Welcome to SIU-Carbondale! My name is Ashley Jackson, and I will be your tour guide, as well explore all the wonderful and exciting things the Carbondale community has to offer.
First things first, I need you to open your mind and fasten your seatbelt as we take a ride over to the SIUC Student Center. The Student Center offers a wide variety of entertainment without the travel. The student center has a full service bowling and billiards activity space, as well as a fully stocked craft shop with well trained student and professional staff. I’ve been known to visit on a weekend or two. Fun for everyone, including significant others and family members. Check out the website for more information http://www.siucstudentcenter.org/things-to-do.
As our journey continues we venture down to the beautiful, scenic Campus Lake that offers a fun time whether you stay on land or take a dive into the water. The recreation center offers students and staff the opportunity to rent boating materials, or chill out on the sanded stretch of beach for a fun afternoon. The lake also offers naturist paths and Ultimate Frisbee courses. If you are an outdoors person and enjoy all that nature has to offer, then we should take a small detour down to Giant City. Giant City is a brief 10 minute drive from campus, and supplies the Carbondale community with over 100 guided trails, a recently restored lodging community and restaurant (with a wonderful fried chicken dinner…yum!), and a sunset view to die for. Within a few minutes’ drive from Giant City, visitors and community citizens have been known to indulge in all of the local Winery attractions.
As we head back towards campus, let’s not forget about our city neighbors. Within a 20 minute drive, Marion, IL offers tons of retail shopping opportunities, and the seasonal minor league baseball team “The Marion Miners”. For a full schedule check out, http://www.southernillinoisminers.com/.
A little further out, is the small but resourceful town by the name of Paducah, KY. I have taken a few trips there to fulfill my shopping urges and engage in some diet do’s and don’ts! And last but not least, we cannot forget about our shining gate to the west and blues haven to the south…St.Louis, MO and Memphis, TN, just a few hours each way.
Does anyone need to stop for a movie, or skating? Well, Carbondale, IL has some amazing attractions that would leave any resident satisfied on a Tuesday evening (yes I said Tuesday evening)! The AMC and University Place Theaters always offer the newest movie attractions and featured eats. A short mile down, is the newly renovated Skatium, that has a new smell, skates, and rocking DJ!
Well, I could go on and on, and potentially run out of gas, but as we are headed home, it is important for me to point out the large amounts of volunteering opportunities, and sense of community that Carbondale has offered me. I have been able to walk in to any shelter, or kennel and offer my personal time to better the community. In return, Carbondale has given me a place to call home, and somewhere to always pay a visit.
Happy Travels and for more information about Carbondale, IL and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, check out our tweets @SIUCResLife at Twitter and http://ci.carbondale.il.us/.
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