DormCo Lounge

Fun Things To Do Off-Campus

Alexis Dent

School can become very hectic, and there’s always a need for fun things to do when you need to alleviate some of the stress of college-life. Depending on whether your college is rural, urban, or suburban, it’ll have varying options for activities and entertainment, but here are some things you can do in basically every college town:

Go out to dinner – Even if you go to school in a small town or rural area where there are more hills than townies, there will always be a nice casual restaurant to go to. Going out to dinner is not only a great way to catch a break from dining hall food, but it also fosters a great environment to sit down and talk with your friends about things other than yesterday’s impossible-to-pass chemistry exam.

Go bowling – A bowling alley is another college town staple! Bowling alleys frequently have specials and coupons, so you can often end up getting a great deal on food and games! It’s a fun change of pace for any college student, and usually some good laughs ensue because of all those stray gutter balls.

Shopping – Most girls (and some guys) LOVE to shop. Find the best (or in some cases, the only) shopping mall in your area and make that your go-to destination when your wardrobe needs to be re-vamped or you just want to window shop and spend some time away from campus.

Get outdoors – In some areas, the outdoor activity of choice is biking through the park, in others, its hiking, and in some, it’s just traipsing around the city streets on a nice day. Fresh air and exercise are two of the greatest things for your body. While it becomes easy to sit in your dorm and study (or sleep), going outside and enjoying your surroundings can be a great way to truly come to know and appreciate your college town.

Do something new – This one isn’t as specific, because doing something new will vary from person to person. Whether it’s trying sushi for the first time, riding the local amusement park’s huge rollercoaster, or even volunteering, dare to do something you didn’t do in high school. College is all about new experiences and broadening your horizons, so be sure to break your typical boundaries – in a positive way.

No matter how you choose to occupy your free time at school, remember that college is all about balancing work and fun. Too much of either is bad, but a perfect balance will have you succeeding in the classroom and with your friends. When you arrive at school be sure to start looking for things that will be fun to do with your friends when on-campus life gets a little dull!