One of the nice things about visiting a college town as an adult is that you can enjoy college life but still tap out any time you wish and fall into a cushy hotel bed.

Walk around campus. Buy a sweatshirt. Have a beer.

Then go to bed somewhere you can be sure nobody is barge in and turn on the overhead light at 3 a.m.

Clemson, South Carolina is a good town for this. Downtown and campus sit right beside each other, so you can do quite a bit without getting back in your car.

Here’s how I’d spend 24 hours.

Check in at the Shepherd Hotel

My first choice is the Shepherd Hotel downtown. It’s a boutique hotel with great service, and in my experience it never feels overcrowded. You’re right in the middle of things, but you can come back and settle in.

Even though the epicenter of Clemson’s nightlife is right below you, I’ve never had any issues with noise from outside.

The hotel also partners with ClemsonLIFE, the university program that helps students with intellectual disabilities prepare for employment and independent living. Students and alumni have training and employment opportunities at the hotel, and you may get to meet some of them during your stay.

And use the valet. Parking in a college town can become a quest of its own. I’d prefer to spend that time doing almost anything else.

Buy something orange

Once you’ve dropped your bags, walk downtown and shop for school swag.

Tigertown Graphics and The Tiger Sports Shop are a couple of our favorites. Rally House and Alumni Hall are worth checking out, too.

Even if you arrive believing you don’t need a Clemson sweatshirt, give it twenty minutes. Being surrounded by orange has a way of changing your position.

Walk around campus

Clemson is a big school, but the campus feels connected. You can get a good sense of the place on a casual walk without turning the afternoon into an endurance event.

Make your way past Tillman Hall, head toward the library, and walk over to Memorial Stadium. There’s plenty to look at along the way.

I like walking college campuses now that I’m old enough to appreciate them. When you’re a student, you’re usually trying to get somewhere in a hurry. As a visitor, you can take your time.

Also, it just kinda feels good to walk around campus knowing you don’t have anything due.

Pick your dinner

For a proper sit-down dinner downtown, I like Evolve. It’s the kind of place where you’ll see parents taking their college kids out for a meal, along with students on dates.

For something different, 356 is a good option for a beer and a couple of sushi rolls. Just try to catch it on a night when there isn’t a fraternity-sorority mixer.

That can change the evening considerably.

If what you really want is bar food and a pitcher of beer, TD’s is the spot. Sometimes you’ve walked enough, shopped enough, and made enough decisions. You want to sit down and order something that comes with fries and ranch dressing.

You also have a dinner option right at the hotel. Delish Sisters, in the Shepherd’s lobby, is a good choice for a nice meal when you’d rather stay close to your room.

Leave room for a milkshake

After dinner, head to Handel’s downtown for an extra-thick milkshake.

We took ours back to the Shepherd and sat on the rooftop patio. I’d happily repeat that part of the trip.

There’s something very satisfying about sitting outside with a milkshake and no particular place you need to be.

If you’d prefer a cocktail, take the spiral staircase from the Shepherd’s lobby up to the third floor. You’ll find The Thomas, a cozy cocktail bar that makes it easy to extend the evening without going very far.

Before you leave, stop at the Esso Club

Make time for the Esso Club, a short walk from downtown and a Clemson institution. It’s both a watering hole and a reliable place for a meat-and-three.

It’s the kind of stop I’d work into the next day’s lunch before heading home. You’ve had your nice dinner. Now have something with three sides.

A couple more places to know

I’m also a fan of the James F. Martin Inn, the cozy university-run hotel at Clemson’s conference center. It’s on campus beside the Walker Course, and it’s worth considering if you like the idea of staying near the golf course.

And Todaro Pizza belongs on the late-night list. I haven’t had it myself, but I keep hearing it’s a good stop for a slice.

I usually make it to the milkshake portion of the evening and consider my work done.