The Big 10 college towns for tourists

By Jodie Jacobs | Special to the Chicago Tribune

minneapolis minnesota twin cities sculpture garden

Art takes to the great outdoors at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Some of the larger-than-life works include David NashÂs ÂStanding Frame,Â left, and ÂSpoonbridge and CherryÂ by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Don't fall into the college travel trap. Nowhere on the sheepskin is it written that when visiting offspring already on campus or traveling with them to choose a college, the folks who pay for the college years must be tied to a dingy motel or dine on pizza. Instead, bed down at a B&B or inn, awaken to wonderful breakfast aromas and chat with a host who knows area restaurants and golf courses. In other words, think vacation. With tuition and transportation costs skyrocketing, piggybacking a pleasure trip on top of family obligation makes sense.

Here's our tourist guide to the Big Ten (11 when Penn State joined in 1990). But even if you don't have a student on campus, let this serve as your guide to the fantastic college towns in the athletic conference.

Indiana University Whether they have students IU or not, throngs of people head to the Bloomington area for fall color and the shops of nearby Nashville, Ind.

Stay-- In Bloomington at Grant Street Inn or Scholar's Inn, two historic B&Bs that serve great breakfasts. The Fourwinds Resort & Marina offers accommodations on Monroe Lake, with boats available.

Stop-- On Campus at Lilly Library for its Lincoln collection and puzzle room. In Bloomington at the Tibetan Cultural Center to see Chortens (Buddhist monuments) and at Upland Brewery to put away brats and beer.

Drive-- Nearby to the Oliver Winery for tastings and to Nashville to shop and catch a Brown County Playhouse performance. Farther to Columbus for its renowned architecture or south an hour to stay at West Baden Springs.

R&R-- Fish at Paynetown State Recreation Area, hike or ride horseback in Brown County State Park and call Salt Creek Golf Course for a tee time (but return for its Overlook's steaks and view).

Info-- www.visitbloomington.com

Michigan State University

A visit here is about horticulture and history. The East Lansing campus' arboretum-like grounds have trees and plants tagged for education. The Michigan Capitol Building and the Michigan Library and Historical Center in Lansing are a you-are-there browse through the country's lumber, copper and automobile past.

Stay-- At the Wild Goose Inn, a friendly B&B next to campus, or nearby at Topliff's Tara B&B llama farm in Williamston.

Stop-- On Campus at Beaumont Tower's famed 49-bell carillon and at Anthony Hall's Dairy Store for cake-batter ice cream. In Lansing to see the Capitol's Victorian decorative arts, the Historical Center's 1820s street and R.E. Olds Transportation Museum's REO vehicle collection.

Drive-- Nearby to Travelers Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum in Okemos to eat and admire its Sousaphountain.

R&R-- Walk the 6-mile River Trail along the Grand River to see a steam clock, the Burchard Dam and Brenke Fish Ladder Sculpture.

Info-- www.lansing.org

Northwestern University

Chicago's impressive skyline edges the horizon of the campus' lakeside trail. But as close as the city is, NU's undergrad base is Evanston, the first in a string of northern suburbs that are home to some top Illinois destinations.

Stay-- At Hotel Orrington, a boutique Evanston inn, or Doubletree Hotel west of campus and across from the upscale Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie.

Stop-- On campus at Shakespeare Garden to relax among plants mentioned in the Bard's works and at the Dearborn Observatory on Friday night for an up-close peek at the planets. In Evanston at the Grosse Point Lighthouse weekend afternoons June-September and at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian.

Drive-- Nearby to Wilmette to see the Bahai Temple. Farther to Glencoe to see the Chicago Botanic Garden's luscious landscapes or downtown Chicago for an architectural boat tour, photo ops in Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago's collections.