The big game is coming up – a day when the air is charged with excitement, snacks overflow, and cheers echo through living rooms across the nation. But what if you find yourself on the sidelines of football fandom, wondering how to make the most of this pigskin-packed day? If you’re among the silent minority that would prefer a football-free Sunday, we’ve got you covered!
While the rest of the world paints their faces in team colors and gathers around the TV with bated breath, we’ve crafted a winning playbook of our own. With so many fans watching the big game, traffic and parking are a breeze and, because of fewer crowds, this is a great time to visit some of your city’s most popular spots. Read on for eight fun-filled activities that are totally worthy of a touchdown dance.
Go bowling
Prefer strikes over spikes? You won’t be able to hear the roar of the game day crowd over the crashing pins at your local bowling alley. If you’re a traditionalist, opt for a nostalgic experience at an old-school spot like Timber Lanes (Chicago, IL), which boasts wooden lanes and manual scoring.
If you’re looking to strike in style, check out Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY). As the world’s first LEED-certified (100% wind-powered) bowling alley, this spot spares no expense. They also have a killer sound system that has hosted performances by Guns N’ Roses, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, and M.I.A. Speaking of celebrities, Pinz Bowling Center (Los Angeles, CA) has also seen its fair share of A-listers who have all left their signatures on their Wall of Fame.
Skipping out on the football party doesn’t mean sacrificing all the great snacking. Many bowling alleys offer fabulous food and drink menus that go beyond the typical corndogs and beer. The Alley (Charleston, SC) is serving up comfort food favorites, such as spicy chili, juicy burgers topped with pimento cheese, and banana pudding. Or head on over to Mission Bowling Club (San Francisco, CA) and treat yourself to a craft cocktail like the Silent Assassin, made with mezcal, lime, chicha morada, and pineapple shrub.
See a movie
With the Academy Awards just a month away, “game day” is the best time to catch up on all those critically acclaimed nominees you haven’t seen yet. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, check out the famous TCL Chinese Theatre just steps away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars are held today.
Want to embrace the indie scene? Chicago’s Music Box Theatre is a premier venue for independent and international films and features a stunning dark blue ceiling with light-up stars and swirling cloud formations reminiscent of the night sky. Or check out Nitehawk Cinema (Brooklyn, NY) which takes the indie movie experience to the next level by offering a variety of rare 35mm films.
Gone are the days when a trip to the movies meant settling for a bag of stale popcorn. Many theaters are rewriting the script on concession fare like Violet Crown Cinema (Austin, TX) which offers unique menu options like prosciutto and goat cheese pizza and Thai noodle salad or Studio Movie Grill (Wheaton, IL) whose menu includes Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and smoked brisket sliders.
Go on a hike
Swap the living room for the great outdoors for some scenic views more breathtaking than any halftime show. Winter is the best time to visit certain trails whose dry heat deters hikers in the summertime, such as Watchman Trail (Virgin, UT). Red Rock Canyon (Las Vegas, NV) is a great place to spot desert wildlife, including lizards, toads, and hawks. One of the park’s beginner-friendly hikes is the 0.2-mile Petroglyph Wall Trail, which takes you past centuries-old rock art.
For some seaside sightseeing, hit up Gulf Island National Seashore (Gulf Breeze, FL), which encompasses several white sand beaches, including Perdido Key, known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Winter is also a great time for whale watching in certain parts of the country, such as Oswald West State Park (Manzanita, OR).
For those who aren’t afraid of a little snow, hiking up north in the winter can be both a challenging and rewarding experience. Acadia National Park (Bar Harbor, ME) and Montmorency Falls (Quebec City, QC) are particularly beautiful in the wintertime. Note that you will need proper equipment and apparel, including snowshoes or cross-country skis and you will want to make sure you follow all safety precautions.
Go ice skating
Break the game day tradition and carve your own path out on the ice. For a frosty alternative that involves more pirouettes than passes, check out your local ice rink for a day of winter fun. Perhaps the most visited rink in the world with an estimated 250,000 guests each year, The Rink at Rockefeller Center is a must-visit for both native New Yorkers and tourists alike.
New York isn’t the only city with a notable ice rink. The UPMC Rink at PPG Place (Pittsburgh, PA) is placed right in the center of the crown jewel of the city’s skyline. The Boston Common Frog Pond (Boston, MA) is a great spot for people-watching or enjoying a warm hot chocolate at the Pond Cottage. Or you can skate nearly five miles along the naturally frozen Rideau Canal Skateway (Ottawa, ON), the world’s largest outdoor rink. And, if you’re looking for a little extra fun, The Providence Rink (Providence, RI) offers ice bumper cars with a great view of the skyline.
The winter fun isn’t limited to the colder climates. Built in 1970, Ice at the Galleria (Houston, TX) is the first-ever skating rink built within a mall and is perfect for shoppers looking for a quick break between stores.
Visit a museum
While many football fans will be glued to their TVs, “game day” is one of the best times to embark on a cultural escape at a local museum. If sports aren’t your thing, how about rock music, classic television, or timeless films? If pop culture piques your interest, museums like the Museum of Pop Culture (Seattle, WA) or the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland, OH) might just be the perfect place to spend the day.
For those in pursuit of a more educational experience, there are plenty of museums dedicated to art, natural history, and science. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY) presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world. Or learn about Quebec and Canadian heritage and Indigenous art at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Montréal, QC). Science enthusiasts can delve into the wonders at Boston’s Museum of Science where permanent exhibits cover topics ranging from vaccine health to the arctic landscape to fossils. If you’re feeling extra creative, check out Exploratorium (San Francisco, CA) whose mission is to change the way science is taught through interactive and imaginative exhibits.
There are also plenty of unique museums that offer one-of-kind experiences you won’t find anywhere else. The Neon Museum (Las Vegas, NV), for example, showcases 800 neon signs rescued from over 200 Vegas institutions such as casinos, motels, restaurants, and bars.
Have a spa day
Slip on your comfiest robe and leave the football frenzy at the door for a day of pure relaxation. There are so many incredible day spas across the country that score big on tranquility. If you’re looking for something extra luxe, pamper yourself with a caviar facial at Spa Montage (Park City, UT), a deep tissue massage at The Lodge at Woodloch (Hawley, PA), or unwind in the geothermally-heated water and mineral-rich mud at Spa Solage (Calistoga, CA).
For a truly unique New York City experience, check out Aire Ancient Baths, located in what was once the basement of a Tribeca textile factory. This urban oasis offers a warm tepidarium pool, a hot caldarium pool, a eucalyptus-scented steam room, and more.
Those on a tighter budget can book a foot, hand or head treatment in the communal-but-comfy Sangha Room at The Dragontree (Portland, OR). This spa embraces eco-friendly practices through its recycling policies and its gorgeous selection of handmade lotions and potions.
Play at the arcade
Level up your Sunday with a nostalgic trip to a local arcade. Galloping Ghost Arcade (Brookfield, IL) and Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade (Portland, OR) are known for their wide selection of classic, underrated, and even previously unreleased games that date all the way back to the ‘70s. If pinball is your game, check out Silverball Retro Arcade (Asbury, NJ) which hosts nearly 600 classic and modern pinball machines.
Want to celebrate your high score with something tasty? Many modern arcades offer a variety of food and drink options. Cobra Arcade Bar (Phoenix, AZ) offers a creative cocktail menu with video game-inspired drinks and “mystery shots” inspired by the Super Mario Bros. question mark block. Or check out Button Mash (Los Angeles, CA) whose menu includes sweet and spicy sticky wings, Korean fried cauliflower, and a chocolate cake topped with tahini buttercream.
Race go karts
It’s time to rev your engines and leave the football mania in the dust with a trip to an adrenaline-fueled go kart track! With karts that can reach speeds of 45 miles per hour, tracks like Fastimes (Indianapolis, IN) and Orlando Kart Center (Orlando, FL) are not for the faint of heart.
If you’re looking for sharp twists and turns, look no further than Dallas Karting Complex (Dallas, TX) whose impressive 0.8 mile track is sure to keep you on your toes. Or check out Supercharged Entertainment (Wrentham, MA) – this multi-level go kart track offers elevation changes, bridges, and dips. Let the engines roar and the good times roll!
View all the businesses mentioned here by visiting this Yelp Collection and plan out your game day fun away from the TV screen!
