Fall is finally upon us! The leaves are changing and classes are in full swing. But, more importantly, it’s football season! For the past five Saturdays the Big House has been jam-packed with people (over 100,000 to be semi-exact), and it seems like all of campus is gathered to watch as we roll to another victory…Well, maybe not all of us.
It’s no secret that A^2 is a huge football town, but there are still some who elect not to go to the games, including me. Whether you just didn’t feel like going to game or you didn’t buy tickets in the first place, there’s so much to see and do when everyone in Ann Arbor seems to disappear for half of the day on Saturday. For all the collegiettes who aren’t feeling like watching the game this weekend, here are a few ideas for fun activities for your Saturday!
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Go to the tailgates. Alright, I know, I promised to talk about activities that don’t involve the game, but tailgating really is a great experience. Even if you’re not in the mood to have a drink or food, it’s still worth it to go and walk with everyone to the Big House. I have honestly never seen so much maize and blue in my life than when I went to the first tailgate of the year (granted, I grew up near East Lansing, so there wasn’t a lot of maize and blue to be seen in the first place, but I digress). It really was an interesting experience to see all of these people marching together in support of this one school. Not to mention, if you’re in the mood to people watch or socialize, this is a great place to start.
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Check out the dining halls. This seems pretty basic, but seriously, check out the dining halls! My first weekend here, I went to Squad and there was literally NO ONE there. It was fantastic! Not only was I able to grab a coveted table by the windows, I didn’t have to wait in any lines for food! How much better can it get? Not only that, but you get to meet some really fun people who are having a low-key Saturday just like you.
3. Walk around Ann Arbor. Again, simple but fun. Whether you find someone to walk around with in the dining hall or not, it is so worth it! You get to see A^2 and really appreciate it because you’re not fighting the masses on State Street. It’s interesting to walk downtown and look at all of the trendy restaurants and quaint book stores there are, especially when everything is quiet enough to be able to sit back and enjoy it all. *Bonus* It’s fall, so the leaves are starting to change and campus is literally ablaze with color! I can’t explain how much fun I had walking around trying to find trees with changing leaves for a picture. I found so many different places to sit and relax at and I ended up running into a ton of fun people who were just out and about for the day, too.
4. Sleep. This is my favorite thing. As a new college student, I’m reeling from how little sleep I get during the week and by the time the weekend’s here I want nothing more than to sleep for a bit! The halls are quiet. Outside is quiet. There aren’t a lot of people around. Conditions could hardly be more perfect for napping. And if you’re one of the lucky (or intelligent) people who brought a hammock to campus, what better time will there be to use it than now when it’s cool but not cold, and it’s quiet on campus?
5. Movie Day. If you really aren’t a nap person, be sure to run over to the UGLi and borrow a movie (or seven) from Askwith Media on the second floor. Indulge in a movie marathon and just relax (treat yourself!)! Grab some friends who aren’t at the game either, make some food, wear something comfy, and kick back to watch some movies! Whether you’re in the mood for some Disney, a rom-com, thrillers, or anything involving Audrey Hepburn, what could be better after a long week of hard work?
And I won’t count this as something to do instead of the game, but I suppose you could do some homework at some point (it’s not like we go here for an education or anything). It also goes without saying that the weekends are sacred times of rest and it’s always a good idea to take a break, because after all, a grade is never more important than your well-being! So go on! Enjoy the weekend, with (or without!) the football game! You deserve it!
Images courtesy of The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, LSA at the University of Michigan, Cosmo16, and Goody Clancy and Associates Inc.