Ten things to do in LYH before summer ends
Hydaway Outdoor Center
A fun way to spend a warm day is heading over to the Hydaway Outdoor Center, located at 936 Camp Hydaway Road. Hydaway hosts fun workshops such as sunset hikes, zipline days and s’mores on the beach. Students can also hit the lake, kayak, paddleboard or wander the trails on foot or a bike. If relaxing after a long day of classes and studying sounds nice, you can rent a hammock from Campus Recreation and chill out in Hammock Haven. Hydaway is open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Lynchburg Community Market
If you’re looking to head off campus, downtown Lynchburg is home to the Lynchburg Community Market and Farmer’s Market. The market is a hot spot for many small vendors that sell snacks, jewelry, birdhouses and plenty of other trinkets. Grab a cold tea from Sweet Poppa’s, explore the market and be sure to check out the local fruits and veggies. Located at 1219 Main Street, the market is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For the artsy crowd, the Artisan Crafters Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
David’s Place
You can also beat the heat by heading over to David’s Place pool for a swim. David’s Place has a 60 x 30 heated outdoor recreational pool, and pool deck that includes a grill, firepit and chairs to sit back and soak in some sun rays. David’s Place pool is open Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Picnic at Medical Building
For those looking for a great photo-op or just wanting to enjoy the landscape, watch a Lynchburg sunset with a picnic at Liberty’s Medical Building located on 306 Liberty View Lane. Gather together a group of friends or a significant other, grab a blanket, some snacks and treats and set up a picnic with a gorgeous view of Lynchburg.
Mr. Goodies
The summer heat is no joke, but when a pool or lake doesn’t do the trick, a cold sweet treat might just be the cure. Cool down with some soft serve ice cream from Mr. Goodies right off the street on 21556 Timberlake Road. The prices of the soft serve delicacies fit a college student’s budget with room to spare. Students can also grab a treat from ice cream places that accept Flames Cash, like Sweet Frog on Wards Road or Dairy Queen located at 8021 Timberlake Road.
Beach Volleyball
If you’re looking to get some blood flowing and your body moving, play some beach volleyball at the courts next to the lacrosse fields on East Campus. Wait for the sun to go down, and the conditions are just right for a competitive or laid-back game. Be sure to hit Cookout for a rewarding milkshake when your team wins, or to comfort a loss.
Hiking
A great summer activity with friends is going on a hike and seeing the beautiful nature that Virginia has to offer. Popular destination spots include Sharp Top Mountain, Cole Mountain and Panther Falls. Panther Falls even has a swimming hole and waterfall if you’re looking for a beautiful place to cool off in the heat.
Astronomical Observatory
And if you want to see even more stunning nature, Liberty’s Astronomical Observatory allows students to gaze through professional-grade telescopes at faraway stars and planets. The students volunteering at the observatory will even give you a brief presentation on astronomy. It’s open most Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday nights, weather permitting. Just make sure to register for a time slot the day before.
Starbucks
If you’re looking to enjoy the sun, but the schoolwork has you busy, you can grab a cool refresher from Starbucks or tea from Argo and study on the Montview step or outside on the porches of the Jerry Falwell Library. Pumpkin spice latte season is almost upon us, so enjoy your iced drinks before the fall temperature drops in.
Lawn Games
Invite some hallmates, roommate or other friends out for some lawn games. Popular games include spike ball, corn hole, kill ball and volleyball. Round your friends up and meet them on the Academic Lawn — and don’t be shy about inviting strangers. You never know the friends you could make along the way.
Hernandez is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion