Special Guest
Ken Cruse, Founder of Soul Community Planet
Website: https://www.scphotel.com and https://www.soulcommunityplanet.com and www.salishan.com
Social: @SCPHotels
Colleen & Catie’s Picks for College Towns
Colleen – Austin – University of Texas
Accommodations:
Driskill Hotel – Austin’s premier historic hotel. Take a stroll through the lobby with its marble columns and magnificent glass dome or enjoy a drink at the Driskill Bar. About $170 a night
Restaurant:
Terry Black’s BBQ – Famous local spot for great BBQ
Franklin Barbecue – Great BBQ in a party-like atmosphere
Campus Activities:
Check out a football game at the University of Texas. The University of Texas has traditionally been considered a college football powerhouse. Through the 2015 season, the Longhorns were ranked seventh in the all-time list for winning percentage and third all time for total wins.
Make sure you check the game schedule and purchase tickets ahead of time.
Other Activities:
Texas Capitol – Historic landmark
Zilker Metropolitan Park – Great for boat rentals
Check out a concert – Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World
How to get around: Rent a car
Tips:
Check out the 7 museums on campus at University of Austin.
If you or your child is considering the university, they can sit in on a class or schedule appointments to meet with a teacher or advisor.
Catie – Minneapolis/St. Paul – University of Minnesota
Accommodations:
Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis – Busy area with theaters & upscale restaurants, plus entertainment venues like Target Center arena. 10 minute drive from campus. About $200 a night.
Restaurant:
Capital Grille – Upscale American Steakhouse
Hell’s Kitchen – American Bar
Sally’s – Delicious food and a great atmosphere!
Gluek’s Restaurant + Bar – Great food and drinks in a historic warehouse.
Campus Activities:
Check out a football game. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college-football history. They have won 7 National Championships and 18 Big Ten Conference Championships.
Other Activities:
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Mall of America
How to get around:
Drive or take the Light rail or Metro. There’s also a free shuttle service that runs regularly between the two campuses.
Tips:
Wear layers! You never know what the weather will be like.
If you go to the Mall of America, be sure to pick up a coupon book at Guest Services before shopping.
“What’s” with the “Trip Sisters”
What’s in Your Suitcase?
Best snacks for a road trip:
Bnutty Gourmet Peanut Butter – Comes in a variety of flavors, such as toffy. Great to bring in the car with some crackers or an apple.
Just the Cheese snacks – Puffed cheese snacks – good for kids.
MinusCal bars – Healthy snack that’s low in calories but fills you up
What’s on your phone?
“HERE COMES THE BUS” APP
Real-time school bus tracking complete with push notification and email alerts as the bus approaches a stop or house.
What’s the tip?
Tips for your next College Visit
Schedule your visit while school is in session to get a realistic idea of student life.
Talk to the current students—they may soon be your peers. Come prepared with some questions to ask—specific ones will get you more interesting (and helpful) answers.
Stop by the admissions office and introduce yourself. Let them know what interests you about the school so they can direct you to the best place for further investigation.
Take the campus tour – It gives the school a chance to show off its best features, like the newly-built theater or their rooftop planetarium.
Check out the flyers and bulletin boards and pick up a school newspaper to get a sense of what’s going on.
Take your own un-official tour by wandering around campus. Make sure your destinations include the library and the first-year dorms.
Be a student for a day (or night) – Some schools sponsor overnight programs in which you can stay with a current student. This will give you a better idea of campus life.
