By MICHAL ASH
Swapping your siblings for roommates, your car for a bus pass and your sleep for study time can be tough adjustments to make, but knowing where things are and how to get there can help ease the transition from home to student life.
Understanding Utah
An important part of getting around Utah is understanding the area. Utah addresses are determined by a grid system. There is a focal point of each area that can be considered “0 North, 0 East, 0 South, 0 West.” In Provo, that point is the intersection of Center Street and University Avenue. From there, you can determine how far north or south on University Avenue and how far east or west down Center Street your destination is.
The Y on the mountains is east of where you are, always. So long as you know the address of where you are, the address of where you’re going and which way points east, you should be able to find your way around.
Where can I get groceries?
Knowing where to get food is a top priority for new students. With meal plans, most students don’t need to travel more than a few hundred yards for most meals. There are four BYU Creameries on campus: at the Cannon Center, south of Heritage Halls on 900 East, east of the Marriott Center and at Wyview. In addition, here are a few local grocery stores:
Macey’s, 1400 N. State St., Provo. Within a reasonable walking distance of most campus and student housing.
Smith’s, 350 N. 200 West, Provo. Smith’s offers groceries and merchandise.
Sam’s Club, 1313 S. University Ave., Provo. A membership warehouse store.
Walmart, 1355 S. Sandhill Rd., Orem. Approximately five miles from campus. Once you get here, however, you can find clothing, food and goods galore.
Costco, 648 East 800 South, Orem. Another membership warehouse store.
Where do I shop?
Almost all young adults love, or at least need, to shop. You may have forgotten to pack your winter coat or realize that you have more skirts than pants and need to stock up for winter. There are three major shopping areas that carry all the products you’ll need.
University Mall, 575 E. University Parkway, Orem. Filled with plenty of clothing stores, food vendors and entertainment opportunities. It’s easy to get to as well.
Provo Towne Center, 1200 Towne Centre Boulevard, Provo. Larger than University Mall, but also a little further from campus.
Riverwoods Shopping Center, 4801 N. University Ave, Provo. The Riverwoods isn’t technically a mall, but it does have clothing outlets, higher-end restaurants and a movie theater. Brita Harris, a junior studying travel and tourism at BYU, said one of her favorite activities is hanging out at the Riverwoods.
Where do I work out?
Many students use the student gym, located on the second floor of the Smith Fieldhouse (SFH), because it’s free. There is also a track on the first floor of the SFH which is open to students in the morning and evening. The outdoor track, north of Helaman Halls, is open to students unless the track team is practicing.
Harris said she enjoys bike riding for exercise.
“Provo is really accessible for bikers,” she said, adding that her favorite trails are down to Utah Lake and up Provo Canyon. “There are good trails and lots of beautiful scenery.”
Isdanish Pierce, who lived in Provo as a student before getting married and moving to Orem, said she and her husband also enjoy biking in the warmer months.
“The Provo River Trail practically runs through campus,” she said. “It’s a pretty area and it’s really close by.”
Where do I eat?
Most students find that eating is the easiest way to spend time with friends. Provo is notorious for being a frozen yogurt mecca.
“You can walk half a mile off campus and run in to at least eight frozen yogurt places,” Pierce said, laughing.
Provo also has a great selection of food vendors.
Sammy’s Cafe, 27 N. 100 West, Provo. Sammy’s is a classic burger and shake joint located just north of Center Street.
Guru’s Café, 45 E. Center Street, Provo. Guru’s has an urban hipster feel. It showcases local artists every Wednesday night, has vegetarian and vegan-friendly options and displays quotes by Ghandi and other inspirational icons.
Café Rio, 2250 N. University Parkway, Provo. A Utah-based fresh-Mex restaurant famous for its pulled pork salads. It’s a must try for newcomers.
Jess Barringer, a junior from Charlotte, N.C., said she loves Café Rio.
“It’s a fun place to go with friends, grab something cheap and hang around and talk,” she said.
El Salvador, 332 W. Center Street, Provo. Harris said it’s one of her favorite places to grab a bite.
“[It has a] great hole-in-the-wall vibe, and is seriously good,” she said. “And cheap.”
Café Zupas, 408 W. 2230 North, Provo. Another Utah-based restaurant, famous for gourmet soups, salads and sandwiches.
Pizza Pie Café, 2235 N. University Parkway, Provo. For less than $8, students can enjoy all-you-can-eat salad, pasta and, of course, pizza. Harris said it’s at the top of her favorites list.
“They have a really good variety,” she said. “The Spud pizza is a favorite, the Oreo pizza, too.”
How do I get around?
Most places are within walking distance from campus. For further destinations, UTA has several bus routes that extend anywhere from Payson to Salt Lake City. Route 830 for example, starts by UVU and extends down to the Provo Towne Centre mall. Bus passes and routes can be found at rideuta.com.
Provo has a variety of things to do and places to be. Friendly Provo residents are willing to help newcomers find products and places they need.
