Young laughing woman sitting in the open trunk of a car. Summer road trip.
There’s nothing like planning a summer getaway and exploring a different part of the world. However, if you’re like most Ohio University students, chances are that most of your budget has been eaten up by the realities of living on your own for the first time. Sure, you could make that trip to Florida work — but you’d have to sacrifice your textbooks for your fall classes, and you really don’t want to have that conversation with your parents when your grades arrive.
What to do? No worries: there are plenty of great getaways that are within a day’s drive of your Court Street apartments in Athens, Ohio. The Buckeye State is full of great options to explore —and so are the states surrounding Ohio. Here are just a few of the many great ideas that you can check out during the summer, all of which can be done on one tank of gas and without having to stay overnight!
Check Out Columbus
The state capital of Ohio is a short drive away on U.S. 33, and there’s plenty to do in Columbus, even if you’re on a strict budget. For example, if you’re a baseball fan, you can enjoy a Clippers game at Huntington Park, where tickets can be had for under $10. Several games offer hot dogs for a dime, a perfect way for a college student to eat like a king for under a buck.
Or, if nature is more your thing, did you know that Columbus features a 13-acre rose garden that’s completely free to the public? The Columbus Park of Roses is open every day and is home to 12,000 roses. For the more adventurous outdoor lovers, Columbus also features the nation’s largest free outdoor climbing wall. You have to bring your own rope, but if you’ve got the equipment, you can scale a 35-foot tall wall in Scioto Audubon Metro Park, giving you a great view of the city and the river when you’ve reached the top. It’s a great way to challenge yourself — and it doesn’t cost a cent!
Explore the Forests
Group of students having fun on the campus, they are taking a selfie outside
Did you know that you’re almost as close to another state’s capital as you are to Columbus? It’s true: West Virginia’s capital of Charleston sits just 88 miles south of Athens, and it’s just north of the Kanawha State Forest, a renowned location for biking, hiking and bird watching. Venture another 90 miles to the east and you’ll run into the Monongahela National Forest, home to over 920,000 acres of forestry. All of it is yours to explore after a short drive!
Ride the Rivers
Ohio is home to several beautiful rivers, and tubing is a great way to make the most of your summer experience. There’s a great experience just 25 miles northwest of Athens in Logan, where you can take a four-mile ride down the Hocking River on an inflated tube. The trip takes roughly four hours to complete, and renting a tube can be done for less than $20, making this a great way to experience summer fun. Just don’t forget the sunscreen, because you’ll be in the sun for several hours on the river!
When money is tight, that doesn’t mean that you’ve got to sit around your Court Street apartments in Athens, Ohio with no real plans for the summer. There are always fun and cheap activities in and around Ohio, and many of them can create long-lasting memories. If you’re looking for some ideas, contact Wharton Rentals to find out what’s available within a short drive of Athens!
