Turkey Legs to Go: St. Petersburg Bowl Travel Guide, South Florida vs. Memphis

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the St. Petersburg Bowl (St. Petersburg, Fla.), which pits South Florida against Memphis.

Overview / Matchup: The St. Petersburg Bowl debuts this year as a Conference USA - Big East throwdown of mid-standing proportions, and is on the first day of bowl games thie year. In its inaugural game, Tropicana Field will be hosting a somewhat local team, South Florida. Memphis, meanwhile, beat Tulane in its final game to get bowl eligible, throttling the Green Wave 45-6.

Hotels: The Don CeSar Beach Resort is arguably the best hotel in St. Petersburg and offers excellent on-site dining. The building's flamingo-pink exterior helps it stand out against the blue water and white sand of Pinellas Bayway. Don CeSar's only downside: it's a 15-minute drive from the stadium. The Hilton St Petersburg Bayfront and Days Inn Central are both close enough to the stadium that you won't have to worry about timing. The Hilton is the best all-around value for bowl travelers, balancing accommodation, proximity and price. Budget travelers should head for the Days Inn Central. It's less than two miles from Tropicana Field and has rooms for less than $100 per night.


Restaurants: As for dining in the downtown area, Pacific Wave is known for great Californian style cuisine. Although the restaurant specializes in sushi, it is also known for top-notch duck and steak. Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant will offer the bar and finger-food atmosphere sports fans love with a more refined twist. From quail to Serrano ham, Ceviche will have something to satisfy everyone. El Cap is cheap, has great burgers, friendly service and is conveniently located on the way back to the airport.

Nightlife: For a refined evening, try the Havannah Room at Central Cigars. This luxurious bar offers a good selection of cigars, fine cognacs and leather couches. If you feel like doing some drinking, check out Ferg's Sports Bar. It's across the street from Tropicana Field and is always full of energy pre- and post-game. Sunday is "Buckets of Beer" night.

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