Rivalries may be set aside in honor of giving thanks on the fourth Thursday in November, but come Black Friday, the glow of fellowship beings to wear off, and by Iron Bowl Saturday, all bets are off. Each year, Alabama families are torn apart by arguably the fiercest rivalry in college football. Whether you’re pulling for the Tigers or rolling with the Tide, there’s no reason not to enjoy the home cities of both Alabama teams. Make a weekend of gameday in Tuscaloosa (this year) or Auburn (next year), and get to know these Southern cities for more than just touchdowns and two-point conversions.

TUSCALOOSA

10 a.m. Stroll along the Riverwalk

The Tuscaloosa River Walk is a 4.5-mile paved trail that runs along the southern bank of the Black Warrior River. Stop at both its end points: Capitol Park, where you can see ruins of the former state capitol building, and Manderson Landing, where there are plenty of benches and picnic tables.

12 p.m. Lunch at City Café

Pushing 100 years in business and located less than 10 minutes from campus, this historic meat-and-three in Northport’s quaint downtown will transport you to a simpler time. Its wood-paneled walls are covered in accolades from the likes of Southern Living, Food Network, and most recently, Oprah. Not much has changed since the restaurant opened in 1931, including their lineup of Southern specialties like hamburger steak, fried chicken, and mac and cheese. The best thing is, a meat and two veggies will only set you back $5.50.

2 p.m. Explore Moundville Archeological Park

Honor Tuscaloosa’s native history by visiting Moundville Archeological Park, one of the nation’s premier Native American heritage sites. The park preserves 326 acres where 800 years ago Mississippian people constructed 29 massive flat-top earthen mounds arranged around a central plaza. On a visit, take in the panoramic views of the monuments, and then stop into the museum to learn more and see artifacts unearthed from the site.

4 p.m. Grab a drink at Loosa Brews

A welcome contrast to Tuscaloosa’s college night life, Loosa Brews is a chill neighborhood hangout in the form of a craft beer store and arcade bar. With 63 taps of beer you can drink by the pint or take home in a growler, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. There’s also a healthy selection of wine and more bottled and canned beer, ciders, and meads. Relax with a drink on comfy couches, or challenge friends to a game. There’s pinball, ping pong, ring toss, classic arcade games, and board games to boot.

5:30 p.m. Dinner at Nick’s Original Filet House

Don’t expect fine dining when you pull up to Nick’s in the Sticks (the restaurant’s more common name). Though it’s only five miles outside of town, the one-room, red cinder-block building really is in the middle of nowhere. Do expect to get one of the best meals in town—for one of the best prices. For $10.50, you can get a small filet (wrapped in bacon and perfectly seasoned), a salad, and the choice of crisp, sweet onion rings, fries, or a baked potato. People come from miles to eat at Nick’s (only open for dinner) and get a Styrofoam cup of their specialty drink: The Nicodemus. It’s bright red, fruity, sweet, and comes with a Bacardi 151 topper, all for $5.25. Enough said.

AUBURN

11 a.m. Lunch and lemonade at Toomer’s Drugs

There’s a heck of a lot of history surrounding Toomer’s Drugs on the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street. After all, it was founded by a halfback on Auburn’s first football team back in 1896. The legendary establishment is best known for its fresh-squeezed lemonade—especially popular on gamedays when Toomer’s goes through 60 to 80 cases of lemons and 500 to 700 pounds of sugar. For the full Toomer’s experience, pair a lemonade with a grilled pimento cheese or chicken salad sandwich.

12:30 p.m. Hike at Chewcala State Park

A 10-minute drive from campus, Chewcala State Park is the perfect place to unwind in the presence of Alabama’s beautiful natural features. One of the park’s biggest draws is the 26-acre lake that is popular for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Other points of interest are the park’s many waterfalls, including the 50-foot Chewcala Falls near the backside of the lake.

2:30 p.m. Visit the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art

An art museum might not be your first thought when thinking about Auburn activities, but the Jule Collins Smith museum is worth at least an hour or two of your time. The traditional and contemporary museum is home to 2,500 works in six changing galleries, as well as an auditorium, English-inspired formal area and wooded landscape, and outdoor sculptures.

4 p.m. See a Southeastern Raptor Center show

One of the biggest traditions at Auburn home games is the eagle fly during the fight song before the game. For an up-close-and-personal look at the tradition, the Southeastern Raptor Center’s Football, Fans, and Feathers show is the way to go. Hosted on Fridays before home games, the hour-long show gives visitors the opportunity to see a flight demonstration from falcons, hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey. The show is educational and suitable for the entire family.

5:30 p.m. Dinner at Acre

There’s no better dinner in Auburn than at Chef David Bancroft’s modern Southern eatery. Located in the middle of historic downtown, the beautifully designed restaurant features oak walls, rustic chandeliers, and classic wooden farm tables. But what goes on those tables is even more impressive than the stunning décor. The hyper-seasonal menu features produce from on-site gardens and orchards, as well as local farms. All meat is farm-raised and sourced in collaboration with the Auburn University Meat Lab, and it’s best represented in the menu’s Butcher’s Block (charcuterie) section. Favorite menu items include rifts on Southern classics like Chicken Fried Bacon, Sweet Corn Donuts, and an updated Southern Fried Catfish.

This story appears in Birmingham magazine’s November 2018 issue. Subscribe today!