During every break, there are students who stay in St. George, either to spend time with their families that live in the area or for other reasons. This gives students time to recharge and disconnect from school for the spring semester, but what can they do during that time?
Here are a few recommendations for places around town.
Classic Skating
Location: 181 West Canyon View Drive
Price: $9 (+$4 skate rental)
Classic Skating is a roller skating rink that also offers karaoke, mini golf and air hockey. They have a weekly Friday Night Roll and Saturday Glow Skate as themed events, and they offer individual and group skating sessions for beginners. There is also line dancing on the Classic Skating rink once a month, with dates yet to be posted on their website.
Cole Finlinson, a sophomore digital media major from St. George, recommends visiting during the winter.
“I don’t have much chance to go out during this time of year, but this roller skating place is a lot of fun to go to, especially with friends,” Finlinson said. “The amount of activities also make you want to go more often.”
St. George lights
The decorative lights in this town have become a special attraction for its visitors and residents. There are a few places that have gained popularity, including Christmas on Harmony, where you can walk through the lights and interact with a robot Grinch that talks with you; Red Hills Desert Garden, which combines Utah’s red rocks with lighting; and Thunder Junction, which has an entire park full of lights and even sells tickets for a Polar Express train ride.
The Book Bungalow
Location: 94 West Tabernacle Street
The Book Bungalow is an independent bookstore that sells new books and offers a full slate of author events, book clubs, poetry nights, writing groups and workshops. This is a place dedicated to both readers and authors that also supports this town’s community.
The bookstore will be holding various activities during the winter break, such as an Open Mic Night, International Literature book club meeting and Elf story readings. These are open to the public and have more details on their website.
Beckham Sudweeks, a freshman general studies major from Provo, has frequently visited the establishment.
“I like going there [in] December. The vibe and the books that they have make it special,” Sudweeks said. “Even if you are not that much into reading, I would check it out, because it has a lot of cool stuff going on over there.”
Hiking and nature
St. George is surrounded by landscapes that are both unique and easy to access, so going on a hike is one of the activities that should be on your list. The nearest place to campus is the Pioneer Park, which has a small garden, rock climbing spots and a high view of the town without an entrance fee.
Snow Canyon is also a place for sightseeing and hiking since it has many trails, such as the petrified dunes and the tortoise walk. However, Snow Canyon is a 20-minute drive from campus and has a $15 entrance fee.
Christopher Uyleman, a sophomore general studies major from Orem, gave his recommendations on where to go for hikers and adventurers who don’t mind making a small drive out of St. George.
“I would suggest visiting Zion because the weather around this time of year makes it very beautiful and it’s a must to visit,” Uyleman said. “Also, taking a short trip up to Brian Head is recommended if you have the means for it; it is a great experience that everyone that likes winter sports should do.”
