July 19, 2024 by

Cedarville University is in a unique location. While the University itself is in a small town surrounded by fields, it is positioned between several cities, which can make for fun day trips! As a university student, it is important to have a balance between academics and fun. Depending on how far you want to go, there are so many options to choose from! 

Local (< 30 minutes) 

If you are looking for places to go after class or if you do not want to go far, there are a few options relatively close! Buck Creek State Park is in the Springfield area, a little over 20 minutes away. It’s a great place to relax by the water, soak up some sunshine, and escape from any stressors from class.  

RiversEdge is also a great place for an outdoor activity! Also just a little over 20 minutes away, RiversEdge rents out kayaks, canoes, and rafts. There’s also a place to stop on the riverbank for a little picnic or swim.  

The Greene is an outdoor shopping center in Beavercreek, about 30 minutes away. It’s always fun to take a group of friends there to walk around and grab a meal. They also host weekend events throughout the year, so I encourage you to look at their website and find an event to attend! 

Buck Creek State Park

Dayton (< 45 minutes) 

If you are looking at going a bit further away but still keeping it under an hour, Dayton is a great option. 

Art museums are some of my favorite places to visit, so I definitely recommend visiting the Dayton Art Institute. It is only open on certain days, so be sure to check the website for dates and times. They also offer a significant student discount on admission for college students (with ID)! 

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is also a really cool way to spend a day in Dayton. The museum is laid out by war/time period, and it even has a space gallery if you are interested in that. The museum is a great way to learn about history, and it is a tribute to our armed forces who have served and are currently serving.  

I would also recommend simply exploring the city, including the many different coffee shops. Dayton definitely has plenty of options when it comes to coffee. I encourage you to visit many of them and find a new study spot! 

Columbus (~ 1 hour)

Speaking of coffee! The Columbus Coffee Trail is a great way to spend a Saturday with friends. The coffee trail is a list of coffee shops in the Columbus area that have partnered with the city to offer a unique experience. You go to the shop, grab a drink, and ask for the code to mark it off the list. Once you’ve visited a certain number of stops, you get a free T-shirt! They also have pizza trails, live music trails, and more.

Again, I would be remiss if I did not recommend going to the Columbus Museum of Art. There are other museums in Columbus, including the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, COSI: Center of Science and Industry, and Otherworld, an immersive art museum. These are all very different, but each one is definitely worth visiting. 

Columbus Coffee Trail

Cincinnati (~ 1 hour, 20 minutes)

The Cincinnati Art Museum is my favorite art museum in Ohio. It is full of beautiful art and houses different special exhibits throughout the year. The art museum is right next to Khron Conservatory, a gorgeous plant conservatory in the Cincinnati park system. The Contemporary Arts Center is also a fun, interactive museum to visit.  

Saturdays in Cincinnati are the prime time to go to Findlay Market. Findlay Market is an indoor and outdoor market in downtown Cincinnati, and you can always find something unique. There are typically a lot of people there, so I recommend planning to go in the morning! That way, you can also be sure to see everything before it sells out.  

I also highly recommend exploring the different cafes, coffee shops, and restaurants throughout the city. I find that you can get to know a city best through their local shops, so take a day to explore the different shops downtown! A little tip: many local stores have fliers and brochures for different things happening throughout the city, so be sure to grab some to stay aware of other events!

Cincinnati Art Museum

Small Town Communities 

There are a number of small towns around Cedarville that offer fun activities throughout the year. 

  • Circleville, about an hour away, has their pumpkin show in the fall — this year it is October 16–19. This is a fun fall activity to go to with friends!
  • Troy, about 45 minutes away, has various outdoor concerts and movies during the fall and spring. Take a look at their website to find the schedule of events throughout the year. If you love chocolate, they have a chocolate walk in September! Troy also has a bike rental store, and you can bike along the river.
  • Hocking Hills is a bit farther, about an hour and a half away, but it is a great place for hiking! Hocking Hills State Park has over 25 miles of hiking trails, rock formations, waterfalls, and recess caves. I would recommend packing a picnic and heading out with your friends for a hike in the fall — you can catch the leaves changing! 
Crowd seated in lawn chairs at outdoor music show on a sunny day.

Outdoor music in Troy, Ohio

There are truly so many options for things to do in the Cedarville area! As someone who loves to explore new cities, there is always something new to visit on those weekends when you just need to get off campus. Start making your own list to check off for your 1000 Days™ at Cedarville! Have fun exploring!

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