Travel News

Super Bowl XLVII: Top Travel Spots to Celebrate the Ravens

Locations in this article:  Baltimore, MD Dallas, TX Miami, FL New Orleans, LA

Congratulations to the Super Bowl XLVII champions, the Baltimore Ravens!  In honor of the franchise’s second Super Bowl victory, Steven Knight shares five spots for Ravens’ fans to check out and show off their purple pride.

Cleveland Browns Stadium Tour

Before they were the Baltimore Ravens they were the Cleveland Browns.  With eight league championships and 27 playoff appearances after being founded in 1944, the team was a force to be reckoned with.  Next time you are in Cleveland take a look at where it all began, before owner Art Modell relocated and renamed the team in 1996.  The Cleveland Browns Stadium offers three tours a day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, allowing guests a behind-the-scenes look into the stadium including the locker room, press box, and even the experience of entering the field through the tunnel.  Tours are $10 per adult and $5 for children under 13.

The Grave of Edgar Allen Poe and the Poe House and Museum

Pay homage to the author from which the team takes its name.  Poe’s grave, as well as a memorial, is located at the Westminster Hall and Burial Grounds.  It is custom to leave a penny on the monument, which was funded largely by donations of Baltimore residents.  Others choose to imitate the famous Poe Toaster and leave three roses accompanied by an open bottle of cognac at the site.  Controversy is brewing since in 2012 Baltimore officials shut down the Edgar Allan Poe House last year, due to its $85,000 annual cost. Currently, all Poe tours will visit the house only by bus.

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

With nearly 30 years of coaching experience under his belt, John Harbaugh’s college career as a defensive back for the Miami University Redhawks seems a distant memory, however his time there was clearly an important influence for his career – there is a reason the University is nicknamed “The Cradle of Coaches.” The best time to visit would be Saturday, September 21, when the Redhawks will host the Cincinnati Bearcats for “The Battle for the Bell,” first started in 1888, the game is the oldest non-conference rivalry in college football.

Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards

Located in the historic Camden Station and operated by the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, the Sports Legends Museum, which opened in 2005, features 22,000 square feet of sports memorabilia and interactive exhibits of Baltimore teams and athletes.  Some highlights include the “Johnny Unitas: The Best There Ever Was” exhibit that contains numerous items and photographs donated by Unitas himself, including his Baltimore Colts uniform and helmet, and the “Almost Religion: Baltimore’s Colts” exhibit which displays many artifacts from the Colts’ time in Baltimore as well as the Lombardi Trophy from their 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.

Mother’s Federal Hill Grille

First opened in 1997 and home of Food Networks “Absolutely Have to Try Burger in Maryland” the Heart Attack on a Plate, Mother’s is a must for any Ravens fan traveling through Baltimore.  Located walking distance from the M&T Bank Stadium, the bar and grill converts their parking lot into the Purple Patio before and after home games.  The patio features two bars, a grill, and a live DJ making it the perfect tailgating party for fans looking forward to the game.

For more Super Bowl XLVII travel coverage, check out Peter’s CBS This Morning report on Unexpected New Orleans and our slideshow of 7 New Orleans Hot Spots.

By Steven Knight for PeterGreenberg.com

Feature image credit Flickr User, truello