By Rob Hertzler
Many students look forward to the end of finals when they can get far away from school and enjoy two weeks of rest and relaxation.
Some students, however, don't have far to go, because home is almost right around the corner.
But being 'stuck' in Provo isn't all that bad. There are plenty of enjoyable things to do in the area with family, friends, a date or oneself, in hopes of finding a date. Melissa Smith and Kristen Allred from Orem, and Kara Smith from Provo suggested a few ideas, since they have spent a few Christmas holidays around here.
In Provo, two activities you'll need to bundle up for are ice skating and sledding. Utah Lake State Park has an outdoor ice rink, and the newly-built indoor Olympic Ice Sheet at Seven Peaks invite all to try on the blades.
Then there is Rock Canyon Park, north of the Provo Temple, which provides a great hill for some old-fashioned sledding. For those who prefer other snow activities, you can snowshoe at Sundance or night ski at Brighton.
Looking at Christmas lights is another enjoyable holiday tradition. Two places close to Provo are Thanksgiving Point in Lehi and the Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork's Canyon View Park.
Viewing the lights at Thanksgiving Point will provide a relaxing stroll on a cold winter's night. For those who want to stay warm, Canyon View Park allows you to drive through and see the lights, as well as animated figures and other surprises. The fee is $5 per vehicle.
Theater-goers can head to the Hale Center Theater in Orem. Their annual staging of 'A Christmas Carol' runs through Dec.23. 'Forever Plaid' will then begin on Dec. 29. The Provo Tabernacle also has some concerts planned.
After watching BYU play in the Liberty Bowl, Dec. 31, Provo has planned its third annual 'First Night' New Year's Eve celebration to ring in the new year. According to Allen Moore of the Provo Parks and Recreation Department, pre-purchase tickets are $1 per person, and $3 the night of the party, which begins at 6:30 p.m.
There will be many things to do for each member of the family, including a climbing wall, a heated activities tent and food. The night will culminate in a fireworks show and New Year's countdown/ball drop, similar to the one in New York's Times Square.
When school starts again on Jan.4, those who stay in Utah County over the holidays have no reason to tell their friends they were bored.