A mid-spring fan's guide to West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We have reached, believe it or not, just about the halfway point of spring training. (Time flies when you're having fun, huh?) Which means there has been ample time to start to get to know both the complex at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and the entire area.

I knew very little previously about this part of South Florida, aside from having driven through it on a few occasions over the years. And there's still plenty more to learn. But given the fact I'm heading back north to D.C. tonight for a mid-spring break - Pete Kerzel is flying down and will have all your coverage til I return on March 14 - this seemed like a good time to finally share some thoughts and recommendations for anyone who might still be planning to come on down to see the Nationals later this month.

This won't be nearly as comprehensive as the annual Guide to Viera I used to publish, but consider it a quick primer on the Palm Beach area, one that will continue to grow the more time I spend here.

The first thing you should know is that it's very easy to get here. Palm Beach International Airport is a breeze compared to the airport in Orlando. No families of seven trying to get their Mickey Mouse ears through security here. And it's only 10 minutes from the stadium (as opposed to the 45-minute drive from Orlando to Viera).

Also, if you fly down here over a weekend, there's a decent chance you'll see Air Force One parked on the tarmac.

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is quite nice, even if it still doesn't look 100 percent finished. Everything is functional, you'll just notice some minors things around the edges that still need some polishing up. Be warned: Ticket prices are surprisingly high (and they're the same for Nats or Astros home games).

The park itself is fairly intimate, with only 6,500 seats (plus several grassy berms that can hold another 1,000 fans). Concessions are plentiful, and a nice feature of the park is that the concourse is completely open, so you never lose sight or sound of the game.

If you arrive early, you may be able to watch some players take batting practice on one of the many fields outside the stadium. You are fenced off from the players just a bit more than you were in Viera, but you can still get awfully close to them. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. for season ticket holders, 11 a.m. for everybody else.

The complex is rather large, when you consider there's the stadium, 12 total practice fields, two clubhouses for both major and minor league players and a bunch of parking lots. The best access to the Nationals' side of the facility is the south parking lot, which can be entered either from the west on Haverhill Road or from the east on Military Trail.

What about the surrounding area? Well, the neighborhood in the immediate vicinity of the stadium isn't anything particularly special, mostly shopping centers, office buildings, hotels and fast food restaurants. Most of this runs along 45th Street, which is north of the complex.

If you're looking for places to go after the game, your best bet is to head toward downtown West Palm Beach, which is only 10-15 minutes to the southeast. There you'll find CityPlace, an upscale outdoor mall with lots of shops and restaurants. You'll also find Clematis Street, where there's an entire row of restaurants and bars, with plenty of activity most nights of the week.

You can also drive 15 minutes north to Jupiter, where there are plenty more restaurants and fine establishments. Further to the south is Lake Worth, Lantana, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton.

Restaurant recommendations? Well, I still haven't come close to experiencing a full sampling of the area, but among the ones I've been to so far, I've enjoyed Rocco's Tacos (on Clematis Street), Brother Jimmy's BBQ (inside CityPlace), Zuccarelli's Italian (on Okeechobee Boulevard near Military Trail) and Old Key Lime House (in Lantana).

That's by no means is a complete list of choices, but perhaps it can get you started when you arrive. I'm sure I'll be trying out many more places when I return next week, and I'll try to share some more recommendations before the end of the spring.