Most freshmen decide to live in a residence hall their first year. While living on campus has its benefits, I certainly get tired of it. Starting and ending my day where I go to school was something I wasn’t used to. Living in the same building as students in my classes was nothing like high school. After seeing the same people seven days a week and going to the same buildings and market places every day, a break is definitely needed. One of the best ways to take a breather is by leaving campus.
Here are two awesome places to visit while at Iowa.
The first place I recommend is Coral Ridge Mall. This mall is about 10-15 minutes from campus and a great way to release stress. Don’t worry if you don’t have a car, the Iowa City Bus will take you!
- It has a movie theater. If you want to see the premiere of a movie, then this is an option for a place to go.
- It has an ice skating rink. Yep… right across from the food court there is a full size ice skating rink. Certain days they have public skating which is perfect for us college kids.
- Food. Now and then I choose to skip the dining hall and eat out. While there are a bunch of restaurants downtown, there are even more options at Coral Ridge Mall.
- Shopping. If you are like me and love to shop, then this is a great place for you to go!
The second place is Wilson’s Orchard. You may have seen students sporting Wilson’s shirts or sweatshirts around campus. About 15 minutes away, this is the place to be in the fall. You can pick apples, buy apple cider, and take some artsy pictures. Visiting Wilson’s Orchard is a great way to kick-off the Fall season.
While the University of Iowa has a great campus, sometimes a break is necessary. There is a lot of fun stuff to do so take advantage and have a fun time!