No admissions letters required: College towns have plenty to offer in the entertainment department. Of course, if you’re a student, you may have been too busy to notice while juggling a full class schedule, internship or part-time job. But as school lets out for the summer, now is a good time to explore the town surrounding your campus and enjoy a staycation before boomeranging back home or traveling during the break.
Before you pack up, know this: Closetbox can help store your belongings with a concierge approach to storage. Just schedule a time, and our team of bonded and insured movers will come pick up your belongings and store them in a secure facility until you return to campus in the spring. No need to carry all that baggage — extra-long twin sheets, your plasma TV, apartment decor — when you’re traveling this summer.
Denver: Explore art and sip beer
Just outside of downtown is a booming arts district known as River North (AKA RiNo) with funky murals popping out around every corner, galleries and a speakeasy, Millers and Rossi, that has an art gallery front guarding the cocktail bar. Opening up in May 2018, is The Source Hotel where New Belgium will run its on-site, small batch brewery with an emphasis on sour beers. Plus, the hotel will showcase artisans like a florist and tattoo shop. After a semester of ramen or cafeteria food, treat yourself to a dinner at Safta, which is James Beard Award winning chef Alon Shaya’s modern Israeli restaurant. (Think hot pitas, smooth hummus topped with everything from tahini to lamb). Shaya’s Pomegranate Hospitality group is based in New Orleans, but he’s spent a good amount of time in Colorado over the years, enjoying the outdoors scene and mountains with his wife Emily. “Emily and I asked ourselves ‘where do we want to spend more time over the years,” Shaya says. That’s what led him to open up his new restaurant in Denver, adding that he likes the project because it incorporates the “best in hospitality, art and culinary.”
Los Angeles: Get ‘Saved by the Bell’
The no-brainer staycation idea centers around trips to the beach to play volleyball, surf or just laze in the sand. But when it starts getting hot in LA, turn up the A.C. Slater. A new “Saved by the Bell”-themed pop-up diner is opening up on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood for a truly throwback experience. “Saved by the Max” re-creates the diner from “Saved by the Bell,” complete with neon signs, booths, arcade games. You can even reserve a dinner in Principal Belding’s re-created office.
Miami: Enjoy Film Month
Give Netflix a break and sink into some cool, arty cinemas to enjoy $8 movies throughout the month of June in Miami. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Citi Miami Temptations Program takes a thematic focus on the best the destination has to offer with monthly deals and special events appealing to tourists (and staycationing locals!). “The film industry has been fascinated with Miami and The Beaches for years,” GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III tells us. But, now, more than ever, Miami is being sought out for its culturally-rich neighborhoods such as those featured in the Oscar-winning film Moonlight, he said. From June 1 to June 30, right in time for summer break, the focus is on Miami’s role in the film industry. The city is home to independent cinemas, film festivals and provides scenes for major motion pictures. To round-out your cinematic-themed staycation, take a self-guided tour of where movies and television shows were filmed in Miami. (Here’s a map, and there’s more than 80 destinations!) Some of the movies and shows shot here include “War Dogs,” “Father Figures,” “Scarface” and “Ballers.”
Philadelphia: Geek out on science
You’ve been there, seen the Liberty Bell. Spend some time this summer getting some extra credit in the science department by heading to the Franklin Institute. Trust us; this is going to be fun because the museum has an exhibit, “Game Masters,” that showcases the work of game designers and features more than 100 playable games ranging from Sonic the Hedgehog to the Sims. You can play multi-player, immersive games as well as classic arcade games that dominated in the 1970s and 80s. The exhibit is in town until Sept. 3. To really get this right, sync your visit up with one of the “Science After Hours” programs, which are 21 and up. You can wander around the museum imbibing with alcoholic drinks and enjoying special programs that show the fun side of science. On tap this summer are themes like “8-Bit,” “Clue” and “Don’t Try This at Home.”
Washington, D.C.: Go museum-hopping
Working with a college student’s budget? No problem. Washington, D.C. has some of the most interesting museums in the nation and many of them are free. Start by admiring art at the National Gallery of Art featuring paintings from famous artists Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Matisse and more. The National Museum of African American History and Culture features more than 37,000 pieces, including historical artifacts, documents, photographs and media that explores topics like civil rights, music, military, family, slavery and segregation. Tickets have been allotted through August, however there are a limited number of same-day passes and walk-up passes available. Another noteworthy museum is the National Air and Space Museum where you can see the 1903 Wright Flyer, World War II aircraft and more.
Kansas City: Go out to a baseball game
It’s “student night” every Wednesday that the Kansas City Royals play at home, which means $10 tickets, pre-game entertainment courtesy of local bands and happy hour specials. Treat yourself with a stay at The Fontaine, an upscale and hip hotel in downtown with live music nights and weekend brunches with dishes like sweet potato and crab beignets. A star amenity at the hotel is the rooftop pool. To help round out your itinerary, the tourism department has curated itineraries for young adults who want to enjoy the City of Fountains and its arcade bars, patio dining spots and live music scene.
