus Tip! The Nursing Lounge. On the mezzanine level in right field is a very comfortable nursing lounge. It’s a private area with comfy chairs, a play area for toddlers, and TVs for busy moms to watch the game.

My wife tested this room out (she’s legitimate) and had nothing but nice things to say about it. Nice that the Nats are looking after moms for us dads.

There’s three things to know for parents at Nats games, plus one for moms of tiny ones. If you’re looking to save money on Nationals tickets too, be sure to check out this post.

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So you’re looking to score some cheap Nationals tickets? Like with most teams, the Nationals offer ways for you to save a few bucks, especially going to multiple games.

Here’s a few tips for both Nats fans in the area and other Nationals Park visitors:

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

Or you could just use the phone I guess.

Cheap Nationals Tickets, Tip #1) Team Newsletters. The Nationals make a lot of ticket deals available in their e-mail newsletters, including tickets that include concessions, discounted theme nights, group discounts, etc. You’ll get a weekly e-mail with some offers; check that out before buying from the team website.

Be sure to sign your kids up for the Fan Club memberships too…they’re free and you’ll receive some exclusive offers for them in your inbox too. Well worth a few minutes to sign up.

My friends at TickPick have Nationals tickets…they offer a best price guarantee, a buyer’s trust guarantee, and NO service fees. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!

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“I remember the good old days when you had to actually remember to bring your tickets!”

Cheap Nationals Tickets, Tip #2) The NatsPass. For big time fans who can attend a few games, the NatsPass allows you to see as many games as you want for a monthly price. You download the MLB Ballpark app, order the pass, and then you’ll have the barcodes on your phone. You won’t even have to remember to bring the tickets.

It’s standing room, but standing room here is actually pretty good and the price is well worth it if you attend, say, three games against the Phillies or Braves.

Click here to check out the NatsPass…

Harper may be gone, but they still have 81 home games!

Cheap Nationals Tickets, Tip #3) Go In With A Friend. The Nationals also now have a very cool “Pick ‘Em” plan, where you buy 20 or 40 tickets at a discount and choose how many you want to use (up to eight) at almost any matchup during the season (excepting Opening Day and very popular contests). You can share with a friend or two and save a bunch just going to a few games.

There’s lots of added perks too: Higher priced tickets for this plan include concession credits, it includes Opening Day and concert ticket opportunities, and you’ll have postseason priority should the Nationals so thrive. If you plan on spending a lot of time at Nats Park this summer, definitely check this out.

In case you didn’t notice that ballpark standing to your left.

Cheap Nationals Tickets, Tip #4) Help Your Fellow Washingtonian. The Nationals will have a blood or food drive at the ballpark on occasion; donors receive tickets and a T-shirt. You can tell someone you literally bled for their ticket.

The Nats also give away tickets and other prizes for charitable groups, military types (the Nats are very good about appreciating the military), and other philanthropic folks. Check out the “Community” section of the Nationals website; you may find something you can participate in and be rewarded by the Nats with some tickets.

There’s four helpful tips for saving some cash at your next few Nationals games. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line.

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Nationals Park has a wide range of seating options for every budget. You can get into the ballpark for as little as $5 or spend triple digits on premium seats. If you’re looking for cheap seats at Nationals Park, you do have some options…here is what you should know about the budget-priced seating in the place.

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

Note the complete absence of fans basking in the late afternoon sun.

Cheap Seats at Nationals Park, #1) The Scoreboard Pavilion. Scoreboard Pavilion seats are underneath the scoreboard and cost about the same as the outfield seats below them. You can see the Big Board if you’re willing to turn around, but these seats are the furthest from home plate in the ballpark. Like the right field mezzanine, these are the last to see shade, too.

It’s good for ballpark foodies though…the Pavilion is close to the Danny Meyer eateries, including the Shake Shack, Box Frites fries and El Verano Taqueria nachos. You can also go for some amazing jerk chicken from the Jammin’ Island BBQ.

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Hey, at least you’re not sitting higher than the sportswriters.

Cheap Seats at Nationals Park, #2) Gallery (Upper Deck) Seats. The Upper (400 Level) seats at Nationals Park in general are a bargain, especially when you get down the left field line to the sections past the bases. But be warned…these seats are really up there. At the top of them you can almost wave to pilots.

If you’re not in the best of shape, you can use escalators and elevators to get there, but you’ll still need to ascend a short flight of steps to get to the 400 seats. The concourses are also more subject to the elements…dress warm on colder days.

The concourse on the upper level offers some cool views…you can see the Capitol and Washington Monument on the third base side, and there’s a sweet view of the Anacostia River on the first base side.

They’re closer than they appear, but not by much.

Cheap Seats at Nationals Park, #3) Right Field Terrace. The Right Field Terrace seats are up there and out there; don’t be fooled by the 2 in front of the section numbers.

These are among the cheapest seats, but be aware of a few things: you likely won’t be able to see the Big Board and even some of the outfield, these seats get baking hot on summer days and early evenings, and they are far from home plate. It’s especially a hike to get to the Upper Terrace.

You are close to the center field plaza and its food selection here, so it isn’t all bad for a cheap ticket if you’re into the party.

The five-dollar view of Nationals Park.

Cheap Seats at Nationals Park, #4) The “Grandstand”. The Nationals don’t publicize it much, but about 400 seats in the Grandstand Sections 401 and 402 go for a very small price (as low as $5) on game day only. These seats aren’t the best obviously, but they’re the cheapest in the ballpark, and you can move around to plenty of acceptable standing room space on most weeknights.

They go on sale at the box office 2.5 hours before game time and you have to enter the park from there; for a low demand game you should have no problem getting one, but get there early for a summer weekend or Orioles matchup.

So if you’re squeezing your ballgame budget, there’s a few choices of cheap seats at Nationals Park. If you’re willing to shell out the cash for something nicer, check this out.

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Whatever your budget, I’ve got plenty of Nationals Park seating tips for you, whether you want to avoid the sun, be near the cool food choices, or have the best view of the Presidents’ Race.

But if you’ve got a few extra bucks laying around, here are some upper tier priced options for you and what you should know about them.

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

My friends at TickPick have Nationals tickets…they offer a best price guarantee, a buyer’s trust guarantee, and NO service fees. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!

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I think the usher has to give the ok before they can uncover the seats.

Nationals Park Seating Tips, #1) The Dugout Club. There is a small section of very comfortable and large luxury seats next to the Nationals dugout now, making your view even better than the players’. They include a secret entrance with a tunnel, wait service, etc. If you have to ask the price…

Currently these are sponsored by the MGM National Harbor, and are only available to “M Life Rewards Platinum” members. I expect you probably have to lose a lot of money in a casino to access these, but maybe you know someone with such a problem.

Should you be lucky enough to land a seat here, definitely keep an eye on foul balls. They come this way fast.

Enjoy baseball the way it was meant to be enjoyed…in the exclusive club without using your seat.

Nationals Park Seating Tips, #2) Field Level Premium Seating. The padded Delta Club seats are the best butt buckets in the ballpark. They are 22” wide and directly behind home plate. Season ticket holders get parking passes and access to all the clubs, including the Delta Club. The Delta Club features a fine foods buffet and in-seat wait service, all complimentary, even the beer, wine and desserts.

These seats, even with D.C. parking thrown in, are still overpriced for any team in my opinion. You might be able to find a deal from TickPick; try to get tickets from a season ticket holder before buying from the team. (Note: that is an affiliate link you just passed. Thanks for your support!)

The PNC Diamond seats are about half the price of the Delta seats and allow access to the PNC Lounge. Only season ticket holders have access to the actual PNC Club itself, so try getting tickets from one through a third party. The PNC Club also offers a buffet, in-seat wait service, and complimentary beer and wine. The earlier you arrive, the better your chances at an outside table with a great view.

If you can stand looking at richer people sitting in front of you, the PNC Diamond seats are a better deal.

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If a railroad-style scoreboard and a sushi bar aren’t worth the price of a club ticket, I don’t know what the heck is.

Nationals Park Seating Tips, #3) The Club Level. The cushioned club level seats are on the mezzanine level between the bases. These seats are reasonable given all the perks; the view is decent, for one, especially since the upper deck is way up there. The upper rows of seats past Row E are covered by the elements, no small thing on a D.C. summer day. Not to mention access to a climate-controlled club to escape the heat.

The Norfolk Southern Club is a large, indoor concourse with lots of food and drink options like pulled pork and brisket sandwiches, a carvery and sushi bar, and Enzo’s pizza. It’s decorated with a railroad theme, including a scoreboard with model trains to keep track of the action on the field. There is even a cool Homestead Grays Pub full-service bar, named for the Negro League team that played in Washington.

The food isn’t included with the ticket price like with the more premium seats, but you pay a lot extra for that “free” buffet there. And the Shake Shack and other cool food spots aren’t far away from the first base entrance of the Club.

There you go, some cool options for a Nationals game if you’ve got the means. If you still think it’s way too much to spend to see a ballgame, check out this bit about the cheap seats at Nats Park.

Planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)

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I actually counted six…yes, six…brands of Nationals Park nachos in my recent review of the food, but three of them are kind of ordinary, so I decided to just talk about the unusual stuff here. Sadly, Hard Times isn’t one of them, and they were my favorite at the time, but you can still get a decent nacho fix at Nats Park.

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

Apparently the price changes frequently.

Nationals Park Nachos, #1) El Verano Taqueria. The Taqueria in the upper concourse offers nachos topped with chicken mole, pork carnitas or beef barbacoa, topped with their roasted tomato salsa that they are proud of here. The nachos have essential ingredients like avocado, black bean relish and queso blanco.

Actually, I guess you could have read that in the photo of the menu. Anyway, I’ve read accounts that they’re the best nachos in the ballpark, but I’ve also read the chips are pretty salty, so decide for yourself.

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Featuring Nationals logo emblazoned wax paper…a souvenir well worth the ballpark markup!

Nationals Park Nachos, #2) Chesapeake Crab Cake Company. The Chesapeake stands are more known for expensive and tasty crab cake grilled cheese sandwiches, but they offer an impressive plate of nachos too.

Here they eschew the typical tortillas for Old Bay kettle chips, topped with crab queso, roasted corn and salsa. It’s actually a bit like the Crab Chipper in Camden Yards, but with the added difference of corn!

Don’t ask the guy to let you lick the ladle.

Nationals Park Nachos, #5) Steak Of The Union. The Steak of The Union stand is the spot for the Philly cheesesteak, since Nats fans love Philly so much. But you can also get that truly daunting plate of cheesesteak nachos, with the all-important whiz glop with your cheesesteak meat for that Philly flavor. I haven’t asked them about provolone.

There you are; three unusual types of everyone’s second favorite ballpark food. If you want to know more about what you can eat at Nats Park, read my posts here and here. And stay tuned for more…

Planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)

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For you Birds fans or other Baltimoreans looking for the best way to get to Nationals Park from Baltimore for a game, you have a few options.

Here I’m going to share some obvious routes…with a few things you should know.

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

So…is this Greenbelt Station?

The Best Way To Get To Nationals Park From Baltimore, Route #1: Take the Green Line Metro from Greenbelt. The Metro train Green Line runs from Greenbelt station, conveniently located off of I-95/495, to the Navy Yard-Ballpark station at Nationals Park in about 40 minutes.

Even with typical I-95/I-495 traffic, this is probably the easiest route for using Metro, but you should have a plan to get back just in case this rare but frustrating occurrence happens.

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You want the one on the right. Unless you’re coming home.

The Best Way To Get To Nationals Park From Baltimore, Route #2: MARC and/or AMTRAK. Amtrak runs trains from Penn Station and BWI airport in Baltimore to Union Station (Red Line) and New Carrollton Station (Orange Line), both of which are a two train ride to Nats Park. The Camden-Washington MARC train runs from Camden Station to Greenbelt Station, requiring only one transfer, and the MARC is much cheaper.

Unfortunately MARC is only available during weekdays, so you’d need to use Amtrak (or a Metrobus, more likely, given their more frequent schedules) at least to get back after a night game.

MARC can be a nice option, sparing you traffic troubles, gas and parking money. Can be a little unwieldy though.

One of these will do it.

The Best Way To Get To Nationals Park From Baltimore, Route #3: By Car. If you’re going to just drive, I highly recommend that you 1) book your parking beforehand, and b) avoid the most common highways like I-95, especially during rush hour.

Try using MD295, which is truck-free, or if you’re coming from a western suburb like Ellicott City, try using the six-lane U.S. Route 29 highway to I-95/495, and then to MD 295. Route 29 is less congested than I-95 and can save you some aggravation.

Those are three of the better ways to get to Nationals Park from Baltimore; if you want to know about avoiding the hefty Nationals parking fees, check out this post.

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If you’re visiting the ballpark in our nation’s capital for the first time, or if you’re coming from out of town, there are definitely a few things you should know…here are five Nationals Park tips for a great ballpark experience. If you want to know more, there’s plenty where this came from in my complete Nationals Park guide!

Call for Walgreen’s tickets today!

Nationals Park Tips, #1: Check the Nats website for deals. The Nats offer some decent deals on tickets for a team that has been contending. If you subscribe to the team newsletter, they’ll send them to you in e-mails. For low demand games especially, the team will often offer buy one get one or discounted food deals, great for families.

My friends at TickPick have Nationals tickets…they offer a best price guarantee, a buyer’s trust guarantee, and NO service fees. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!

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We all need something we can lean on.

Nationals Park Tips, #2) Consider standing room. I could give you some seating recommendations (I’ve done just that with this post and this post), but if you really want to go cheap, you can go to the Nats box office on game day and get those Grandstand seats for almost nothing.

But you don’t have to sit way up there…in the upper level in the outfield are some great food items and lounge areas, and quite a few spots where you can grab a stool and sit and rest your food on a counter. If you don’t mind standing, there are rails to lean on almost everywhere else in the ballpark, just make sure you’ve taken care of business before you stake a good one.

The “alternate” entrance to the Navy Yard Station.

Nationals Park Tips #3) Take the Metro. Advice varies on the best way to get to Nats Park, but the parking situation there is among the worst of ballparks I’ve visited. There are a limited amount of lots, and even the ones that are a mile or more away can be $20. The traffic situation for games has been improved, but it’s still not much fun if you are there less than two hours before gametime. Even street parking is scarce and expensive.

Just take the Metro. It isn’t perfect, but it beats the traffic and parking prices, and it drops you off right there at the very cool center field entrance.

If you still want to drive and park at the game, by all means book your parking ahead of time.

Nothing like sloppy ballpark food.

Nationals Park Tips #4) Get a Ben’s Chili Half-Smoke. It’s not cheap…ballpark food never is…but save the Shake Shack and Box Frites and that Danny Meyer stuff for your next trip to Citi Field. Ben’s is a real, genuine D.C. institution, and their spicy sausages with chili and cheese are still a go-to item here if you can handle the kick.

There are lots of great choices for food at Nationals Park, like the Jammin’ Island jerk chicken and the unusual nachos, but try the Ben’s dog first.

They would be proud of their legacy.

Nationals Park Tips #5) Be in your seat in the middle of the fourth. One of the stories you want to share with people about your first game at Nats Park, of course, is not only who won the famous President’s Race, but also the spectacular fashion with which Teddy Roosevelt lost. And you’ll want to read about it in the excellent “Let Teddy Win” blog the next day.

Finally, if you’re a visiting team fan, expect the locals to be respectful so long as you’re not in their face. Nationals fans have to deal with visiting Phillies and Mets fans, and they tolerate a lot. They’re nice people, but don’t push them. At least unless you plan on buying hot dogs for an entire section. (Yes, I saw a really loud and obnoxious Mets fan do that once. Baseball is a goofy goofy game.)

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The Nationals Park seating chart features a wide range of seating and a wide range of pricing. Here are a couple of tips…one to try and one to avoid.

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

As you can see, standing room is popular here.

Nationals Park Seating Tip #1: Use The Standing Room. Yeah, I know. You don’t want to stand for the whole game. I get that. I don’t either. But Nationals Park, in my opinion, has probably the best standing room options in baseball for several reasons.

The first is that unlike Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park, the standing room spots aren’t designated (and priced accordingly). You can pretty much choose any spot. At Nats Park, you not only have the open concourses in the lower level, but on the mezzanine in the outfield there are numerous places to sit on barstool type seating, and have a place to sit your food or beer. As far as I can tell, no ballpark has more places to sit and watch the game that aren’t designated paid seats than Nats Park.

The second Nationals Park seating tip is that up on that mezzanine level in the outfield is everything you need for that social scene that the millennial baseball fans love…there’s a full bar with occasionally discounted brews, several lounge areas with misters for hot days, and as great a food selection as you’ll find, with not only the popular Shake Shack and Box Frites, but also that Jammin’ Island BBQ.

If you prefer just a fun time to seeing the pitcher’s facial expression, the cheapest ticket to get into Nats Park works just fine.

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I’m sure they have “RBI Nachos” or something like that.

Finally, you also have access to the Budweiser Brewhouse (formerly the Red Porch) restaurant and the covered loft on the upper level. It gets packed during rain delays, but on a nice day in the later innings you may be able to snag a table or even outdoor seating with a center field view and have a decent meal with your baseball.

Well, at least you’re in the shade.

Nationals Park Seating Tip #2: Avoid Lower Right Field Seats. The lower right field seats in Nationals Park are completely covered by the second deck overhang and certain sections are tucked underneath the second deck behind the bullpen. The only advantage of such seats would be being able to watch pitchers warm up, which isn’t a bad thing, but otherwise you should avoid these seats.

It’s not a big deal to miss the flight of fly balls, but in today’s ballparks especially you’ll want a view of the entire field, and obviously you’ll lose a lot of it here. On top of that, you’ll have no view whatsoever of the big scoreboard in right field…and this is a key thing here, because I couldn’t see anywhere else where you can see who’s batting or what the score is. The LED boards surrounding Nats Park show mostly ads, even during play. There are TVs in this section to keep you posted on the action, but you probably have one of those at home.

So if you have a choice, you’re better off either sitting in the upper level in the infield, or in the left field seats if you’d like to be closer to the Bud Light Loft and such. But for viewing the game these are not good seats. Unless Strasburg is pitching and you want a close-up of his warm-up tosses.

That’s just two tips for finding the best spot to stay for nine long innings…for more Nationals Park seating advice, check out my tips here and here.

Planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)

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There are plenty of generally easy ways to get to Nationals Park; you can drive and park of course, but the traffic is rough and parking rates are Fenway-level, so here are a couple of ways to avoid both.

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

You know exactly how long you have to stand around.

Get To Nationals Park, Tip #1: Use The Metro. The D.C. Metrorail system is one of the most highly regarded in the country. The trains are clean and comfortable, service is efficient and frequent, and the system covers most anything worth reaching in D.C. proper. If you’re staying in D.C. or live there, it should not be difficult at all to get anywhere in two train rides.

Even from outside the city it’s not hard to find a park-and-ride Metro station. Nearly all of the stations close to the I-95/495 beltway are park-and-rides, where you can park inexpensively and for free on weekends. There are some you might want to avoid for different reasons, but the majority of them are easy in and out.

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Would be nice if you could park here.

Nationals Park is just steps away from the Navy Yard Station on the Metro’s green line. There are two entrances/exits to the station; coming from the train there are signs clearly showing the way. It’s so idiot-proof even a congressman could use it.

Upon emerging from the Navy Yard Station, Nationals Park’s impressive center field entrance is immediately in view—you can see the seats inside the open-air facility—and you pass by numerous food vendors on Half Street hawking hotdogs, water, peanuts and any other snack that you can bring into the ballpark.

It’s not terribly difficult to drive to Nationals Park, and there is a fair amount of parking. But it is still driving in the city, and not only might you get frustrated with traffic, but you will pay a nice chunk of change to park anywhere that is less than a mile walk to the park. Coming from a park-and-ride or from another station in the city, you’re spared all of that.

And the station platforms are pretty cool looking too.

Tell your friends! And it’s Ladies Night!

Get To Nationals Park, Tip #2: The Ballpark Bus. The Ballpark Bus was hatched by one Brian Bowman, a Nationals fan who doesn’t live close enough to a WMATA Metro station to make taking the train convenient. So rather than complain to the Metro people or the Nationals, Bowman came up with his own solution for Nats fans that share his dilemma.

The Ballpark Bus runs from Ashburn and Reston, two areas west of the District that are not covered by the Metro’s tentacles. Bowman worked out deals with local taverns and restaurants for the pickup areas, and some of these establishments will offer food specials with the ride…winners all around.

It’s affordable too…cheaper than driving and especially parking. Just reserve a spot ahead of time, and if the demand is high enough the bus will roll; and if not, you won’t be charged.

What I love about the Ballpark Bus is that it’s a private enterprise—“mass transit on demand” as they call it. I understand that cities require taxpayer-funded ways for people to get to the ballpark and I‘m not knocking it—especially in Washington, where local taxpayers footed the entire bill for the place. The city has to recoup its investment and no one will go if it’s too difficult to get there. But the Ballpark Bus is an independent solution, to a problem that many Nats fans still have.

(Logo courtesy of Ballpark Bus.)

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The Nationals Park food menu is as diversified as just any ballpark’s; you have an awful lot to choose from, and most of it is very good.

But since I’ve already covered the Shake Shack and Box Frites in the Citi Field section of this website, here are some things at the home of D.C. baseball for you to try on your next trip.

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

Yes, there is a smoked sausage in there.

Nationals Park Food, Tip #1: The Ben’s Chili Half-Smoke. Ben’s Chili Bowl is a well-known D.C. institution. Its founder, Ben Ali, started his own chili business following his inability to finish dental school after falling down a broken elevator shaft. Eventually he turned a pool hall into Ben’s Chili, developed his outstanding spicy chili recipe, and the rest is history.

Ali passed away in October of 2009, but his greatness lives on in Nats Park. The Chili Half-Smoke “All The Way” is a sausage that is like a kielbasa (but beefier and spicier), topped with Ben’s famous spicy chili, cheese, onions and mustard. They are very generous with the chili, and you need a lot of napkins and a spoon.

Ben’s stands used to get crowded, but they have four locations in the park now and the Shake Shack’s appearance has taken over, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long to get one these days. And in my opinion, it’s still the go-to food item here.

If you want something local, this is still the best spot. Ben’s is uniquely D.C., and uniquely Nationals Park.

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If you make it look delicious enough, you can charge almost any price.

Nationals Park Food, Tip #2: Chesapeake Bay Crab Cake Grilled Cheese. Baltimore isn’t the only city close enough to the Chesapeake Bay to make it a crab town, and Nationals Park does quietly have a few crab items of its own at the Chesapeake Bay Crab Co. stand.

I couldn’t help but notice this particular sandwich, a grilled cheese with crab meat on a hefty piece of bread. It comes with chips, which somewhat softens the blow of the price tag. Ballpark + seafood = really expensive.

But if you can splurge, and you’re hungry, grab a bite of the crab grilled cheese. If not, try the crab nachos.

The only thing missing is Bob Marley music.

Nationals Park Food, Tip #3: The Jammin’ Island Jerk Chicken Sandwich. I wasn’t lucky enough in my last visit, but employees have been known to pass out samples of the Jammin’ Island jerk chicken, which often results in sales. I have tried the chicken…it’s seriously spicy but delicious stuff.

Spicy jerk chicken goes great with beer, and on some nights you can get a beer cheaper than usual at Nats Park. The sandwich has cole slaw piled onto it. It doesn’t include sides, but you can get them added for a fee.

There are two Jammin’ Island outposts, one near the Bud Light Loft in center field. If you know to get a discounted beer, that’s the place to be.

There are three Nationals Park food items to try, but I don’t mean any disrespect to some of the other choices…there are great Virginia Ham & Biscuits, the intriguing Haute Dogs, or try foods I’ve listed here and here.

Planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)

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I’ve partially answered the question of what to eat at Nationals Park with this post about Ben’s Chili and Jammin’ Island BBQ, but the Nationals Park food menu is too diverse and high end for one post. Here are three more great foods to try at the home of the Nats:

(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)

This guy was far less enthusiastic when he was serving Papa John’s.

What to Eat at Nationals Park, Tip #1: Enzo’s Pizza. The Nationals wisely decided to eschew Papa John’s in favor of Enzo’s recently, which is a move we can all applaud. If a ballpark is going to represent local foods, that should include pizza.

This writer tried a slice of Enzo’s in a recent visit to Nats Park and was well pleased, and it isn’t easy to please a South Jersey guy when it comes to pizza. In fact, it might be the best slice of pizza I’ve had at a ballpark. The crust is thin and it comes with an ample amount of pepperoni. It’s on the greasy side, but you can pat it with a napkin if you care about such things.

From Papa John’s to Enzo’s. +1 Nats.

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Baseball gets better all the time.

What to Eat at Nationals Park, Tip #2: Loaded Tater Tots. In the left field corner, there is a stand called “See. You. Tater.”, a play on MASN announcer Bob Carpenter’s home run call. “Tater”, of course, is baseball slang for a home run. And any stand with a cool name like that is worth checking out.

Your pile of tater tots in this joint can be smothered with Buffalo chicken and blue cheese, pork belly and picked cucumbers (the “Intentional Wok”), BBQ sauce and mac and cheese, or my personal favorite, the Chesapeake Bay edition with crab meat and crab queso.

If you think of it, it’s probably a good idea to grab a fork to eat these. And share, since you’ll need some room for a dessert, like…

You gotta be slick to nail down a photo before they disappear.

What to Eat at Nationals Park, Tip #3: District Doughnuts. The District Doughnuts stand was added in 2015 I believe; it’s from a Barracks Row store that is very well known with locals for their hot and crispy donuts.

The District Doughnut people admit that their doughnuts are smaller than the industry average (seriously…one of their reps told me that)…but that’s on purpose. It helps the flavor, see. As a doughnut lover, I can vouch for the value of small and toasty doughnuts.

At the Nats Park edition of DD, you can get the simple vanilla, cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar doughnuts; they might have an unusual flavor like their popular Dulce De Leche when you visit.

There you go folks…but I’ve only covered a small sampling of the phenomenal food selection at the ballpark in D.C. Stay tuned…don’t miss out on the cool stuff.

Planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)

Click here to start booking your trip to Washington and Nationals Park today!

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This post has moved!!

Sorry for the inconvenience, but I’m in the process of moving the content on this excellent website to an even more excellent one, a collection of musings called “A Great Number of Things“.

You can read the story of what happened to the Montreal Expos here, in all its original and highly informative glory. Enjoy!