Travel Guides
Super Bowl Boys Weekend
Miami is an exciting place to visit. When you add the fact that the city will host the Super Bowl, and all the festivities surrounding it, it goes from a good wintertime destination to a unbelievably desirable one. Because there are so many events, it wouldn’t be a mistake to head to Miami for the first week of February even if you don’t have Super Bowl tickets.
Grab your best friends and head to the Sunshine State for a “boys weekend out.” You’ll be guaranteed great food, the chance to rub shoulders with celebrities and NFL legends, and plenty of places to party the night away. And, when it comes time to watch the big game on Sunday evening, there will be no shortage of sports bars where you can stake out your seat before kick-off.
Eats
- Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant is one of the more popular eateries in Miami. It is open during the winter, when fresh stone crab are readily available. Crab claws and crab cakes are the stars of the menu, with a host of other seafood options available at reasonable prices (in the $20-$30 range).
- Havana Harry’s is a popular Cuban eatery in Coral Gables. Its steaks are the highlight of a menu that features decent portions and reasonable prices. The atmosphere is welcoming and fun. If you don’t want to learn your Spanish and head to one of those hole-in-the-wall authentic Little Havana eateries, this is the one place that will be worth your time and money.
- Bulldog Barbecue, in North Miami, was rated highly by Bon Apatite Magazine and was also recognized as the best barbecue joint in Miami by local media. With prices at $20 and under, it is a reasonable option. If you’ve already tried one of those high end eateries in town, you’ll appreciate the no-frills vibe and unpretentious atmosphere at Bulldog.
Nightlife
The Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida is hosting a series of pre-Super Bowl events at its Passion Nightclub. The mix of entertainment includes appearances by celebrity guests, athletes and Playboy models. The always popular Lingerie Football League will be holding two “games” during Super Bowl week. Rapper Ludacris will be hosting a Super Bowl “after party” at Passion on February 7th after the game has ended.
Where to Stay
Though the best hotels in Miami are located near the beach, there are plenty of options in the vicinity of Sun Life Stadium. Chains are well represented with Holiday Inn, Marriot and Best Western all part of the line-up. Of course, if you don’t have tickets (or a thousand dollars to spend on them), perhaps the boutique hotels in Miami Beach or the many offerings in Fort Lauderdale are a better option.
Meet Football Greats
If you want to rub shoulders with NFL legends, your best bet is the NFL Super Bowl Celebrity Bowling Classic on the Thursday prior to the Super Bowl. Past superstars like Richard Dent and Lynn Swann will be hitting the lanes. The public is allowed to participate (for a price of $300). All of the proceeds from the evening will be donated to charity.
Sports Bars
- Hot Shots, a bar with 65 TVs, located in Sunrise, Florida (in the vicinity of Fort Lauderdale), is hosting a large Super Bowl party. Cover charge is only $10, Not only does that price get you in the door, but there will be free appetizers and a complimentary drink served in a collectors glass.
- Miami’s Tom’s NFL Bar will be putting on a Super Bowl fest with drinks and giveaways.
- Mr. Moe’s, a popular sports bar in Coconut Grove, is known for its classic “bar food” and welcoming ambiance.
- Corbett’s Sports Bar and Grill is also known for its classic bar eats. But it has one of the best drink selections of any sports bar in the city. If you want to watch the game while tasting different micro-brews or sampling some of the bars many brands of tequila, this is your place.
You and your friends don’t really even have to be “sports guys” to have fun in South Florida during Super Bowl week. The game is the biggest part of the festivities, of course. But there is so much else going on – both Super Bowl-related and every-day Miami fun – that football is only part of the story. If you are lucky enough to have tickets to the game, it will be worthwhile to head south a couple of days early to take party in all the pre-game festivities.
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