You’ll likely be working the 9 to 5 (or the equivalent or longer) routine for a good many years, so make your graduation sojourn count. Here are seven popular destinations you’ll enjoy, but you’re bound to discover many, many more where you and your companions can enjoy the adventure of a lifetime. If you’re in living in off-campus housing in Columbus, the airport is just a short drive away. If you’re living in a student rental in Athens, on the other hand, factor in a 90-minute drive to the Columbus airport (or a smaller regional airport if that’s your plan). And cross your fingers that pandemic limitations have been removed by the time you plan to go exploring.
1. National parks out West. Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon are three of the top national park destinations in the U.S. They all get a bit crowded in the summer, and the Grand Canyon can be VERY hot, so be prepared. Do your reading, and plan your hikes carefully. It’s dry out West, so remember to hydrate. Other Western national parks worth visiting – Canyonlands (Utah), Bryce and Zion (Utah), Mesa Verde (Colorado), Big Bend (Texas) and Rocky Mountain (Colorado). Don’t forget national monuments and preserves, national forests and state parks and preserves either; the West is dotted with great natural attractions that don’t fit into the national park category. Often that state nature preserve that you’ve never heard of can be enjoyed all by yourself.
2. New York City. New York offers plenty of things to do, so if you’ve never been there, graduation might be the impetus you need. See Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building, Central Park, the Empire State Building and other wondrous sites, while enjoying some of the best restaurant options our country has to offer. Take a ferry to see the sites from the water.
3. Historic Cities of Europe. With a Eurail pass (purchased while you’re still a student) you can travel far and wide and cheaply via rail in Europe, visiting Paris, Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam and other major cities, staying in hostels or Airbnb’s if money is scarce. Visit Prague and Budapest for cheaper venues. Europe has very inexpensive small airlines, too, which offer the ease and convenience of bus transportation. Monitor COVID-19 restrictions to make sure you’re cleared to travel to and between EU destinations.
4. Get some sand in your shoes. If you’ve been longing to hit the beach, you could start in sunny Florida, on Key Biscayne – one of the country’s foremost beach destinations – and work your way up the coast, to Tybee Island in Georgia, on to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and Nantucket in Massachusetts. Or just stay on the Gulf Coast of Florida, visiting Siesta Key, Naples, Fort Myers, Englewood, Clearwater and more.
5. Hawaii. Hawaii is recognized as one of the most beautiful places in the world. With a plethora of beautiful vegetation, fascinating geology (mountains and volcanoes) and wildlife, Hawaii also offers spectacular beaches and world class surfing.
6. Iceland. It’s like visiting another world. Drive the famous Ring Road, hike to waterfalls, visit the island’s brooding volcanoes.
7. Take a road trip through New Zealand. You may need a good three weeks to a month to visit faraway New Zealand but when you get there, don’t miss bungee-jumping, Queenstown’s famous views, kayaking in Milford South, the glorious beaches on the North Island, or the lava tubs of Rangitoto Island.
8. Explore another college town. If you want to set your sights a bit lower, consider visiting another college town for a few days or a week, just to get a feel for what you missed by not choosing that one. For example, if you attended four years of Ohio State in Columbus, after you close up your off-campus apartment, take a drive down to Athens and get a feel for that smaller but no less crazy college town. Or if you’re a graduating Bobcat, spend a week in the neighborhoods surrounding the Ohio State campus, and check out some of those great North High Street taverns. Just be careful you don’t advertise your alma mater too provocatively.