Thanksgiving break marks the point in the fall semester where, save for finals, students start to check out. It’s a whopping five days of not having to think about classes, and at that point in the semester, it’s hard to come back from that. A lot of classmates return home to visit their families, some for the first time since classes started. However, whether it’s due to airfare or other circumstances, some stay in town, huddled up in their college apartment rental.
If you find yourself hanging around for Thanksgiving in your Athens apartment, there’s still a lot to get into around town, even when half the population is gone. Here are some of our favorite things to do to take advantage of the downtime.
Clean Up Around Your Ohio University Rental
With 5 whole days away from classes, you’ll have more downtime than you’ve been used to recently. If classes have been bogging you down from getting chores around your apartment done, it’s time to change that.
Do a task as simple as wiping down counters and tabletops, vacuuming thoroughly, or picking up clutter. A clean living space plays a major role in keeping our mental health in check, and it could be—quite literally—the perfect pick-me-up before tackling final exams in the coming weeks.
Take a Stroll Around Town
Athens during Thanksgiving Break feels like a ghost town. With most of the student body away visiting family and many of the permanent residents doing the same, the city feels empty. For some, that’s a major win. Treat yourself, get out of your student rental home, and walk around downtown. In a way, it could actually feel super peaceful. Grab a chair at Donkey Coffee and work on classwork in an almost-empty café. Walk along the college green and marvel in the silence. When there’s hardly any pedestrian or vehicular traffic, you’re able to experience Athens in a brand new way.
Hang Out with Friends and Make the City Yours
If you’ve got friends who stuck around too, now’s one of the best times to get out and explore Athens and its surrounding areas. With minimal traffic, you can easily get around town. Explore a new place you haven’t been to or get out to Stroud’s Run for a day of fun with friends. Wind down with drinks at a favorite bar—you’ll hardly have to wait to get served with all the other students gone.
Experiencing what Athens is like without the majority of its student population is a must for any Bobcat. It changes your perspective on the city, and who knows—it might help you decide if you want to stick around after graduation too.