Jarrin' Jay said:

---

The Grove is highly, highly overrated.

---

This and Nashville isn't a college town need to be yelled from an sec mountain top.

And in other shocking news, when winning, all the stadiums get loud and effect the game.

Nashville actually IS a college town if you think about it. There's something like 12-14 colleges in the Nashville area, not including campuses of other schools and jucos. I understand the comment that it isn't a "college town" but parts of it, particularly around Vanderbile (with Belmont very close by) sure appear to be. Vandy has a very nice, though a bit boxed in, campus. Sort of an east coast feel. I enjoyed visiting there though the highways in the Nashville area were poorly designed.

I've been to all the SEC schools or towns with the exception of the Mississippi schools, Florida, and South Carolina. I've been through BR but not on campus. Honestly, for the most part, there isn't a great deal of difference. But its been a long time since I've been to Fayetteville or Columbia so maybe its SUBSTANTIALLY different now than it was.

Oxford, Mississippi is especially enjoyable.

Columbia, SC.

There isn't a frick'n tree ANYWHERE in most of their tailgate area. If it's Sept it is sweltering.

I'm working my way through the stadiums over the years. So far been to just a few. I rank them:

Athens(only downside is stadium is a good distance from the awesome downtown)
Aggies
Baton
SC (Charleston is awesome though)

Hitting Auburn this season.

If the Hall's Chop House in downtown Columbia is similar to the one on the river in Greenville, SC - I highly recommend their steaks.

Ag_N_Houston said:

---

Good experience: Auburn, Georgia, Vandy (bc Nashville)

Bad experience: Mississippi State

I'm thinking about going to SC this year, because I haven't been yet. Is there anything good/redeeming about Columbia?

---

Charleston is two hours away.

We are also going to Charleston. We would just be in Columbia for Friday and Saturday. We don't want a 2+ hour drive to and from the game.

Baton rouge is an absolute dump of a city

- Nice Guy Eddie - said:

---

Nashville is not a college town.

---

It's a city where a university we play in conference resides. It's also one of the best cities to visit regardless of sports or if you have some weird town / city qualifier. And this isn't just about the stadium, but the beauty of the city, the campus, weather, and nightlife, and activities otherwise

Top Tier
Nashville
Knoxville
Fayetteville
Oxford
Athens

Mid Tier
Gainesville
College Station
Auburn
Lexington

Bottom Tier
Baton Rouge
Tuscaloosa
Starkville
Columbia
Starkville


Bottom of the top tier and mid tier are very close and could easily be swapped depending on personal preference. I think the bottom tier will probably be the most agreed upon by those that have gone. And I'd rather visit many of the bottom tier town / cities over most of the big 12.

I actually enjoy Starkville. It's not the French Riviera, but I've always enjoyed the campus and found the people to be better than most.

It doesn't have the fancy high dollar places to drink and sleep, but I've had a lot of fun playing the area golf courses and at a reasonable price. As Indian casinos go they've got some reasonably decent ones.

rsf0626 said:

---

Baton rouge is an absolute dump of a city

---

It's Beaumont with even more humidity