Catch Rays Fever

For the first time in history, the road to the World Series swings through downtown St. Petersburg as the Tampa Bay Rays compete for the league pennant over the next two weeks. Not since Babe Ruth knocked the ball out of St. Petersburg's former Waterfront Park has the bayside city swelled with such baseball fervor.

At night, The Pier glows a Rays blue. Team banners line storefronts. Bars and restaurants offer Rays specials, and even the city council has caught the fever, opening its meetings with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

It all adds up to a thrilling time to visit St. Petersburg. Whether you come for a game or a bit of sun (white-sand beaches are less than 15 minutes from the stadium), be sure to soak up the baseball excitement that overflows into downtown restaurants and clubs.

The closer to home base, the stronger the pulse. Across the street from Tropicana Field, the two-story Ferg's Sports Bar, with dozens of flat-screen TVs, game-day drink specials and the Devil Ray Burger, is one of the most popular game-day hangouts. (727-822-4562, www.fergsonline.com).

For traditional baseball fare at old-fashioned prices, you can't beat the landmark Coney Island Grill, which has been serving chilidogs on Ninth Street North since Babe Ruth came to town for spring training (727-822-4493).

For something more genteel and closer to Tropicana Field, try Savannah's Café on Central Avenue, which serves mint juleps, fried chicken and other Southern favorites (727-388-4371, www.savannahsstpete.com). Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant, also within walking distance on Central Avenue, dishes up spicy curries and fresh spring rolls (727-895-4851).

Check into a downtown resort, hotel or bed & breakfast, and stick around for a few days beyond the game so you have time to explore the other restaurants, antiques shops, art galleries and world-class museums just a short distance east and west of the stadium. Several hotels offer Rays Playoff Specials.

If you're not up for walking, 25 cents (or, if you're over 65, a dime) will get you around downtown on the Looper Trolley, which stops at more than a dozen attractions and hotels, including the Salvador Dali Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, The Pier, BayWalk and of course, Tropicana Field. (727-821-5166, www.stpete.org/looper.asp). On Oct. 2 and 3, free shuttle service will ferry people to and from the first two playoff games. A map of the route is available at the Looper website.

If you go:

For Rays game and ticket information, visit http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com.