AT&T Park, San Francisco: Kayaking in McCovey Cove

While only a dozen years old, the home of the Giant has already become a must-see with colorful attractions (the 26-foot-tall baseball glove in the left-field pavilion), well-hyped food (splurge on the garlic fries) and statues saluting past Giant heroes like Willie Mays. You can also enjoy the park’s ambiance without even buying a ticket to go inside. For many fans the most desirable seat here is outside the stadium in a section of San Francisco Bay that locals call McCovey Cove (named after the former slugger Willie McCovey). There, dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of fans congregate in kayaks for a “floating tailgate” during ballgames. Yes, they have a limited view of the action through openings in the nearby right-field wall, but they also earn the chance to catch “splash balls”—home runs that leave the park and land in the cove. You need to bring your own refreshments, but Ted Choi, who runs the operation, is considering launching a hot-dog stand aboard a pontoon boat this summer. $49 baseball package includes a three-hour kayak rental, paddles and lesson; 24 Willie Mays Plaza; 415-294-1050; citykayak.com.