Fun Things to Do in La Crosse For Less

Feel like college is breaking your bank account? Tuition, rent, food and other bills really add up, and they quickly deplete that stash of money set aside for spending on fun stuff. Do not worry, you can still have fun and save enough money to pay for those boring classes. Get outside...Gather some friends together for an intense game of ultimate Frisbee or volleyball. Almost everyone knows someone with a Frisbee, or you can always borrow one from the front desk of your hall. If you are more interested in a quiet activity, take a walk or bike ride around the neighborhood or on any of La Crosse's nearby trails. It is only a short walk across the street from campus and past the cemetery to the Three Rivers Trails. You can rent rollerblades for $4/day or a bike for $5/day at the Outdoor Connection in the REC. Make a day of it- bring a backpack with a water bottle and snacks, explore the other trails and then bike or blade down to Riverside Park and have a picnic. Hang out on Campus…Spring sports are in full-swing this time of year and the meets and games are great to watch because they are free and close by, not to mention entertaining. Check out the men's and women's track teams at their home meet on April 18th. Or if you like baseball and softball, both teams host home games nearly every weekend in April. If sports are not your thing, there are plenty of other free and fun things to do on campus. There are free music concerts every weekend in April which feature everything from senior voice and instrument recitals most weekends to the women's chorus concert on April 26th to the spring jazz concert on April 20th. Another thing to explore on campus is the planetarium in the basement of Cowley. The planetarium puts on laser shows to rock music every Thursday night at 7PM for $3. They also have a themed show every month, and April's theme is "Springtime in the Universe." These shows are free with a student ID; they take place every Monday night in April at 7PM and the first and third Saturday in April at 1PM. Center for the Arts is another place to check out. There is a new play every month, usually showing at the Toland Theatre, and the tickets are at reduced prices with a student ID. …Or Venture off Campus. A trip to the Rivoli Theatre downtown is only $3 and a short walk away from campus. If you want to check out some cool live music, but lack the coveted ID that will get you into most places downtown, try Piggy's or the Warehouse. Piggy's is known for their jazz music and unique atmosphere, and the Warehouse is where a lot of new punk bands get their start. Neither place is very expensive: most concerts at the Warehouse run around $10 and you can listen to the music at Piggy's for free. Before you decide to go out, check newspapers for deals and coupons. A lot of restaurants and bars offer their specials and discounts on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so by going out earlier in the week, you can save money. These places usually have live bands that you can check out for free or for a cheap cover charge. If you do not spend a lot of money on drinks or eat in before heading out, you can also save a lot. Hike the bluffs...If you have yet to discover La Crosse's amazing bluffs, here is the easiest way to get over to the trails: Cut through Myrick Park (past the playground and down the hill) and take the trail on the far right by the volleyball court and tool shed. Follow this trail through the marsh past the Girl Scout headquarters and the railroad tracks. Next you will come to a road; follow it up hill until you reach the Hixon Forest parking lot. From this spot you can take a number of trails, about a dozen in all, some of which wind around the bluffs and others which head straight up the bluffs. Some of the trails are steeper than others, like the first trail you come to off the main path, and others veer off to Granddad's Bluff. Even if you are not new to the exciting adventure of bluff-hiking, you can still appreciate the good workout and the awesome view of the city at the river from the top of the bluffs. The best part about hiking, like many of these other activities, is that it is free, and hopefully with these new cheap ideas in mind, you will no longer be stuck picking up loose change off the streets to afford yourself a couple fun adventures this week.