It’s cooling down in West Lafayette and if this is your first Winter in Indiana, good luck! Indiana is known for heavy snow storms and freezing temperatures. While the weather becomes colder, take the opportunity to warm up your love life.
1) Ice Skating
Everyone’s favorite Winter activity is ice skating. It’s a chance to bundle up in your favorite winter clothes, strap sharp blades on your feet, and spend a few hours sliding and falling on ice until your butt is covered in bruises. Every year I injure myself while ice skating, but every year I find myself back on the ice. If you like having fun while embarrassing yourself, make sure to visit Riverside Skating Center in December. The cost varies depending on if you are renting skates or own a pair.
2) Union Rack and Roll
Not only is it fun to go bowling with your significant other, you also get to cross this tradition off your Purdue bucket list. Lanes are rarely crowded so you can bring a big group of friends and they have bumpers for the rows. With your student ID, a game only costs you $2.50 per game!
3) All Fired Up
One of my favorite activities to do with my boyfriend or friends is to go to All Fired Up. Its conveniently located close to campus at Wabash Landing, and provides paint, tools, ceramics, and a kiln to make any ceramic item of your choosing. A glaze is baked onto your item and three days later you can pick up your masterpiece. With a huge selection of figurines to paint, including coffee mugs and octopi, this is a perfect activity for any time of year. Even better, for the holiday season they have Christmas ornaments you can decorate! You’re only charged for your figurine, and can paint for as long as you’d like. The price of figurines range from $8 to $25.
4) The Museum of Greater Lafayette
Walking around hand in hand with your love, looking at priceless pieces of art and learning about Indiana’s history. How could it get any better than that? Oh yeah, it’s also free!
5) Sledding on Slayter
Sliding down Slayter Hill has been on students’ bucket lists since 1869. I can remember my grandfather calling me freshman year. One of the first things he asked me was if I had sled down Slayter. Being born with Boilermaker blood, I had already gone sledding by the time he called…twice. This activity is also free, other than the cost of your “sled”. I personally suggest dining court trays, cardboard, car hoods, or even a backpack.
Honorable Mentions:
Building snowmen, snowball fights, going to the movie theater, basketball games, and Insomnia cookies with Netflix.
Have a fun and safe Winter, Boilermakers!