{"id":3684,"date":"2024-07-19T15:38:16","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T19:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cedarville.edu\/studentlife\/?p=3684"},"modified":"2024-07-19T15:38:16","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T19:38:16","slug":"exploring-beyond-campus-local-adventures-and-day-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cedarville.edu\/studentlife\/2024\/07\/19\/exploring-beyond-campus-local-adventures-and-day-trips\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Beyond Campus: Local Adventures and Day Trips"},"content":{"rendered":"

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!<\/span> 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!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Local (< 30 minutes)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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! <\/span>Buck Creek State Park<\/span><\/a> is in the Springfield area, a little over 20 minutes away. It\u2019s a great place to relax by the water, soak up some sunshine, and escape from any stressors from class.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RiversEdge<\/span><\/a> 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\u2019s also a place to stop on the riverbank for a little picnic or swim.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Greene<\/span><\/a> is an outdoor shopping center in Beavercreek, about 30 minutes away. It\u2019s 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!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Buck Creek State Park<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Dayton (< 45 minutes)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are looking at going a bit further away but still keeping it under an hour, Dayton is a great option.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Art museums are some of my favorite places to visit, so I definitely recommend visiting the <\/span>Dayton Art Institute<\/span><\/a>. 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)!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>National Museum of the United States Air Force<\/span><\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Columbus (~ 1 hour)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Speaking of coffee! The <\/span>Columbus Coffee Trail<\/span><\/a> 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\u2019ve visited a certain number of stops, you get a free T-shirt! They also have pizza trails, live music trails, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, I would be remiss if I did not recommend going to the <\/span>Columbus Museum of Art<\/span><\/a>. There are other museums in Columbus, including the <\/span>Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>COSI: Center of Science and Industry<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Otherworld<\/span><\/a>, an immersive art museum. These are all very different, but each one is definitely worth visiting.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Columbus Coffee Trail<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Cincinnati (~ 1 hour, 20 minutes)<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Cincinnati Art Museum<\/span><\/a> 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 <\/span>Khron Conservatory<\/span><\/a>, a gorgeous plant conservatory in the Cincinnati park system. The <\/span>Contemporary Arts Center<\/span><\/a> is also a fun, interactive museum to visit.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saturdays in Cincinnati are the prime time to go to <\/span>Findlay Market<\/span><\/a>. 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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cincinnati Art Museum<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Small Town Communities<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are a number of small towns around Cedarville that offer fun activities throughout the year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n