OT: Taking the kids on a B1G tour (need insight)

[John Otterstedt]

I have two sons who will be looking at colleges over the next year....as well as another who is a few years off. I figure we can make this exploration into our next vacation, starting in New Jersey and heading West. I'm the type to plan months, even a full year, in advance. With that said, I'd love to get your insight into where you'd go if you had 14 days, a car, camping gear, and a desire to explore B1G country as much as possible in that time.

We plan on doing official tours of some schools, while passing through and exploring others on our own. Our goal is to end up in Wisconsin, as we have friends up there. We will camp when possible, but will otherwise seek out decent hotels.

I don't expect to see every school.... just enough to give my kids a sense of what different campuses look like. We will sprinkle in some smaller, private schools (mainly local) over the next year so they can see that, too.

If you are familiar with B1G country and have some suggestions for obscure stops, fun destinations, festivals and things that we can visit in between college stops, I'd love to hear it. We also want to visit the "must see" stops in each college town. The kids will be 12, 16, and 17, so I'd like to schedule some stops that would appeal to those age groups. It will be a summer trip. Thank you!

 

[WORTHYWISH]

It's not in the B1G, but one of the most beautiful campuses is in Boulder, Colorado.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

This is definitely a "homer" comment but you should try to make it to Iowa City. I have always thought we have a pretty campus and people don't seem to "get" Iowa City until they visit. Lots of camping destination in and around the city as well.

Maybe one to cross of the list is Purdue. Been there a few times and didn't really care for it. The college itself I'm sure is great but I'm not sure about the rest of West Lafayette. Northwestern is the same. Might as well go to Chicago and skip that campus

I enjoyed going to Michigan and Ohio St. Lots of iconic buildings and food. Glad you are going to Madison as well.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Must see schools: Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin.

Maybes: Michigan State, Maryland, Penn State (tough to get to but picturesque)

You won't miss anything skipping the others.

 

[Hawk24]

If you want the quintessential BT college town experience, I'd recommend both Iowa City and Bloomington, IN. Both are small/mid-sized cities where the universities are the biggest components of the communities and you really get that college town feel. Some of the other other BT schools are in huge metro areas and while they are great schools and campuses, you just don't get that same vibe. I'd cross Purdue and Illinois off the list as both are in pretty crappy towns, in my opinion.

In Iowa City, you'll want to visit the Pentacrest...it's the center of campus and consists of the original UI buildings plus the first state capitol of Iowa. It's right across the street from downtown Iowa City with lots of great places to eat and explore. Check out Prairie Lights Book Store, Java House, Pagliai's Pizza, and Hamburg Inn for the full IC experience. If you visit on a Friday evening between May and September, there's always a free outdoor concert on the Ped Mall downtown. You can camp at FW Kent Park, about 30 minutes west of Iowa City on Hwy 6. Good camping also at MacBride field campus and Sugar Bottom Campgrounds...about 10 miles north of Iowa City on the Coralville Reservoir and Lake Macbride.

Have fun!

 

[CO_hawk]

Well your heading from NJ? I95 to College Park eat lunch there then head to DC. From there it's up to State College, Gettysburg on the way. Next day head to Columbus through Pittsburgh. From there head up to Ann Arbor, then over to East Lansing, might stop over in Grand Rapids MI on the way to Chicago. Skip Indiana, might as well skip Champaign and head to Chicago (2-3 days plenty to do). Then I'd be off to Iowa City, stop in Davenport (American Pickers store in just north of Davenport) for lunch (Quad Cities). After Iowa City head up Hwy151 straight to Madison. While in Wisconsin it would be worth the trip The Wisconsin Dell's (waterpark capital of the world?) and to Minneapolis. Definitely get to Minneapolis, underrated city.

 

[Herkmeister]

I've not been to Rutgers or Maryland yet, but I've spent a fair amount of time on the campuses of the other schools.

Here's my first comment, and it's important: What you like is very subjective. It's like picking a pretty girl, I think my wife is beautiful but some would not find her as attractive as I do. Here's my quick overview to add to the other opinions:

1. Michigan - Great atmosphere and great campus. The campus town is really good too. You know you're in a real college town.
   
2. Penn State - Ditto Michigan
3. Iowa - Ditto Michigan but add a quaintness that is really appealing to me. You just feel good in Iowa
   
4. Michigan State - I like the campus a lot. I'm not crazy about the adjacent campus town
5. Illinois - Has kind of a rural feel to me which is kind of shocking to me. The campus town is really so so IMHO.
   
6. Minnesota - Huge campus. Huge town. If you like the big city vibe you might really like the U. I find it to be a bit overwhelming. It's just too big.
7. Northwestern - Unlike Minnesota it has a quaintness to it and Evanston doesn't feel like the city. Plus you can get the very best hot dogs in the entire world at Mustard's Last Stand next to Ryan Field.
   
8. Purdue - One poster didn't like it, I do. The community is very clean in that area and the campus is very well kept. Does not have the city feel and I love XXX Burgers and Harry's Chocolate Shop. I get a good vibe from Purdue.
9. Ohio State - Refer to Michigan. It's a really good place in a great city.
   
10. Indiana - Ditto Purdue. But, I don't like the homogenous feel of their buildings. Remember my comment on subjectivity? This place just isn't for me.
11. Wisconsin - It's a great place. If you're a liberal you'll really love it because I find it over the top, but it's a great city and a great school. Like Iowa & Michigan, it has it all to me.
    
12. Nebraska - Smaller than some might think. Lincoln is a really good city. Has that small town flair. Kind of like Illinois but better IMO. Good campus. Safe place. But........ you are in the fricking middle of NO WHERE. It takes a long time to get there!!!

My tope 5 in order:

• Iowa
• Michigan
• Wisconsin
• Penn State
• Purdue

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I've not been to Rutgers or Maryland yet, but I've spent a fair amount of time on the campuses of the other schools.

Here's my first comment, and it's important: What you like is very subjective. It's like picking a pretty girl, I think my wife is beautiful but some would not find her as attractive as I do. Here's my quick overview to add to the other opinions:

1. Michigan - Great atmosphere and great campus. The campus town is really good too. You know you're in a real college town.
   
2. Penn State - Ditto Michigan
3. Iowa - Ditto Michigan but add a quaintness that is really appealing to me. You just feel good in Iowa
   
4. Michigan State - I like the campus a lot. I'm not crazy about the adjacent campus town
5. Illinois - Has kind of a rural feel to me which is kind of shocking to me. The campus town is really so so IMHO.
   
6. Minnesota - Huge campus. Huge town. If you like the big city vibe you might really like the U. I find it to be a bit overwhelming. It's just too big.
7. Northwestern - Unlike Minnesota it has a quaintness to it and Evanston doesn't feel like the city. Plus you can get the very best hot dogs in the entire world at Mustard's Last Stand next to Ryan Field.
   
8. Purdue - One poster didn't like it, I do. The community is very clean in that area and the campus is very well kept. Does not have the city feel and I love XXX Burgers and Harry's Chocolate Shop. I get a good vibe from Purdue.
9. Ohio State - Refer to Michigan. It's a really good place in a great city.
   
10. Indiana - Ditto Purdue. But, I don't like the homogenous feel of their buildings. Remember my comment on subjectivity? This place just isn't for me.
11. Wisconsin - It's a great place. If you're a liberal you'll really love it because I find it over the top, but it's a great city and a great school. Like Iowa & Michigan, it has it all to me.
    
12. Nebraska - Smaller than some might think. Lincoln is a really good city. Has that small town flair. Kind of like Illinois but better IMO. Good campus. Safe place. But........ you are in the fricking middle of NO WHERE. It takes a long time to get there!!!

My tope 5 in order:

• Iowa
• Michigan
• Wisconsin
• Penn State
• Purdue

I grew up as a NW fan (parents and a sister all went there). Grew up going to NW games. Can vouch for your comment about Mustard's Last Stand!

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Also, on way from Chicago to IC, always passed that campground at I-80 on the Cedar River (?). Always wanted to camp there. Anybody ever been? Good place to camp or not?

 

[hawkssox1]

I have two sons who will be looking at colleges over the next year....as well as another who is a few years off. I figure we can make this exploration into our next vacation, starting in New Jersey and heading West. I'm the type to plan months, even a full year, in advance. With that said, I'd love to get your insight into where you'd go if you had 14 days, a car, camping gear, and a desire to explore B1G country as much as possible in that time.

We plan on doing official tours of some schools, while passing through and exploring others on our own. Our goal is to end up in Wisconsin, as we have friends up there. We will camp when possible, but will otherwise seek out decent hotels.

I don't expect to see every school.... just enough to give my kids a sense of what different campuses look like. We will sprinkle in some smaller, private schools (mainly local) over the next year so they can see that, too.

If you are familiar with B1G country and have some suggestions for obscure stops, fun destinations, festivals and things that we can visit in between college stops, I'd love to hear it. We also want to visit the "must see" stops in each college town. The kids will be 12, 16, and 17, so I'd like to schedule some stops that would appeal to those age groups. It will be a summer trip. Thank you!

0 likes?Whats up with that?

 

[hawkssox1]

If you want the quintessential BT college town experience, I'd recommend both Iowa City and Bloomington, IN. Both are small/mid-sized cities where the universities are the biggest components of the communities and you really get that college town feel. Some of the other other BT schools are in huge metro areas and while they are great schools and campuses, you just don't get that same vibe. I'd cross Purdue and Illinois off the list as both are in pretty crappy towns, in my opinion.

In Iowa City, you'll want to visit the Pentacrest...it's the center of campus and consists of the original UI buildings plus the first state capitol of Iowa. It's right across the street from downtown Iowa City with lots of great places to eat and explore. Check out Prairie Lights Book Store, Java House, Pagliai's Pizza, and Hamburg Inn for the full IC experience. If you visit on a Friday evening between May and September, there's always a free outdoor concert on the Ped Mall downtown. You can camp at FW Kent Park, about 30 minutes west of Iowa City on Hwy 6. Good camping also at MacBride field campus and Sugar Bottom Campgrounds...about 10 miles north of Iowa City on the Coralville Reservoir and Lake Macbride.

Have fun!

Take the boys to Short's for lunch best burger in Iowa City and Wig and Pen for the Flying Tomato Pizza.

 

[Herkmeister]

0 likes?Whats up with that?

I just hit like. But hey, I didn't really mean it. Just wanted to see if it recorded.