By Jessica Kehr and Brooke Everett
For those students lucky enough to have a car, or dating someone with one, here is a top ten list of things to do off campus.
1. Hot Pots in Spanish Fork Canyon – These warm springs provide a fun place to go on a date. The pots are about a 45 minute hike from the road.
2. Bonfires in Provo Canyon – Grab a group of friends, a bag of marshmallows and a guitar, and head up Provo Canyon. There are fire pits and logs to sit on, in addition to a river and hiking trails. You can also make tin foil dinners and cook them.
3. Miniature Golfing – Cascade Golf Club just opened a new miniature golf course. Sand traps and water holes make this course difficult and fun. Cascade will open another 18-hole miniature golf course in September. Cascade is located at 1313 E. 800 North in Orem.
4. Trafalga Family Fun Center – Trafalga also has an arcade, motor boats, batting cages, go carts and miniature golf.
5. Movies 8 – For a cheap Friday night activity, head over to Movies 8 in Provo. Shows are only $1 with your student ID and on Tuesdays, fight the crowds with movies for only 50 cents. Movies 8 is located at 2424 N. University Parkway. It gets crowded on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, so make sure to get tickets early. Yahoo Movies has all local listings.
6. Dancing – Club Omni at 100 S 200 West in Provo has dancing five nights a week. Tuesday is country and swing. Wednesday is ladies night with top 40, soul and alternative music. Thursday is country and disco. Friday is Latin night. And Saturday is college night.
Apartment complexes and houses around campus occasionally have parties on Friday and Saturday nights. Find out about these by word-of-mouth or fliers
7. Rock Canyon Park – Rock Canyon Park can be fun during any season. Ice blocking, a game of frisbee or volleyball, picnics and sunbathing are popular for the spring, summer and fall seasons. After it snows, grab some friends and go sledding down the hills. Rock Canyon Park is northeast of the Provo Temple.
8. Nutty Putty Caves – Grab some flashlights and spend the day crawling through these caves. The Nutty Putty Caves are located south of Utah Lake and resemble the tunnels of caves in the movie “Goonies”. They can be difficult to find, so make sure to take someone that knows where they are. Oh, and watch out for the Birth Canal; it is easy to get stuck.
9. Plays – Seeing a play can add culture to anyone’s life. BYU hosts a variety of plays and performances, many with student discounts. Www.byu.edu/hfac lists current showings.
The Villa Playhouse Theatre at 254 S. Main in Springville, has plays that are well known and family-friendly. The Provo Theater Company is at 105 E. 100 North in Provo. Call 801-379-0600. The Hale Center Theater is at 225 W. 400 North in Orem.
10. The Quarry – If you love to rock climb or have always wanted to try, visit the Quarry, a rock climbing facility opening on Sept. 1. The Quarry is located 2494 N. University Parkway next door to Movies 8. Members of BYU’s Climbing club will receive a discount. For additional information, visit the Quarry’s Web site at www.thequarry.net.
