Looking for something to do but you don’t want to pay a lot of money or spend a bunch of time in the car? Here are some options:
DISC GOLF
There are courses in Hesston (including one on our campus!) and the nearby communities of Moundridge and Newton.
COFFEE
Grab a coffee with friends at Lincoln Perk here in Hesston. The coffee is great, and so are the pastries!
MOVIE
See a movie at Chisholm Trail 8 Theatre in nearby Newton. You get a discount with your student ID!
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
Attend a Lark sporting event or performing arts concert or production. Support your fellow students as they compete or perform.
GET OUT
Go for a walk or jog at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains or around Hesston’s walking paths. The arboretum is just a few blocks from campus and is open year round. Bring some stale bread to feed the fish and keep an eye out for Ralph, the manhole-sized snapping turtle that lives in the pond!
DONUTS
Satisfy your late night cravings and grab something to eat at Druber’s Donut Shop. Some people prefer regular donuts, but we’d suggest getting a squid if you’re looking for maximum glaze-to-dough ratio.
THRIFTING
Do some thrift shopping at the Et Cetera Shop in Newton. There might be vintage HC gear on the racks!
SAND VOLLEYBALL
Round up some friends for a game of sand volleyball on the court by Friesen Center.
FIRE PIT
Roast s’mores or hot dogs at the campus fire pit.
GET FIT
Put in some reps on the free weights, rowing machines, treadmills and stationary bikes in the college’s fitness center. You can also purchase a membership at the nearby Hesston Wellness Center to gain access to fitness classes including kick boxing as well as the pool, hot tub and fitness equipment, or visit the YMCA in Newton.
If you’re willing to go a little further (or pay a little more)…
- Grab some food in Wichita’s Old Town district and then walk over to the Keeper of the Plains – do it at night for the full fiery experience on the banks of the Arkansas River.
- Visit Sedgwick County Zoo, an internationally recognized zoo in north Wichita. The new elephant and big cat exhibits are incredible! And don’t miss the Wichita Art Museum. It’s free every day and it has a wonderful collection including Chihuly glass.
- Explore the Flint Hills, a one-of-a-kind ecosystem that’s home to one of the last remaining stands of tallgrass prairie in the United States. Imagine the Shire from Lord of the Rings, but in Kansas!
- Check out Strataca, a museum located deep in a salt mine, or the Cosmosphere, a world class space museum, in Hutchinson.