1. Land Between the Lakes – Spend a weekend away at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. There are several lakes to choose from near Murray including Kentucky and Barkley lakes. Rent inner tubes, boats, jet skis and more for up to eight hours. Rent a tent and other camping equipment for little to no cost from the Wellness Center and enjoy a weekend in the wilderness. There are many places to hike, ride bikes and even horseback ride throughout the parks.

2. Go shopping – Take a short drive downtown and walk the square, go into mom-and-pop shops or grab a bite to eat. Also, check out the local thrift shops and antique stores to find some hidden treasures. Don’t forget to visit some of the locally owned retail shops such as Gate 28, Ribbon Chix, Carrie’s and Penique’s, just to name a few. Take a trip up to Paducah, and check out more shopping options at Kentucky Oaks Mall as well as what downtown Paducah has to offer.

3. Treat yourself – Are you craving a sweet treat? Murray has a recently opened frozen yogurt shop, Yogurt Your Weigh. Located near campus, it has multiple flavors and toppings to choose from. The possibilities are endless. You pay by the ounce so it’s generally not too pricey. Fro-yo not your thing? Check out some of the sno-cone stands in various locations throughout the city. The local Dairy Queen will be closing Oct. 31, so get those blizzards, sundaes and milkshakes while you can.

4. Movie time – Grab some popcorn, because the movie just started. Right across 12th Street from campus is Cheri Theatress, playing new movie releases every week. This week, you could see “Insidious: Chapter 2,” “One Direction: This is us in 3D” and many more. Looking for something to do on a date? Check out the Calvert City Drive-In in Calvert City, Ky. This weekend, it will show “Planes” and “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.”

5. Get crafty – Use this time to flex your creative muscles. Open up  Pinterest and do those crafts you’ve been pinning for so long. Try your hand at the pocket T-shirt or decorations for your dorm. Check out the local thrift and antique stores to find something unique to repaint, reupholster and/or recreate. Check out TheNews.org for crafts we’ve attempted and recommend trying yourself. And if it fails? Well, at least you had a good time attempting it.