If you’re staying in one of the university rentals in Athens Ohio during the summer, take heart. It’s not the worst place you can be. Here are some suggestions to make this a more enriching and productive experience. (This blog has been updated to reflect changes resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency.)
- Music, arts and theater — We’re not New York City, but there’s an abundance of things to do arts-wise – from concerts and live music, theater, films (and just ordinary movies), plus art exhibitions galore. While many of these attractions are not happening due to the public health emergency, opportunities should slowly resume as the pandemic begins winding down, with social distancing and other safety rules in place. Meanwhile, some local museums, music and other arts venues are making their attractions available online.
- Hocking Hills State Park – We can’t believe how many local college students miss the opportunity to visit beautiful Hocking Hills State Park and its popular natural attractions, including Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls, Ash Cave, Conkle’s Hollow and Rock House. Most are less than a 45-minute drive from your Athens Ohio rental housing. Tourists come from far away to explore the cliffs, caverns, forests and lakes, so don’t miss them. Southern Ohio is breathtaking, any season. As of June 2020, most of the main attractions remained closed to the public, due to the pandemic, but they should begin reopening as the summer progresses. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of places to hike and explore outside of the Hocking Hills’ main attractions.
- Go to the beach – The beach, you say? Sure, our local lakes afford ample opportunity to pull out a lawn chair and bask in the sunshine, or go swimming to beat the heat. The most popular within a short drive of the OU campus are Strouds Run State Park (15 minutes drive), Lake Hope State Park (35 minutes) and Burr Oak State Park (35 minutes).
- Uptown Athens – Uptown Athens is always lively, and you’ll find ample parking during summer. Enjoy uncrowded bars, dining and shopping. With bars and restaurants reopening for table service in May, most were taking care to ensure the safety or patrons and employees, with social distancing and other rules intended to minimize the chance of COVID-19 infection.
- Get a map, an Ohio vacation guide, and get out and about touring the rest of scenic Ohio.