2010-11 College Football Bowl Travel Guide
Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 2:22PM 
By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season
For those traveling to see your favorite team play in a bowl game, please take a look at all the great information the OGS travel editors have compiled for you below. Even if you've already booked a hotel, take a gander anyway because this was about 20 hours of research and your patronage would be much appreciated.
And if you haven't booked a hotel, make sure to ask about bowl-game discounts when you make your reservations. Special-event rates are often available if you just ask.
Now if you're wondering what resources/criteria we used: Google, Yelp.com, UrbanSpoon.com, 10best.com, Citysbest.com, dartboard, personal experience, 10 percent guesswork and advice from friends. Also, bowl and local tourism websites offered a few recommendations for out-of-towners. And we tried to recommend hotels that were mostly in downtown areas and offered rooms for fewer than $200 a night. If you're on a tighter budget than that, like I am, there's always hotels.com. But if you're on a tight budget, why are you traveling to see your 6-6 football team for the holidays?
Regarding bars and restaurants, we tried to keep in mind that folks who travel to see college football bowl games are usually the sort who enjoy burgers, barbecue and sports bars. We did try to stay away from chain restaurants and strip-mall bars (what's your deal, Florida?) where we could. If we ommitted your favorite joint or got something totally wrong, we trust you'll use offensive language in the Comments section at the bottom of this 60-inch file. But if we got something right, feel free to donate here.
New Mexico Bowl
Brigham Young vs. UTEP
Albuquerque, N.M. | University Stadium
Dec. 18 | 2 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Artichoke Cafe, Standard Diner, Frontier Restaurant
Drink: Two Fools Tavern, Kelly's Brew Pub, Coaches Sports Grill, Zinc Win Bar & Bistro
Sleep: Hyatt, Marriott, Embassy Suites, Sheraton
uDrove Humanitarian Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
Boise, Idaho | Bronco Stadium
Dec. 18 | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Goldy's Breakfast Bistro, Asiago's, Boise Fry Company
Drink: Crescent Bar & Grill, Buster's Sports Bar, Red Feather Lounge
Sleep: The Grove, Owyhee Plaza, The Modern Hotel
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Troy vs. Ohio
New Orleans | Louisiana Superdome
Dec. 18 | 9 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Coquette, Mother's, Brennan's
Drink: Pat O'Brien's, Cooter Brown's Tavern, F & M Patio Bar
Sleep: Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Windsor Court Hotel, Maison Dupuy
Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl
Louisville vs. Southern Miss
St. Petersburg, Fla. | Tropicana Field
Dec. 21 | 8 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Red Mesa Cantina, St. Pete Brasserie, Blue Parrot,
Drink: Mastry's, Limeys, Push
Sleep: Vinoy Renaissance, Hilton Bayfront, Grand Plaza
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl
Utah vs. Boise State
Las Vegas | Sam Boyd Stadium
Dec. 22 | 8 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Joel Robuchon, Grand Lux Cafe, Pasta Mia West
Drink: Blondie's, Nine Fine Irishmen, V Bar
Sleep: The Venetian, Bally's, Marriott
S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
San Diego Statevs. Navy
San Diego | Qualcomm Stadium
Dec. 23 | 8 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Hash House A Go Go, Il Fornaio, Truluck's
Drink: Altitude Sky Lounge, Aero Club Bar, The Tipsy Crow
Sleep: The Keating, Coronado Island Marriott, Empress Hotel
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Tulsa vs. Hawaii
Honolulu | Aloha Stadium
Dec. 24 | 8 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Alan Wong's, Orchid's, Duke's
Drink: Mai Tai Bar, The Shack, Murphy's
Sleep: Aqua Palms, Marriott Waikiki, Doubletree Alana
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Florida International vs. Toledo
Detroit | Ford Field
Dec. 26 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Opus One, Hockeytown Cafe, Traffic Jam & Snug
Drink: Centaur, Town Pump Tavern, Jacoby's
Sleep: Atheneum Suite Hotel, Marriott at Renaissance Center, MGM Grand,
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Georgia Tech vs. Air Force
Shreveport, La. | Independence Stadium
Dec. 27 | 5 p.m. | ESPN2
Visitor Info
Eat: Superior Grill, Blind Tiger, Ernest's Restaurant
Drink: Fatty Arbuckles, Noble Savage Tavern
Sleep: Horseshoe Casino, Boomtown Casino, Best Western
Champs Sports Bowl
North Carolina State vs. West Virginia
Orlando, Fla. | Florida Citrus Bowl
Dec. 28 | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Norman's, Le Coq Au Vin, Hue
Drink: JB's Sports Restaurant, Casey's On Central, Eye Spy
Sleep: Lake Buena Vista Resort, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Courtyard Downtown
Insight Bowl
Iowa vs. Missouri
Tempe, Ariz. | Sun Devil Stadium
Dec. 28 | 10 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Caffe Boa, Chompie's, House Of Tricks
Drink: Four Peaks, Native New Yorker, Rocky Point Cantina
Sleep: The Buttes, Mission Palms, Best Western
Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman
Maryland vs. East Carolina
Washington, D.C. | RFK Stadium
Dec. 29 | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Ben's Chili Bowl, Cantina Marina, Cafe Saint-Ex,
Drink: Public Bar, Pour House, Ireland's Four Fields,
Sleep: Capitol Skyline Hotel, The Melrose, Adam's Inn
Texas Bowl
Baylor vs. Illinois
Houston | Reliant Stadium
Dec. 29 | 6 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Gravitas, Lankford Grocery, 11th Street Cafe
Drink: Lucky's Pub, Molly's, Front Porch Pub
Sleep: Hotel Derek, Alden Houston, Hotel Icon
Valero Alamo Bowl
Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
San Antonio | Alamodome
Dec. 29 | 9:15 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Mi Tierra, Boudro's Texas Bistro, Biga On The Banks
Drink: Club Cohiba, Flying Saucer, Durty Nelly's
Sleep: Hotel Valencia, Marriott Plaza, Omni La Mansion del Rio
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
SMU vs. Army
Dallas | Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Dec. 30 | Noon | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse, Twisted Root Burger Co., Dick's Last Resort
Drink: Frankie's, Trinity Hall, Elbow Room
Sleep: Magnolia Hotel, Belmont Hotel, Hotel Palomar
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Kansas State vs. Syracuse
Bronx, N.Y. | Yankee Stadium
Dec. 30 | 3:20 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Mario's, Cafe DalSalce, Giovanni's
Drink: Bronx Ale HouseP.J. Clarke's, Amsterdam Ale House
Sleep: Best Western, Ramada, Doubletree Metropolitan
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
North Carolina vs. Tennessee
Nashville, Tenn. | LP Field
Dec. 30 | 6:40 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Bound'ry, The Acorn, Hermitage Cafe
Drink: Broadway Brewhouse, Blackstone Brewery, Sam's Sports Grill
Sleep: Hotel Indigo, Nashville Hilton, Best Western Music Row
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
Nebraska vs. Washington
San Diego | Qualcomm Stadium
Dec. 30 | 10 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Hash House A Go Go, Il Fornaio, Truluck's
Drink: Altitude Sky Lounge, Aero Club Bar, The Tipsy Crow
Sleep: The Keating, Coronado Island Marriott, Empress Hotel
Meineke Car Care Bowl
Clemson vs. South Florida
Charlotte, N.C. | Bank of America Stadium
Dec. 31 | Noon | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: 300 East, Aquavina, Moosehead Grill
Drink: Boardwalk Billy's, Jackalope Jack's, Tavern On The Tracks
Sleep: Renaissance Suites, The Ballantyne, Doubletree
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Miami vs. Notre Dame
El Paso, Texas | Sun Bowl
Dec. 31 | 2 p.m. | CBS
Visitor Info
Eat: Cafe Central, Cappetto's, Rulis' International Kitchen
Drink: Border City Ale House, Club 101
Sleep: Radisson El Paso, Wyndham, Marriott
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Central Florida vs. Georgia
Memphis, Tenn. | Liberty Bowl
Dec. 31 | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Silky O'Sullivan's, Huey's, Arcade Restaurant
Drink: Bardog Tavern, Earnestine & Hazel's, Bosco's
Sleep: Embassy Suites, Park Place Hotel, Doubletree
Chick-fil-A Bowl
South Carolina vs. Florida State
Atlanta | Georgia Dome
Dec. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: The Varsity, DBA Barbecue, The Sun Dial,
Drink: Max Lager's, Manuel's Tavern, Neighbor's Pub
Sleep: Artmore Hotel, Twelve Atlantic Station, Glenn Hotel
TicketCity Bowl
Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Dallas | Cotton Bowl
Jan. 1 | Noon | ESPNU
Visitor Info
Eat: Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse, Twisted Root Burger Co., Dick's Last Resort
Drink: Frankie's, Trinity Hall, Elbow Room
Sleep: Magnolia Hotel, Belmont Hotel, Hotel Palomar
Outback Bowl
Penn State vs. Florida
Tampa, Fla. | Raymond James Stadium
Jan. 1 | 1 p.m. | ABC
Visitor Info
Eat: Cheap, The Laughing Cat, Iavarone's
Drink: The Dubliner, Rock-N-Sports Bar & Bistro, Tampa Bay Brewing Co.
Sleep: Hyatt Regency, Sheraton Riverwalk, Intercontinental
Capital One Bowl
Michigan State vs. Alabama
Orlando, Fla. | Florida Citrus Bowl
Jan. 1 | 1 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Norman's, Le Coq Au Vin, Hue
Drink: JB's Sports Restaurant, Casey's On Central, Eye Spy
Sleep: Lake Buena Vista Resort, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Courtyard Downtown
Gator Bowl
Michigan vs. Mississippi State
Jacksonville, Fla. | Everbank Field
Jan. 1 | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN2
Visitor Info
Eat: Chew, Matthew's Restaurant, Urban Flats
Drink: Culhane's Irish Pub, Lynch's Irish Pub, Cuba Libre, Bistro Aix, Cafe Nola
Sleep: Omni Amelia Island, Best Western Jacksonville Beach, Hyatt
Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO
Wisconsin vs. TCU
Pasadena, Calif. | Rose Bowl
Jan. 1 | 5 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Green Street Restaurant, 72 North, Mi Piace
Drink: The 35er, T. Boyle's Tavern, Red White & Bluezz
Sleep: The Lanhgam Huntington Hotel, Old Pasadena Courtyard by Marriott, Sheraton
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma vs. Connecticut
Glendale, Ariz. | U. of Phoenix Stadium
Jan. 1 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN3D
Visitor Info
Eat: Max's, Tutti Santi, Haus Murphy's
Drink: McFadden's, Padre Murphy's, The Lost Leaf
Sleep: Cibola Vista Resort, Renaissance Glendale, Glendale Inn & Suites
Discover Orange Bowl
Stanford vs. Virginia Tech
Miami | Sun Life Stadium
Jan. 3 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Big Pink, Sra. Martinez, Escopazzo
Drink: Globe Cafe & Bar, Abbey Brewing Co., Scully's Tavern
Sleep: El Palacio Sports Hotel, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Crowne Plaza
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Ohio State vs. Arkansas
New Orleans | Louisiana Superdome
Jan. 4 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Coquette, Mother's, Brennan's
Drink: Pat O'Brien's, Cooter Brown's Tavern, F & M Patio Bar
Sleep: Bourbon Orleans Hotel, Windsor Court Hotel, Maison Dupuy
GoDaddy.com Bowl
Miami (Ohio) vs. Middle Tennessee
Mobile, Ala. | Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Jan. 6 | 8 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Noja, The Blind Mule, Wintzell's Oyster House
Drink: Callaghan Irish Social Club, Heroes Sports Bar, Veet's Bar & Grill
Sleep: Battle House, Ashbury Hotel, Hampton Inn & Suites
AT&T Cotton Bowl
Texas A&M vs. LSU
Arlington, Texas | Cowboys Stadium
Jan. 7 | 8 p.m. | FOX
Visitor Info
Eat: Mi Tierra Latin Fusion, David's Barbecue
Drink: J.R. Bentley's, Sherlock's Baker Street Pub
Sleep: Hyatt Regency Dallas, Gaylord Texan, Hilton Anatole
BBVA Compass Bowl
Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh
Birmingham, Ala. | Legion Field
Jan. 8 | Noon | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Fleming's, Dreamland Barbecue, Michael's Steaks and Seafood
Drink: On Tap Sports Cafe, Barking Kudu, Billy's Bar And Grill
Sleep: Sheraton Birmingham, The Wynfrey, The Tutwiler Hotel
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
Boston College vs. Nevada
San Francisco | AT&T Park
Jan. 9 | 9 p.m. | ESPN
Visitor Info
Eat: Mama's, Tommaso's, Tadich Grill
Drink: Pete's Tavern, Paragon, Rogue Ales Public House
Sleep: Hotel Nikko, Nob Hill, Best Western Tuscan Inn
Tostitos BCS National Championship Game
Auburn vs. Oregon
Glendale, Ariz. | U. of Phoenix Stadium
Jan. 10 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN3D
Visitor Info
Eat: Max's, Tutti Santi, Haus Murphy's
Drink: McFadden's, Padre Murphy's, The Lost Leaf
Sleep: Cibola Vista Resort, Renaissance Glendale, Glendale Inn & Suites
Lists, OGS Travel
Reader Comments (8)
Ha! Amsterdam Ale House for NYC...might as well throw out some other faves, Blondies West, McAleers, The Gin Mill, etc...
Since that game is in the Bronx, I tried to include some stuff uptown or even north of that. Your suggestions are all good ones, Bruce. You should be proud of that.
Who put together this list of recommened places together....has John Wise even been to any of these cities?
As a local in Jacksonville, perhaps you could verify the stadium name is accurate before publishing. Also, 2 of your 3 places to stay are not even close to the stadium (20+ miles from downtown Jax and the game). Finally, and my favorite....Urban Flats (a chain restaurant) is your recommended eaterie place. Boy! Keep up the good work.
Robb, thanks for the comments. Why not share a suggestion or two?
Thanks Robb, yet another reason to never ever visit Murderville, Fla.
For the Dallas Bowl Games, drop Dick's last resort. It is a tourist trap down in the West end. I would suggest Kuby's. it is about a mile from Ford Stadium on other side of SMU campus. Also Campisi's Egyptian (it is an Italian place) is about 1/2 mile east of Campus. Lower Greenville is filled with tons of bars... As for Cotton bowl, it is in a tourist district.. nice suggestions on some local places.
These stink. There will be no hotel rooms in Glendale avail...it would be smarter to mention a few places in Scottsdale or Downtown, perhaps. These aren't even tips - they are just places you could find out about if you went to Yelp for 2 seconds....
Speaking of Bowl rankings: I go to Tampa every year for Christmas (family) and make it a point to have Gator Bowl tickets in my hand. I try to catch another one on the way home (I usually get Sun Bowl tickets). I get my tickets at Amazon Tickets Online, so I can change plans if I need to. I'd love it if I could see UCLA in a bowl, and would change my travel plans accordingly.