For the Win: What to Do When Visiting for the Top Bowl Games

For many college football fans, where they travel during the holiday season has much to do with what bowl game their team plays in. And depending on how loyal they are, they may not be going someplace they like — Honolulu is probably more desirable than El Paso, Texas, for instance.

Of 39 bowl games being played across the United States, here are the 10 getting the most searches on Yahoo. In case you’re a super fan who doesn't know much about your destination, we’ve provided a few ideas of what you can do in each destination and where you can stay if you haven’t booked.

10. Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke, Dec. 27
El Paso, Texas

The Blue Devils at last year’s Chick-fil-a Bowl (Photo: Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Duke sports fans are getting used to making postseason plans that don’t involve their basketball team – this is the first time the Blue Devils have made a bowl game three years in a row.

What to do: El Paso has more to offer than Mexican food, but if you haven’t eaten here, why even think of anything else? The city has a hard-earned reputation for its authentic enchiladas, tamales, and other Tex-Mex standouts. Consider these favorites: L&J Café, Pepe’s Tamales, and Delicious Mexican Eatery.

Where to stay: The Camino Real Hotel is a mile and a half from Sun Bowl Stadium and has rooms available for $125 per night.

9. Outback Bowl: Auburn vs. Wisconsin, Jan. 1
Tampa, Fla.

(Photo: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Wisconsin Badgers have a huge, dedication fan base. (Photo: Tom Lynn/Getty Images)

Both schools have large, passionate fanbases that travel well, so expect to see a Tiger-Badger takeover of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. Fortunately, there’s plenty of entertainment and food to go around here.

What to do: These are two historically successful football programs, so you give a nod to history by dining at the the Columbia in Ybor City, which is the oldest restaurant in Florida. Or, if you’re in town for a game sponsored by Outback but want a higher-quality piece of meat, head to Bern’s Steak House.

Where to stay: The Crowne Plaza Tampa-Westshore is three miles from Raymond James Stadium, with rooms going for $172 per night the week of the game.

8. Pinstripe Bowl: Boston College vs. Penn State, Dec. 27
Bronx, New York

Yankee Stadium has been trading in its bases for goalposts to host the Pinstripe Bowl since the inaugural bowl in 2010. (Photo: David Pokress/Newsday/MCT/Landov)

Penn State fans have extra reason to make the road trip to New York for this one: It’s their first bowl game since the 2011 season. Yankee Stadium is usually associated with baseball, but it’s swapping home runs for touchdowns on this day.

What to do: The New York Botanical Garden is a winner for sightseeing year-round, but go this week, and you get the added bonus of the Holiday Train Show, an elaborate diorama of New York City with model trains whizzing along a quarter-mile track.

Where to stay: The Bronx isn’t known for its stellar hotel selection, so if you want to stay close to Yankee Stadium and explore the neighborhood, why not find a rental? This Airbnb studio near the stadium is available for $148 per night.

Related: Where the Real Game is Played: NFL Cities That Do Tailgating Best

7. Independence Bowl: Miami (Fla.) vs. South Carolina, Dec. 27
Shreveport, La.

The fried oyster po’ boy at Herby-K’s in Shreveport (Photo: Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau/Flickr)

This game involves two historically successful programs that had down years in 2014. If you’re a Hurricanes or Gamecocks fan, you can drown your sorrows in the tremendous Southern food to be had in these parts.

What to do: Shreveport has the Cajun dining options you’d expect in Louisiana, with favorites such as Herby-K’s and Crawdaddy’s Kitchen.

Where to stay: Before the big game, you can play some games of your own by booking a room at Sam’s Town (formerly Harrah’s) Hotel and Casino. At last check, a room the night before the game was going for $219 per night.

6. Cotton Bowl: Michigan State vs. Baylor, Jan. 1
Arlington, Texas

With Baylor playing in their home state, plenty of Bears fans are sure to be in attendance. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

This is one of the best non-playoff matchups, with two top 10 teams. Baylor fans will have the “home-field” advantage of playing in-state, and they’re also a lot likelier to know where to hang out in Arlington than Spartan fans.

What to do: Since this game is likely to be a roller coaster, why not experience one of your own by spending a day at Six Flags Over Texas. The most intimidating ride in the park is Titan, with a 255-foot drop and 540-degree spiral. Even the thrills are bigger in Texas.

Where to stay: The Wingate by Wyndham Arlington is about a mile from the stadium and is going for a bargain at $135 per night before gameday.

Related: I Take an Annual Football Pilgrimage to Celebrate a Lost Friend

5. Holiday Bowl: Nebraska vs. USC, Dec. 27
San Diego

The USC Trojans are hoping to secure another bowl win. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

It’s just a two-hour drive down the freeway for the Trojans, who are used to sunny winter weather, while Cornhusker fans can bolt Nebraska and work on their tans for a few days.

What to do: You can go days just sampling different fish tacos in San Diego, but give it credit for more than that. Phil’s BBQ in Midway is an institution, and the city can give Portland a run for its money as the top West Coast beer town.

Where to stay: TripAdvisor lists several reasonably priced rentals for the week of the game, including this one-bedroom condo for $139 per night.

4. Music City Bowl:  Notre Dame vs. LSU, Dec. 30
Nashville, Tenn.

Notre Dame hopes the luck of the Irish will help them fight their way to victory. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

This counts as a down year for both the Fighting Irish (7-5) and the Tigers (8-4), but hey, it beats the shoddy work the hometown Titans are doing in the NFL. Whether your team wins or loses, you can find just the appropriate tone of country song after the game at one of the many live venues in town.

What to do: With so many visitors in town, it may be tough to find a seat at one of the more intimate music venues, like the Bluebird Café, Robert’s Western World, or The Basement, but it’s worth looking. If you don’t have time for love music, you can still pay homage to country’s past at the Johnny Cash Museum or the Country Music Hall of Fame. As far as what to eat, we have two words for you: hot chicken. It’s a Nashville specialty, and the Row Kitchen & Pub is among the top purveyors.

Where to stay: LP Field is walking distance from downtown, so if you’re going to the game, you might as well stay in the heart of the city. The Capitol Hotel is less than a mile away and available for less than $200 per night.

3. Texas Bowl: Arkansas vs. Texas, Dec. 29
Houston

In Texas, if you mess with the bull, you get the horns. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

These teams used to be fierce rivals and played annually when they shared the same conference, but this will be their first meeting since 2008. For just one day, football in Houston won’t be all about local megastar J.J. Watt.

What to do: This is Texas, after all, and football is huge here. So are sports bars, so if you want to spend the day before this game watching all the NFL action, Nick’s Place gets high marks for its pizzas and calzones, and Underdogs Sports Pub boasts more than 200 beers.

Where to stay: Houston is notorious for its traffic, so consider staying near NRG Stadium. The Hotel Derek is five miles away, and it’s going for less than $100 the night before the game.

2. Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Ohio State, Jan. 1
New Orleans

Take a Bayou boat tour for some truly memorable encounters! (Photo: Cajun Encounters/Facebook)

And now we’ve reached the playoff games. With these two football powerhouses and their massive fanbases taking over the Crescent City on New Year’s Day, the revelry may give Mardi Gras a run for its money. The Buckeyes can earn the maligned Big Ten a lot of beads by taking down the No. 1 Crimson Tide.

What to do: Do you really need to read this portion when it comes to New Orleans? Considering how intense the French Quarter is going to be leading up to this game, you might want to mellow out by heading to the Bayou for a swamp tour. Cajun Encounters is one of the leading operators.

Where to stay: Trying to find a halfway decent hotel for under $400 anywhere near the Superdome this late in the game is going to be like kicking a 65-yard field goal — we tried and missed. Scour the vacation rentals for a deal. The grittier Bywater area tends to have reasonably priced rooms.

1. Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Florida State, Jan. 1
Pasadena, Calif.

This year’s showdown of Heisman winning QBs Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston is sure to make for an extra intense game. (Photos: Getty Images)

The second of two playoff games is played at the Granddaddy of Them All. When you combine high-stakes football, Los Angeles activities, and usually friendly New Year’s Day weather, you can understand why the Rose Bowl is such a big deal even to people who don’t care who wins. But for those who do care, this year’s matchup is extra-rosy: The last two players to win the Heisman Trophy — Marcus Mariota (Oregon) and Jameis Winston (Florida State) — will be facing each other as opposing quarterbacks.

What to do: Before watching Mariota and Winston whiz around the field that night, you can watch floats go by at much slower speeds at the 126th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. The parade stretches 5½ miles down Colorado Boulevard, and it’s a family favorite.

Where to stay: If you plan to attend the game, be warned that driving into the Rose Bowl is a pain because you have to go through a residential area with about 100,000 other people. Hotels in Pasadena were already booked when we checked, so unless you look at vacation rentals, you’ll have to try elsewhere. You can still book a room at the Millennium Biltmore in Los Angeles, nine miles from the Rose Bowl, for $189 per night.

Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.