13 minute read
SEC Travel
SEC TRAVEL
Every football season, the spirit of LSU fans radiates beyond Louisiana's borders as we embark on epic road trips to support our beloved Tigers at away games across the South. Decked out in purple and gold, LSU fans transform highways and hotels into seas of team colors. With each journey, memories are forged, bonds are strengthened, and the roar of "Geaux Tigers" becomes a rallying cry that unites fans on the quest for victory, no matter the distance traveled.
October 19 V Arkansas
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EXPERIENCE FAYETTEVILLE
Fayetteville is a vibrant college town with plenty of activities and attractions to offer. Here are some must-visit spots during your trip:
Start your visit by dropping into the Experience Fayetteville Visitors Center at 21. S Block Avenue - the southwest corner of the historic Fayetteville Square. You’ll find local maps, personal recommendations, and you can pick up a copy of the Fayetteville Ale Trail Passport - a guide to 24 craft breweries in the area.
From the Square, explore downtown. Block Street features locally owned boutiques City Supply, Gearhead Outfitters, B STyled, Skye on the Town, Block Street Records, and more. Nearby, find Pearl’s Books, Rock House 205, Lululemon, The Boho Boutique, and Fayetteville’s legendary vintage clothing shop, Cheap Thrills.
Fayetteville is known for an extensive trail network, with over 100 miles of paved and natural surface trails within city limits. Explore the newest section of trail at The Ramble, Fayetteville's newest park, with winding trails, a tree canopy walk, and bridges leading down to a natural creek. All easily accessible in the middle of town.
After that, take a walk down Dickson Street. This lively area is filled with bars, restaurants, and shops, and is a hub of activity on weekends. You'll find plenty of options for food and drinks, and the live music scene is top-notch. George’s Majestic Lounge is the granddaddy of them all, home to live music since 1927.
Finally, make sure to visit the Arkansas Air and Military Museum. This fascinating museum is dedicated to preserving the history of aviation and military in the state. You'll get an up-close look at vintage aircraft, military vehicles, and more. They have a terrific gift shop for aviation enthusiasts young and old.
With so much to do in Fayetteville, you're sure to have a great time!
October 26 V Texas A&M
This year the Tigers take on the Aggies in Bryan-College Station. Make the most of your weekend in Aggieland. Peruse hip boutiques in Historic Downtown Bryan, make friends with a real, live giraffe at Aggieland Safari, sip regional varieties at Messina Hof Winery, or take a sunny stroll along Lake Walk.
Getting to the game
Enjoy the free Gameday Shuttle in Downtown Bryan. Quick, convenient parking in Downtown Bryan near bars, restaurants, and shops - free shuttle to Texas A&M Memorial Student Center, right next to Kyle Field.
Accommodations
From luxury stays to budget-friendly options, Bryan is home to a variety of unique lodging options. The Stella Hotel, Milton Parker Estate B&B, and Great Escapes RV Resort are all fantastic options for staying just minutes from the big game.
Eat & Drink
Simply put, Bryan is a foodie city. You won’t have to wander far or look hard for world-class cuisine. Hand-tossed, brick oven pizza at RX Pizza. Farm-to-table fare at Ronin. All-American menus with Tex-Mex flair at The Proudest Monkey. Top-notch BBQ joints like Fargo’s. Leave the corporate chain eateries behind and dig into unique, authentic experiences. It’s all on the table in Bryan. All you have to do is bring your appetite.
Enjoying more than the game
With plenty to see and do, you’ll be sure to fill your game day weekend. Visit Downtown Bryan to find a local distillery, Hush & Whisper, a custom hat shop, Catalena Hatters, live music every weekend at The Palace Theater, and so much more to do, see, and eat throughout the weekend.
Bryan has so much to offer, and there’s no better time to explore than during a football game weekend! For more accommodations, dining, and activity recommendations visit destinationbryan.com or follow us @destinationbryan!
September 14 V S. Caroline
PHOTO CREDIT: FORREST CLONTS
Columbia SC is excited to welcome the LSU Tigers to town. Whether it’s your first time watching a game at Williams-Brice Stadium or you’ve been making the trek for this SEC matchup for years, we have all the gameday tips and tricks to maximize your fun and minimize any hassles, plus everything you need to know to make the most of experiencing the destination beyond the main event.
First things first – secure your tailgate spot! The South Carolina State Fairgrounds are located adjacent to Williams-Brice and are the epitome of a tailgate playground. Check online for single game parking passes closer to the September 14th matchup.
For the perfect tailgate spread, stock up on local favorites like boiled peanuts and popcorn from Cromer’s, fried chicken from Bernie’s or barbeque from Doc’s to make your pregame feast fresh and flavorful. And if you love pimento cheese, you’re in luck – Columbia SC is home to the Pimento Cheese Passport, featuring 14 different restaurants throughout the region that offer unique dishes spotlighting the signature Southern snack. A tub of pimento cheese from DiPrato’s is sure to be a hit with the crowd when paired alongside their homemade pita chips, topped on a burger, or spread into a sandwich. Or, if you want to make an easy one-stop-shop of it, some restaurants like Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits and Midwood Smokehouse offer special tailgating packages throughout the season.
One of our favorite things about being in the SEC is the abundance of local traditions and gorgeous campuses. While you’re here, don’t miss sneaking a peek at the famed Cockabooses, a string of elaborately refurbished railroad cars used for tailgating, before you enter the stadium. Also, escape the heat and stroll to see the historic buildings and shady trees of The Horseshoe, our main section of campus. And while we know you may prefer “Hold That Tiger” to Sandstorm, one thing we can agree on in the SEC is Southern hospitality and having a great time, so we hope you enjoy our city and make us your game day home away from home!
Establish your home base for the weekend and check rates and availability for a wide range of accommodations from boutique inns to full-service downtown properties to economical options with easy access to our interstates. Rooms fill fast on game weekends and some properties might require a two-night minimum. If it’s a charming abode that incorporates bits of campus flair into the décor you seek, Graduate Columbia is the spot for you.
For a boutique experience within walking distance of everything available in the Main Street District, you’ll Hotel Trundle’s chic and whimsical atmosphere. If you’re traveling with a whole crew, we invite you to also explore the extensions of Hotel Trundle’s brand that blend the hotel and Airbnb experience, The Flutter Wing and The Dens.
Outside of the game, there are ample opportunities for outdoor recreation, shopping, dining, arts and culture experiences, history, local events and more.
Every Saturday morning on Main Street from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., rain or shine, dozens of vendors display art, clothing, accessories, homemade goods and more alongside a wide variety of food trucks offering everything from Southern mainstays to multicultural delicacies at Soda City Market. It’s dogfriendly, kid-friendly and gives you a real sense of Columbia’s vibe.
Columbia’s brewery scene is not to be missed. From spots like HunterGatherer Brewery at The Hangar that resides within an historic CurtissWright Hangar and is located near the stadium, to Savage Craft Ale Works over the river in West Columbia, you’re sure to find a good time and a cold pint at any turn.
Columbia lies at the confluence of three rivers – the Broad and Saluda which merge downtown to form the Congaree. Cooling off in their waters is an iconic local pastime. Rent a tube or kayak from Palmetto Outdoor or Adventure Carolina and get your float on. Or if waterside recreation is more your thing, stretch your legs along the Three Rivers Greenway. Further inland, you’ll find the state’s only national park, Congaree National Park.
If you’re missing that Louisiana cooking, you might be interested in the CajunCreole cuisine found at Bourbon on Main Street, The Bistreaux by Fleur de Licious, Private Property in Lexington or Luzianna Purchase. Otherwise, Columbia’s culinary scene is garnering national attention with three James Beard Award semifinalists last year (with two moving forward to the finalist stage) and three more this year, with only one nomination being a repeat from last year. Pop into Lula Drake Wine Parlour, CITY GRIT Hospitality group restaurants Il Focolare, smallSUGAR and CITY GRIT Market Wine Bar, and Spotted Salamander for a taste of last year’s honorees and Lula Drake, Kiki’s
Chicken & Waffles and City Limits Barbeque for this year’s. And Columbia SC is most definitely a brunch town. You’ll find no shortage of mimosas, Bloody Marys, biscuits (probably with pimento cheese) and grits to bring you back to life following the previous night’s festivities.
Bring the family to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, the South Carolina State Museum and EdVenture to keep the kids entertained for hours. Purchase a CoolPASS to receive discounted admission to all three. Alternately, the CulturePASS grants you discounted access to the Columbia Museum of Art, Historic Columbia and the South Carolina State Museum.
Be sure to keep an eye out for our monthly events blog content and calendar of events for specific goings-on the weekend of your visit. And as you plan the rest of the season, don’t forget to download the Visit the SEC Pass to help you navigate the best of every city in the conference.
November 16 V Florida
Kickoff Your SEC Game Day Adventure with Gainesville’s Beyond the Field Best Bets
One thing that the Louisiana State Tigers and Florida Gators fans have in common is gatherings meet ups at “The SWAMP” – also known as Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – where the size and exuberance of the football crowds sets the stage for one of the most electrifying game atmospheres in the SEC. The excitement begins pre-game night with Chomp the Block at Celebration Pointe, featuring family friendly fun, food, drinks, live music, and celebrity appearances.
Get a taste of local flavor with dinner bites, a post-game slice or a next day brunch. Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille pairs sports memorabilia with elevated menus. Satchel’s Pizza, listed as having the Florida’s best pie by Taste of Home magazine, features calzones, pizza, salads and craft sodas with an eclectic atmosphere. Treat yourself to prime burgers and craft beer at Ford’s Garage or explore a great assortment of walkable eateries in Downtown Gainesville with Japanese fusion at Dragonfly, casual dining at The Top, comfort food favorites at Loosey’s Downtown, the 4th Avenue Food Park and more.
Raise a glass to football season with award-winning craft breweries along the Sippin’ Seven Alachua County Ale Trail. Blackadder, Cypress and Grove, Daft Cow, Dry Wrought Cider, First Magnitude and Swamp Head offer cans and growlers to take award-winning brews to-go. Take the scenic route back home and stop by High Springs Brewery nestled in Florida’s “Gateway to the Springs.” If you have a little extra time before heading home, you won’t be disappointed with a tour of the area’s crystal-blue fresh water springs.
Plan ahead with the award-winning What’s Good guide to weekly events for a peek at the best entertainment while you are in town. You can also make the most of your trip with nearby attractions. Explore nature and scenic views at Depot Park, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, the GainesvilleHawthorne Trail and Sweetwater Wetlands Park. Discover the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Harn Museum of Art, located next door to each other at the UF Cultural Plaza. Take home a souvenir with great shops like the Artisans’ Guild Gallery or an unforgettable cookie from Brother Cookie.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is the largest stadium in Florida, the 12th largest stadium in the United States, and the 18th largest stadium in the world, as measured by its official seating capacity of 88,548 – though, it has often held over 90,000 for Florida's home football games.
Alachua County is home to seven independent craft breweries, many of which have won multiple Best Florida Beer Professional Championship awards. Most also offer homemade sodas, seltzers, tasting menus, and/or partnerships with popular food trucks and feature regular live music, comedy, and trivia contest nights.
Learn about the history of Gatorade with the plaque position right outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Dr. Robert Cade and three UF researchers invented Gatorade to provide the 1965 UF football team with extra oomph during training.
The Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art is the most prominent fine art museum in the greater north central Florida region and demonstrates its commitment to being a cultural resource through its free admission and art-centered experiences. The museum is known for developing high quality and relevant exhibitions–drawn from its collection of 13,300 artworks–many of which have toured across the United States. The Harn is home to the largest collection of Floridathemed art.
The Butterfly Rainforest is a can’t-miss living exhibit that features hundreds of free-flying butterflies and birds from around the world along with an assortment of other animals including turtles and fish to experience firsthand.
Located in High Springs, just 20 minutes north of Gainesville, is Poe Springs Park, a beautiful, serene bit of heaven where visitors can enjoy a stroll along nature trails, and a swim in crystal-blue waters of the local spring. The park features a playground, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, and more.
Home of the three-day Tom Petty Weekend festival, Heartwood Soundstage is a state-of-the-art recording studio, music venue, production house and event space in Gainesville, Florida. Check their website for weekly performances and seasonal festivals.
