Why travellers should visit US universities

From rowdy tailgate parties to rhythmic step shows, college campuses are often-overlooked destinations that offer travellers a wealth of "only-in-the-US" experiences.

Crisp weather and changing leaf colours herald more than just the beginning of autumn in much of the US; they also mark the return of millions of students to colleges across the country.

Unlike their overseas counterparts, many American universities feel like distinct towns or cities, complete with their own restaurants, historic buildings, museums, parks and other public attractions clustered around a defined campus. Over the decades, these colleges have developed a culture so distinct that they've defined an entire genre of globally beloved films.

To the outside world, choreographed halftime shows at raucous football games or massive outdoor campus parties might seem like Hollywood fantasies, but a great number of US universities offer these (and many more attractions) that are open to the public, making college campuses under-the-radar destinations offering international visitors access to "only-in-the-US" experiences.

From tailgating at college football games to catching "step shows" at a historically Black colleges, here are a few unique experiences travellers should seek out at different types of universities.

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Football schools

From August to January, millions of fans pack university stadiums around the US to cheer on their school's team and watch some of the nation's top college football players who will turn pro after graduating. As American as apple pie, college football is so popular at many universities (particularly across the US South and Midwest) that the college experience is essentially synonymous with the sport, and during home games, campuses come alive with pre-game tailgate parties, where fans camp out in car parks near the stadium to socialise, drink and eat before the match.

According to Clarence Wardell, an alumnus from the University of Michigan located in Ann Arbor, the game itself is only part of the fun. Traditions like marching band performances at halftime and school-specific fight songs are another big draw: "It's the tradition, the little quirks that each school has [that are] just such a part of the environment and atmosphere," Wardell said. "Everyone's singing in unison on the fight songs. It's, in some ways, kind of a spiritual experience."

The University of Michigan is home to the largest college football stadium in the country – a massive, 107,000-person-capacity venue nicknamed "The Big House". "The first game I took my now-wife to was Michigan [versus] Notre Dame," Wardell said. "Michigan had this amazing comeback in last two minutes. This stadium was just... electric."

Beyond Ann Arbor, here are two other prime spots to seek out the quintessential college football experience: 

Pennsylvania State University (State College, Pennsylvania) – In what's been described as "one of the best atmospheres in football", once per season, fans from both teams are encouraged to wear all white and make as much noise as possible as they pack the "Nittany Lions" stadium for the annual Penn State White Out. The visually stunning spectacle is also famously loud: fireworks erupt from the stadium's east and west ends, and the sound of more than 106,000 fans screaming in unison can be deafening.

Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) – Here, Tigers fans have elevated tailgating to an art by hosting pre-game cookouts with bayou-style dishes like gumbo or crawfish. While visitors should bring their own food and drink to the team's home games, the party atmosphere means many people are happy to sell to or share with fellow Tigers fans, so be sure to pack an extra six-pack of beer, enough food to share and wear the school's purple and gold colours.  

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Ivy League institutions

The US' famous Ivy League universities are not just its most prestigious – they're also among the nation's most historic. The term refers to eight universities clustered in the North-East, most of which were founded before the US became a country. Many of the "Ivies" are known as much for their historic buildings and park-like campuses as for their academics – not to mention the plethora of public museums, libraries and other educational facilities that are open to visitors.

Some of the best Ivy League institutions to explore are:

Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts) – Located just outside Boston and founded in 1636, Harvard isn't just the US's oldest college; it also boasts alumni who signed Declaration of Independence and has produced more US presidents (eight) than any other university in the country. The campus contains several renowned arts and sciences museums, including the Harvard Museum of Natural History, whose 16 galleries display thousands of fossils, gemstones and other ephemera – much of it collected by the university's top-tier scientists. The free Alain Locke Gallery of African and African American Art features rotating exhibits of contemporary and historical artefacts from African American, Afro-Latino and African artists. For those more interested in the natural world, the nearby Arnold Arboretum is a 281-acre preserve home to one of the world's most comprehensive collections of temperate woody plants.

Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey) – Arguably one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, Princeton is worth a visit just to take in the historic stone buildings and lush greenery. The campus once served as a battleground during the Revolutionary War and Nassau Hall, which houses the university's administrative offices, was used as the capitol of the newly formed US in 1783. Elsewhere, the Firestone Library houses more than 50 miles of book-filled shelves, with guests welcome to read books and digital archives on site. The Princeton University Art Museum is home to one of the US's oldest art collections, where visitors can view everything from Egyptian amulets to Andy Warhol silkscreen paintings.

Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut) – Whether on foot or via their free shuttle service, Yale's historic campus is easy to explore – and there's plenty to see. Visitors can peruse the extensive online calendar of concerts, theatre performances and other events that are open to the public. Student-led walking tours also let travellers explore some of the campus' main sites, such as the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, which houses one of the world's largest collections of rare books, or the iconic Gothic architecture of the Sterling Memorial Library. As at Harvard, there is no shortage of museums here, such as the free Peabody Museum, which contains 1.2 million historical, cultural and anthropological items from across the globe, including a Brontosaurus skeleton originally brought to the museum upon its opening in 1876.

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Historically Black colleges and universities

The history of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) speaks to the US's dark history, as well as to its triumphs. The first HBCU, Cheyney University, was established in 1837 as a way to educate formerly enslaved African Americans at a time when it was illegal for them to learn to read in many places. Over the next century, 107 HBCUs were founded across the country, from Pennsylvania to Texas. These institutions were pivotal in helping to establish and expand the country's Black middle class after the Civil War. Today, they continue to be an important cultural touch point in the African American community, while also shaping the larger US culture.

Travellers can explore HBCUs at these famous institutions:

Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia) – Morehouse has educated some of the US's best-known Black leaders, artists, activists and educators, including actor Samuel L Jackson, US Senator Raphael Warnock and civil rights icon Dr Martin Luther King Jr. The college is home to the eponymous Martin Luther King Jr International Chapel, with its historic 6,000-pipe Wendell P Whalum organ and memorial statue. Guests are welcome to take a self-guided chapel tour, attend an event or to join the congregation for mass. Morehouse also hosts an annual Human Rights Film Festival that showcases the work of independent filmmakers seeking to raise awareness about social justice issues.

Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama) – Founded by African American author and educator Booker T Washington in 1881 to train formerly enslaved people in industrial trades, Tuskegee is one of the US's most storied HBCUs and a National Historic Site. The campus also has several important museums that are open to the public, including the George Washington Carver Museum, which houses many of the renowned Black scientist and inventor's artefacts and personal belongings, as well as the Tuskegee University Campus Cemetery that serves as the final resting place for both Washington and Carver.

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Howard University (Washington DC) – One of the most anticipated cultural events of the year at HBCUs is the Homecoming celebration when alumni return to campus, and Howard University's event is one of the best places to experience it. The days-long celebration includes parades, dances, community gatherings and "step shows" – a high-energy, synchronised form of dance that was popularised at HBCUs. It's a community-wide event that brings together visitors, students and alumni alike.

Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia) – One of only two women-only HBCUs, Spelman has been educating Black women in the US since 1881. Located in Atlanta, which is considered one of the major hubs for modern Black culture in the US, Spelman is the sister school to nearby Morehouse (which only admits men). The college's historic campus deserves a visit as much for its leafy campus as its fascinating combination of historic and modernist architecture. Guests should also stop at the college's Museum of Fine Art, which has one of the largest collections of art by Black women in the country.

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CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included a factual error about the Penn State White Out event. That has since been updated.

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