Now that the weather is growing colder, Etown students are switching from shorts and sandals to parkas and boots and trading in beach towels for scarves. With the chilliness of the weather, we are more likely to want to stay inside. However, after a while this could become quite boring. Here are some fun and exciting things to do to keep you busy during these colder months.
If you don’t want to venture off campus because the weather is too bad or you are having a lazy day, then you should do what my friends and I do occasionally. We love to order a bunch of pizza, hang out, watch movies and play games together. Board games or card games are entertaining and they make time seem to fly. The same goes for having a movie marathon. Agree on one theme or a bunch of different movies and hang out and enjoy each other’s company. Put your phones away and actually spend time with the people you are surrounded by.
If movies and board games are not what you are into, then the Office of Student Activities might have something going on. They often have movies playing on weekends along with other activities. Or, if you just want to stay within the comfort of your own room, break out some crayons or colored pencils and a coloring book if you have one.
When the weather starts to get snowy, and I mean the good kind of snow, then go outside and play in it. Bring out the inner child and build a snowman and snow forts and have snowball fights with your friends. Lay back and make a snow angel or even take a walk outside and soak in all the nature that’s around you. Just because the weather is cold doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it.
As far as activities off-campus, the options are endless. It all depends on how much you want to travel and how much money you want to spend. If you want to stay in town, then going to Folklore Coffee & Co. is always an enjoyable option. Sitting back and relaxing with a nice warm beverage is soothing for the soul. You can also catch a movie at MoviE-town or go to one of the many restaurants that Elizabethtown has to offer. Just a little ways down Market Street is the Clearview Lanes. On weekend nights starting at 10 p.m., they have glow bowling, which is when you can bowl as many games as you can fit into a two-hour time frame. They turn the regular lights off, and it makes bowling a lot more fun, especially if you aren’t that good at it.
If you want to explore even farther off campus, keep in mind that we are pretty much located in the center of Lancaster, Harrisburg, York and Hershey. The Park City Mall in Lancaster has many stores and even if you don’t want to shop then getting off campus for different scenery can help break up the monotony. If you don’t want to go to Lancaster then a little past Harrisburg is Doc’s Family Fun Center. If you’ve never heard of it, it is a place where you can roller-skate and other fun things. I know it may sound a little childish, but sometimes it’s nice to let go and act like a kid. In York, there are a bunch of different restaurants to go to, along with the York Ice Arena. They have public ice skating hours, so you and your friends can either try a new activity or go and skate around if you already know how. Of course, in Hershey there is the Tanger Outlets, but let’s not forget about Chocolate World. I mean, what could be more fun than getting a tour of how chocolate is made and then getting free chocolate at the end?
Although Elizabethtown may seem like a small area with few options for activities, there is plenty to do here and in the surrounding area. Sure, most things require money, but every now and then it’s okay to splurge. Just keep in mind that you don’t have to be bored because colder weather is approaching. You can always find something fun to do and if not, then I’m sure you and your friends can make your own kinds of fun.
