Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the Outback Bowl (Tampa, Florida), which pits Iowa against South Carolina.Overview/Matchup: There's something magnificently ironic about the Gamecocks and Iowa meeting up in a bowl game ... mainly because it means nearly three weeks of some certain writers making fun of a certain meme that revolves around a certain player with a certain stinky name from South Carolina. Oh yeah, and there's also football -- a pair of stout defensive teams square off in a game that should be full of grit and grind. And other fun stuff, like visors.
Hotels: From its long palm-lined driveway to the unobstructed bay views and luxuriously appointed guest rooms, the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay is the finest hotel in the city. Thankfully for football fans this first-rate property is just on the other side of the airport from Raymond James Stadium. The Intercontinental Tampa offers bowl-travelers the best bang for the buck. The hotel has great proximity to the stadium, the airport and Westshore Plaza Mall along with top-notch service, well-rounded facilities and elegant décor; a standard room for less than US$200 per night doesn't hurt either. The Comfort Inn Airport is the ideal option for budget travelers. Accommodations are meager, but the property is directly adjacent to the airport, two blocks from the stadium, and has rooms for less than US$100 per night.
Restaurants: If your team wins the day and you feel like a ritzy meal for celebrating, head to Bern's Steak House in the SoHo district. This unique restaurant has its own farm, and boasts one of the largest wine collections in the world – over half a million bottles. For a nice meal with a slightly more reasonable price, head to Columbia Restaurant. This Spanish/Cuban restaurant is the oldest eatery in Florida and offers hearty food and a stunning atmosphere. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Lee Roy Selmon loved southern cooking so much he opened a restaurant based on his mother's favorite recipes. Prices at Lee Roy Selmon's are reasonable and portions are substantial. The signature dish is the Training Platter with barbecued ribs, chicken and pulled pork with two sides.
Nightlife: There are plenty of bars in the Tampa area, and depending on your mood, your best bet is to ask a local for a recommendation. However, if you're feeling fancy, we recommend Fly Bar and Restaurant. Fly Bar has an international share-it-with-friends approach, serving small plates and specialty cocktails in a hip atmosphere.
All travel related information provided by Professional Travel Guide.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-29-2008 @ 5:44PM
Don T. Cornholme said...
The restrooms at Raymond James Stadium are very clean, so all the Lois Feldman types can enjoy the game however they desire!
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12-31-2008 @ 4:43PM
Unforgivable Wetness said...
Strip Clubs: Tampa may very well be the best strip club city in the United States. Whether it's because of an extremely high ratio of beautiful-looking women to ugly ones, the fact that you can still smoke in strip bars in Florida, or the scant number of raids, the city's four-dozen establishments together make Tampa a prime destination for any stripper hound.
All types of clubs are available, including pastie and bikini. But the city follows the rules of most other cities: You can offer full-nude dancing with no alcohol, or a full bar with topless dancing only. The three best clubs in Tampa are the former: 2001 Odyssey and Scarlett's at Ybor Strip have more than their fair share of beautiful women giving good two-way-contact lap dances. But far and away the best club in Tampa is the world-renowned Mons Venus. The club is packed most nights, is standing room only on weekend nights, and upwards of 200 strippers could be offering table dances in this matchbox of a club in any one shift. (Also, this club and 2001 do not allow smoking inside.) The only drawback to the Mons is a distinct lack of parking; chances are you'll have to use a lot from one of the adjoining businesses. But anyone, not just aficionados, should go to the Mons just for the atmosphere.
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