Trips Everyone Should Take: Parents Weekend Visits
Parents weekend might not be on your bucket list, but it can become an enjoyable vacation stop
Your student’s new home offers plenty of fun for visiting families, too.
Parents weekend at your son’s or daughter’s college is a rite of passage. Designed as a way for parents to get a glimpse into what their student’s life is like and to build the family’s bond with the school, the weekend’s organized activities are often held on or around campus. But these weekends are about more than just campus tours. It’s also a great opportunity to learn a new city and do some exploring with your favorite college student, too. Here are a few tips to help the weekend go smoothly:
- Be flexible with the amount of time you expect to spend together.
- Let your student help make decisions on where to go and what to do.
- Be prepared to pay for everything.
Traveling with your grown (or almost grown) children brings a whole new way of exploring America’s great cities. Get started by checking out some of our top picks for fun in college towns.
Roam the brick streets of German Village (Columbus, Ohio)
Spend an evening shopping and strolling historic German Village in Columbus, Ohio, then savor authentic fare from restaurants like Schmidt’s. Photo Credit: Rouxby
While parents weekend at Ohio State revolves around football, there’s more to do in Columbus than watch the Buckeyes. For an interesting evening that will keep you and your student entertained, check out the German Village. This historic neighborhood is full of interesting shops and galleries filled with beautiful art. Your student might find something to hang on their wall to add a little class beyond the traditional college poster. Top off the night with some schnitzel or wurst at Schmidt’s, a Columbus landmark since the 1960s, or Hofbrauhaus
Dive into the music scene at Rock ‘n’ Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana)
After tailgating at Tulane, get your own game time in with a little bowling. Leave it to New Orleans to mix in music—you can catch live music on the lanes at Rock ‘n’ Bowl Wednesday through Sunday. Rock ‘n’ Bowl is well-known for zydeco on Thursday nights, but jazz, swing, country and rock bands keep things hopping the rest of the week. Once you’ve had your fill of bowling, check out more of the local music scene; grab a burger and listen to your heart’s content at Carrollton Station, or check out some hot jazz at Blue Nile.
Experience town life at Capitol Square (Madison, Wisconsin)
Reserve a free tour of the grand Wisconsin State Capitol online, or simply ogle its soaring dome from the farmers market on the statehouse grounds.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a beautiful campus to explore, but Madison itself is a fun town. Soak up some Midwestern heritage with a tour of the Wisconsin State Capitol, which claims a dome that reaches a height of more than 265 feet. Take advantage of the famous Saturday Dane County Farmers Market at Capitol Square, held April through November, where you can stock the dorm fridge. Grab enough fresh provisions for a picnic and spend a day on one of the lakes—Mendota or Monona—that flank the city.
Get outdoors at Stone Mountain Park (Atlanta, Georgia)
After weeks of studying hard at Georgia Tech, Georgia State or Spelman, your student might be ready for a chance to enjoy the great outdoors. You don’t have to go far for outdoor adventure, even in the big city. Stone Mountain, just a half-hour outside of Atlanta, offers all types of outdoor activities, including hiking, golfing, and kayaking and paddleboarding in the lakes at Stone Mountain Park. Later, head to SweetWater Brewing Company and enjoy a tour and a beer (if your kid’s of age, of course) for some relaxation at the end of the day.
Explore an underground wonder at Natural Bridge Caverns (San Antonio, Texas)
San Antonio, Texas’ Natural Bridge Caverns offers a full day of attractions, like cave tours, canopy challenges and an open-air maze.
After a few weeks at the University of Texas at San Antonio, your student might be looking to escape the heat. So why not spend parents weekend where it’s naturally cool all year long? Travel 180 feet underground at Natural Bridge Caverns to get an up-close view of the stalactites and stalagmites that were formed over thousands of years. Then head in the opposite direction for some adventure in the sky with a walk on the Canopy Explorer Course or a zoom over the caverns on a zip line. Treat everyone to dinner afterwards at one of the many restaurants on the famous San Antonio River Walk, where you can grab a burger at the Hard Rock Cafe or Tex-Mex at Casa Rio.
Go local with tax-free shopping in the Pearl District (Portland, Oregon)
It isn’t hard to convince your Reed College student to go shopping when you’re paying, but Oregon’s zero percent sales tax makes shopping in Portland all the more enticing. The Pearl District is a fun choice, in part because you can get around by streetcar. Make sure your child has the right footwear for walking around campus with a new pair of shoes from the Keen Garage, suit them up for the winter with a coat from Fjallraven, and find yourself a new novel for the trip home at Powell’s City of Books.
Ready to make the most of your campus weekend? Find hotels in Columbus, New Orleans, Madison, Atlanta, San Antonio, Portland.
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