By the time fall break rolls around, I am dying for some time away from UCA.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the purple and gray, but how can I possibly continue at this pace after so many grueling weeks of continuous classes, assignments, all-night study sessions and a schedule jam-packed with various commitments. Not to mention anything I might be dealing with in my personal life (mental breakdowns and hangovers and health scares, oh my!)
Fall break shines upon the bear cubs and offers hope.
I’ve been looking forward to fall break for weeks now, as I’m sure many of us have, so let’s talk about making the most out of these four precious days off.
One way to make the most of fall break is to plan some fun activities. This could include planning a short trip, planning some fun outings, or trying something new and exciting.
Some good places to take a brief trip in Arkansas are Fayetteville, Eureka Springs and Hot Springs.
In Fayetteville, you can tour the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, go to a show at the Walton Arts Center, tour the Arkansas Air and Military Museum, tour an art gallery, or shop, eat and bar-hop in the downtown area.
In Eureka Springs, you can tour Quigley’s Castle, stay at the haunted Crescent Hotel, or check out the historical downtown area.
In Hot Springs, you can tour Garvan Woodland Gardens, tour the historic bathhouses, shop in the historic downtown area, check out the scenery from the top of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, or eat a tasty treat at the Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake Shoppe. Each of these towns has plenty to offer and none of them are very far away.
Some fun outings you could plan over fall break include hiking Pinnacle or Petit Jean Mountain, kayaking on Lake Catherine, trying a fun food stand at the River Market, enjoying live music at the Rev Room, partying at nightclubs like Triniti, or eating at a fancy restaurant like Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse.
Some exciting things you can do in Arkansas that you may not have tried include digging for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park, touring Peppersauce Ghost Town (spooky!), exploring living caves at Blanchard Springs Caverns, or hiking to the top of Mount Magazine, which is Arkansas’ highest point.
If you don’t want to stay busy during fall break, you could dedicate the time off to relaxing and recharging. Have a movie marathon, go for a walk in the Jewel Moore Nature Reserve, binge-watch a new show, paint pumpkins, try a new skin care product, get a massage, take a candle-lit bath, go to a yoga class and, above all, sleep a lot.
Another good way to spend your fall break is by catching up on things you rarely have time for. Deep-clean your room, donate old clothes, organize your products, hang out with friends, finish any missing assignments and check those things off your to-do list that you’ve been putting off.
No matter what you decide to do during your fall break, make the most of your time off. Before you know it, it’ll be Monday, so don’t waste the days away!
