There's something magical about baseball that brings families together, and our recent trip to watch the Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park proved to be the perfect family outing. As a mom of four energetic kids, finding activities that keep everyone entertained isn't always easy, but a day at the ballpark scored a home run with our entire crew!

One of our favorite aspects of attending River Cats games is sitting on the Toyota Home Run Hill in the outfield. While stadium seating certainly has its advantages, there's nothing quite like spreading out a blanket on the grassy lawn where the kids can wiggle, stretch out, and even run around a bit between innings.

We always arrive early to claim a good spot on the lawn, bringing our low-back folding chairs (the park requires chairs to be no higher than 9 inches off the ground) and a blanket for the kids. The freedom this gives our little ones makes the whole experience so much more relaxing for us parents. Instead of constantly shushing them or reminding them to stay in their seats, they can be kids while still enjoying America's favorite pastime.

The lawn seating is also incredibly affordable! At just $16-20 per ticket (depending on the game), it's budget-friendly for our family of six. This is significantly less expensive than the reserved seating sections, which can run $30-60 per ticket.

Parking at Sutter Health Park is straightforward, though prices have increased recently. Regular parking ranges from $15 to $22 for River Cats games (with special event pricing of $39 for A's games). We've found it's worth arriving about 45 minutes before the first pitch to get a good spot and avoid the last-minute rush.

The parking lots are conveniently located close to the stadium entrance, making it easy even with kids and all our gear in tow. One insider tip: the parking lots only accept credit/debit cards now, as Sutter Health Park has gone cashless for all transactions.

What makes a River Cats game special isn't just the baseball—it's all the little moments in between. The kids love the between-inning activities, like the mascot races and the t-shirt cannons. The music, the cheering crowd, and the seventh-inning stretch all contribute to that magical baseball atmosphere.

My youngest particularly loves watching Dinger, the team's cat mascot, roam around the stadium and pose for photos. The staff are always incredibly friendly and go out of their way to make children feel welcome.

As a homeschooling family, we've found countless ways to incorporate educational elements into our River Cats outings. Baseball is surprisingly rich with learning opportunities across multiple subjects!

For math, our kids practice calculating batting averages, ERAs, and other statistics in real-time. They keep score on a scorecard, which reinforces addition, percentages, and fractions. Even the younger ones get involved by counting pitches or tracking the number of hits per inning.

Science lessons abound at the ballpark too. We discuss the physics of a curveball, how temperature and humidity affect how far a ball travels, and the biomechanics of a perfect swing. The kids are fascinated by how different weather conditions change the game dynamics.

History and social studies come alive through baseball's rich traditions and the stories of players from diverse backgrounds. We've done pre-game research on the River Cats' affiliate (the San Francisco Giants) and learned about how Minor League Baseball connects to the broader sports ecosystem in America.

Geography lessons happen naturally as we track where players come from and discuss the different cities represented in the Pacific Coast League. We've even created maps showing the journey players take from the minors to the majors.

For language arts, the kids write game day journals, create stories about their experiences, or draft mock newspaper articles reporting on the game's highlights. The older ones have even interviewed stadium staff for homeschool projects.

The best part is that these learning opportunities feel nothing like formal schoolwork—they're just fun extensions of enjoying America's favorite pastime together.

Whether your kids are baseball enthusiasts or just along for the snacks and atmosphere, a day at Sutter Health Park offers something for everyone. It's been a joy to share my love of baseball with my children and create these lasting family memories together.

From the crack of the bat to the roar of the crowd, there's a special kind of magic in the air at a River Cats game. If you're looking for an affordable, fun family outing in Sacramento, I can't recommend it enough!