There’s something for fans of all ages to enjoy at the Padres’ new Petco Park. (photo/Maria L. Kirkpatrick)

Parents toting tots into Petco Park will find the venue family friendly: Plenty of wide open spaces to burn off energy and terrace views to take in the urban and interior scenes.

Beyond the main entrance turnstiles, the grand staircase is overwhelming for those under 3 feet and the water element cascading down the sides into shallow pools is an exciting distraction. Avoiding the stairway rush is recommended and made possible by nearby elevators and escalators.

Be warned, it’s not an easy detour. The stairs, ramps, escalators and elevators are confusing and reminiscent of visits to Horton Plaza when it first opened. It will take a little time to get the “lay of the land,” as one father put it while on a quest for popcorn. Fortunately finding, and seeing, the field is much easier.

The concrete steps to the seats are short and wide allowing little ones the space to take their time and get steady before going forward again, but with more than 30,000 people in such a small place, parents need to keep children close.

Because of the way the seats angle toward home plate, parents may want to seat their children “in front” of them. The cheering of fans and movement of the crowd makes it difficult not only to keep an eye on youngsters but difficult to hear them. Seats are wider and have more leg room and space underneath for storage. The cupholders are just perfect for those bags of juice. The view of the field is spectacular from just about anywhere. Try not to get stuck behind the foul poles. Also, when seated in the outfield, parts of the outfield are obstructed by seating.

The layout brings the game closer to the fans. It also means the ball can get much closer than it ever did in Mission Valley, especially with less protective netting behind home plate than at Qualcomm Stadium. Signs advise fans to watch out for errant balls.

Any parent, or semi-fan, knows the attention span of a child is short. The plaza concessions area is the perfect place for a diversion, but can be pricey. Everything from the traditional ballpark frank to nachos to pizza to sushi can be purchased. A dog will run $3, a slice of Oggis pizza $5. For mom a grilled ahi sandwich is $6.50 and for dad a large draft beer is $6. Bottled water is $3. Parents, pay attention — park rules allow for food and bottled water, still sealed, to be brought inside.

Ketchup and mustard on tap make it easy to dress a dog while juggling diaper bag and child, and condiment stations are well stocked with much needed napkins. A nice feature is all the tables and chairs scattered about offering a seat for a meal or a place to people watch.

A word of warning: if concession lines are long, it’s difficult to navigate much of the concourse, not to mention keeping an eye on little ones running about. The stairs exit into lines; and what a surprise that can be. If the concourse is empty, it is a wide open runway to burn plenty of energy. Terraces along the outside of the ballpark provide places to relax and take in the view, which include boats on the bay, trains and trolleys running in front of the convention center, and the bustle of Downtown traffic. It’s easy to forget there’s a game being played, and to pretend you’re just out for an evening on the town. The cheer of the crowd is close enough to bring you back to your seat.

Washing up before returning is easy enough. The bathrooms are many and the lines short — at least they were during the Aztec Invitational. Although there are family bathrooms, they seem to be too few and too far between. Most were being used by individual men as a place to take a break and read the sports section.

Back inside, the sound system is fantastic and the visuals eye-catching. The giant video screen is clear and fun to watch while it pans the crowd and entices dancing and cheering, kind of like a rock concert.

It gets cooler earlier than at the Q as the wind kicks up off the bay to sweep right into the ballpark. Plan for layers at night and don’t forget a hat and sunscreen during the day.

Getting out of the ballpark can be easier and harder than expected. If you’re looking for an exit they will likely be crowded. If you’re not and you find yourself going down a stairway to the bottom, hold onto that last door in case it closes — you may just find yourself outside on the street behind the Omni San Diego Hotel.

All in all, the ballpark is a fun family adventure. Plan to spend a little extra money on food and drink and plan to be tired at the end of the day.