#30Fieldsin30Days: Minute Maid Park

What's more perfect than a day at the ballpark? 30 perfect days at 30 ballparks. 30 Fields in 30 Days is here to show off the can't-miss spots at each and every Major League stadium. Join us, then plan out an unforgettable day at your favorite park.
Leave it to the Astros to shoot for the stars when building their ballpark. The pioneering club that introduced the domed stadium to the sports world now inhabits a spectacular ballpark featuring a retractable roof and a railroad in the sky.
Opened in 2000, Minute Maid Park pays tribute to Union Station, the railroad station that helped make Houston the city it is today. The old station is attached to the stadium, serving as a lobby for fans and an office building for team employees.
The park also comes with a view, whether the roof is open or closed, as a huge glass wall in left field peers out toward the downtown skyline. Minute Maid Park -- a throwback experience under an innovative roof -- is an alluring destination in its own right.
-The train: A station has to come with a train, right? A 50,000-pound replica of an 1860s locomotive sits on an 800-foot track above the left-field seats, waiting for its chance to ride after each Astros home run. Some particularly long home runs have even been known to strike the train.
-The Crawford Boxes: Slightly elevated, but just 315 feet from home plate, this section in left field is prime territory for those who like their souvenirs free, with a side of adrenaline.