No. 7 Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Sweet home Alabama
Last year, Alabama defeated Texas for the national championship of college football, earned a 14-0 record, and even had its first Heisman Trophy winner, running back Mark Ingram. This year, Alabama started the season rated No. 1 in all major polls and is still unbeaten.

If you go ...
Tuscaloosa is lovely even when the Crimson Tide isn’t rolling. For the best in down-home cooking, try Waysider’s biscuits and grits, or sample the ribs at Dreamland. Mingle with other 'Bama fans at Temerson Square or on The Strip, where you can grab a brew at popular bars such as the Houndstooth (once named by Sports Illustrated as America's No. 1 College Sports Bar) or The Red Shed.  

Any true football fan will want to visit the Paul W. “Bear” Bryant Museum, where UA football history and the career of the revered coach, who played a fascinating but little-known role in the integration of Alabama football, are chronicled. Don’t miss the Waterford Crystal houndstooth fedora, a "tip of the hat" to Bryant’s famous headgear. For a more traditional museum experience, the Westervelt-Warner Museum features an extensive assemblage of American art, and the monthly “Art and Soul” event exhibits local artists’ work.

Fans of camping, RV-ing, fishing and other water sports will love nearby Lake Lurleen and Lake Tuscaloosa for outdoor getaways, and golf fans can try the links at Ol' Colony Golf Complex. The University of Alabama Arboretum is a beautiful, free, 60-acre world of native plants and trees, orchids and wildflowers.

Nearby Birmingham is a critical part of Alabama's musical and civil rights history. Or head a little farther east for a hair-raising ride on NASCAR’s famous Talladega Superspeedway and a tour of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

• NEXT, No. 6: A capital time
  
• Previous, No. 8 Canton, Ohio: Hall of Fame haven
• Introduction: 11 Football Destinations You Can't Miss