re: Heard you guys knew how to party?

Definitely catch a ride from your hotel. I suggest meeting up at Chimes and walking around from there.

The wait at Chimes to eat will likely be very long if you are looking to do that. But Chimes is a good place to start because of its proximity to the parade grounds. I suggest walking around the parade grounds and then towards the Indian Mounds, then down Victory Hill to see the festivities and Mike's cage close to the stadium. You'll have plenty of people taking care of you along the way if you're willing to walk up to them and talk some football.