This is Why I Wanted to Live in New York

So I went to my first game at the new Yankee Stadium tonight and it was awesome. When the stadium opened in April there was a lot of criticism in the press about the new baseball parks in New York. It's all hogwash. The stadium is beautiful and the fan experience is better than ever.

I have gone to three major league games this summer, in Seattle, Oakland and New York. Nothing compares to the atmosphere in Yankee Stadium. The place was packed and the celebrities were in the house -- Jack Nicholson and Paul McCartney got the most applause -- and there was an electricity in the air.

The coolest part was in the seventh inning. Going into the inning, the Yankees had a modest 4-2 lead ... and then they started to pour it on. As their rally began, the place got louder and louder. By the time the Yankees had scored five runs to take a 9-2 lead, the place was going crazy and the fans still wanted more. The Yankees were blowing the other team away and the fans did not downshift. It's an enthusiasm for baseball I just don't see other places -- except, maybe (gulp) ... Boston.

My West Coast Trip Highlight #6: Sea Lions

Beautiful Day on San Francisco Bay within View of Alcatraz

I only got to spend a day-and-a-half in San Francisco, but I enjoyed it immensely. We had extraordinarily good weather. (I even managed to get a sunburn in Oakland watching the ballgame, and I'm told that's only possible about 10 days a year.) Now since I live about two blocks from Times Square, usually I go out of my way to avoid touristy areas, but I had to see the Sea Lions down near Fisherman's Wharf. Showing up on a Saturday, it probably couldn't have been much more crowded, but it was well worth it. Since the earthquakes in 1989, sea lions have taken up residence near Pier 39, and now they're a major attraction. (See video below.)

We stayed in a great place near Chinatown, had fancy cocktails at the Fairmont Hotel, and ate at some great restaurants, but watching these guys snoozing on the pier was my favorite part of my visit. My next vacation is definitely going to involve more time just snoozing in the sun.