The Jambar
With college football season underway, students are flocking from school to school to spend weekend trips all across the country.
From small-town beauties such as Appalachian State University and Syracuse University, to big-city experiences such as the University of California, Los Angeles and Fordham University, college cities come in all shapes and sizes.
The Jambar has compiled a list of the top-five college cities to visit this fall. The criteria is based around affordability and nightlife — two factors that every college student considers when planning out their next vacation.
Kicking off the list at No. 5 is Las Vegas. Between the strip, professional sports and concert venues such as the Sphere or MGM Grand Garden Arena, University of Nevada, Las Vegas fans and students have an abundance of options for recreation at their fingertips.
Cheap hotel rooms located on one of America’s premier party blocks proves that Sin City passes the affordability and nightlife criteria with flying colors.
Walkable neighborhoods mixed with elite cuisine aids Boston in its placement at No. 4 on the list — not to mention Boston University. A night filled with cheap pizza, loud mouths and Samuel Adams is sure to satisfy visitors and students alike.
For those more interested in history, Boston’s Freedom Trail offers a unique look into the city’s past, taking pedestrians on a guided journey from America’s oldest park, Boston Common, to the historic Bunker Hill Monument in Charleston, Massachusetts.
Famous pizza and neurotic sports fandom are two commonalities the No. 4 and No. 3 placements have in common. Chicago is home to one of America’s premiere academic institutions in Northwestern University.
Visitors of Chicago also get the perk of feeling like they took a beach vacation, with Lake Michigan shadowing over 2 million people in the metropolis. Whether it’s enjoying the world-famous pub scene in River North, Illinois, or catching dinner and a game in Wrigleyville, Illinois, tourists are sure to enjoy a fall trip to Chicago.
No. 2 comes onto the list offering a smaller lake than our No. 3 spot, but the walkability and small-town college environment of Madison, Wisconsin, gives it the edge over its midwest companion.
With renowned bars such as Kollege Klub and Wando’s, Madison offers the full package of a Big Ten Conference college experience. University of Wisconsin–Madison’s 43.3% acceptance rate keeps it as one of the more sought-after destinations for prospective students looking for a prestigious state college.
For Youngstown State University students looking to enjoy a fun weekend, a trip to Madison comes in at a low cost and will provide enough fun for visitors to fill the rest of the semester with telling “in Madison” stories to friends.
Last, but not least is New Orleans. The vibrant southern party-hub offers more fun than any college student knows what to do with.
Signature dishes such as gumbo, po’ boys and beignets, combined with a one-of-a-kind live music scene, makes The Big Easy an easy placement at No. 1.
Visitors can look forward to partying on Bourbon Street at any hour, any day, and unwinding at one of the Crescent City’s many jazz bars.
With plenty of destinations closeby, students have a wide variety of options to choose from when planning their next vacation.