It’s been a while since Mississippi State fans had football reasons to travel to Miami. For the first time since 1941, Bulldogs fans are going to party in the city where the heat is on as they get ready to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

Where to stay

  • If you’re looking for beach accommodations, head to either South Beach or Miami Beach. Seafront Drive and Collins Avenue in South Beach are some of Miami’s most popular strips and feature very Miami-style hotels.
  • Coconut Grove and Coral Gables are suburbs south of downtown Miami and will make your trip to the stadium a bit longer, but there will be plenty of entertainment near your hotel.
  • Traffic on game days can be bad around Sun Life Stadium, and there are many hotels nearby that will help eliminate some of that worry. However, the stadium is surrounded by seemingly endless parking lots, leaving your dining and entertainment options at a minimum.

Where to eat

  • Cuban food when you’re in Miami is a must. Hit up Villa Habana ($$) if you’re in Coral Gables or El Exquisito ($$) in Little Havana. It’s hard to go far without finding a Cuban restaurant, and just as hard to go wrong with one.
  • The Filling Station and Garage Bar ($$) in downtown is a good pick for a casual meal. They have a huge selection of burgers and a rotating beer menu, plus they validate parking at nearby Miami Tower.
  • In the mood for tacos? Of course you are. When you’re on Ocean Drive, stop into Jalapeño Mexican Kitchen ($$) to get Mexican-style street tacos.

Things to do

  • South Florida has something most people pine for this time of year: beaches. The Miami area has more than a dozen public beaches for you to lounge on leading up to game day. You can find boating, diving, snorkeling, fishing and kayaking options at many of them.
  • Dolphin Mall is the biggest retail shopping area in Miami, with more than 240 stores as well as three dozen places to eat and a movie theater.
  • Miami has a thriving arts scene, with seven art museums and countless other galleries throughout the city.

Bars

  • South Beach is legendary for its club scene, but there are plenty of other late-night hangouts along the main strips as well.
  • The Coconut Grove area is more of a college bar scene, and if you want to hop from one spot to another it’s your best bet.

Getting to the stadium

Sun Life Stadium is north of downtown Miami, about 20 minutes up I-95 North from the heart of the city. If you’re driving, parking passes are available through the Orange Bowl’s website for $20 in advance, and you can also purchase them for $30 on game day. In total, there will be seven lots available, opening at 2:30 p.m. on game day.