San Jose, Calif.gem in the west

The San Jose Sharks play at the HP Pavilion (affectionately known as the Shark Tank), and you can’t visit San Jose during hockey season without getting in on the fun of a game. The 82-game season for this team that already claims two Hall of Famers since its inception in 1991—Ed Belfour (1996) and Igor Larionov (1993-95)—runs October through June. At the beginning of every home game a giant 17-foot shark with flashing red eyes is lowered from the ceiling. The goalie leads the team out of the locker room, through the mouth of the shark and onto the ice firing up the loyal fans. Be prepared, this buzz of energy in the Shark Tank remains high throughout the entire game.