10 Day Trips For When You Need To Get Off Troy University’s Campus
College life is fun, no doubt. But sometimes, you just need to get away from campus. Day trips will be absolutely necessary. Sometimes you need a change of scenery and a super fun, quick getaway with your friends. Plus, these trips are ones you can take without breaking the bank!
Even though Troy is kind of in the middle of nowhere, these are 10 fun day trips you can take with your best buds. Trust me, these 10 day trips will make your college life so much more exciting, so pack up your day bag and hit the road!
1. Oak Mountain State Park
Do you need some fresh air? This beautiful state park is located in a small town called Pelham, Alabama, about 20 miles south of Birmingham, Alabama. This is the largest state park in Alabama! This is perfect if you want to walk around somewhere other than the quad at Troy University. It is around a 2-hour drive, so you can have a non-rushed relaxing day and still make it back to your dorm by dinner time. State parks are always a safe bet.
2. Red Mountain Park
This park is located in central Alabama and encloses almost 5 miles of Red Mountain. It has closed mines and a few other artifacts of the state’s industrial history. Want to get outside? This is the day trip to choose. This park has fun attractions like zip lines, hiking/biking trails, etc. Think about all the fun you can have with your best girl friends! You can get that insta-worthy pic you’ve been waiting for. Trust me, this will provide the perfect outdoor experience you’ve been craving.
3. Childersburg, Alabama
Childersburg is the oldest settlement in the state of Alabama. This is one of the day trips you could take on a particularly rainy day since most of what you’d be doing is indoors. You can visit a few museums and learn about old and modern history. If you’re a history buff, this is the day trip for you!
4. Desoto Caverns
Are you an adventurous person looking for a fun day of exploration? Visit Desoto Caverns! You’ll be overwhelmed with the cavern’s natural beauty. You can take underground tours of the caverns, shoot bow and arrows, play water golf, climb rock walls, and all kinds of other things. And, it’s only about 2 hours away!
This would be a super fun trip to take with your friends, or even invite your family to come along. Not only would you get to spend time with them, you’d also be relaxing and having fun, all at once!
5. Tuskegee, Alabama
This is the day trip with the shortest drive, (1 hour) so if you’re on a time crunch, visit Tuskegee. There are more than a few museums where you can learn about things like the Civil Rights Movement. In the same day, you can also visit the Tuskegee National Forest. Breathe in the fresh air! You can look at the beautiful scenery and also visit the shooting range if you’re into that!
6. Payne Lake
If you’re stressed about homework, upcoming exams, work, etc., this is the perfect daytime getaway for you. This day trip also has a short drive, and it’s so beautiful! You can have an afternoon picnic by the lake with a gorgeous view. Want to go fishing? Do it! After lunch, you can visit one of the walking trails! If you ever wanted to stay overnight, they also have campsites with bathrooms and water sources.
7. Atlanta, Georgia
This day trip has a bit lengthier drive, at about 4 hours. Also, there’s so much to do that a single day might not do the city justice! This city will give you the true urban experience. You can visit the aquarium, the zoo, the museums, etc.
If you’re a baseball fan, catch a Braves game! You can visit the Coca Cola factory, and there are lots of good places to eat too. And if you stay long enough, you’ll get to see the beauty of the city after it gets dark, when the skyline is lit up! This day trip might mean you get home a little late, but hey, it’s college! By the end of the night you’ll know it was worth the drive.
8. Wild Animal Safari
The Wild Animal Safari is located in Pine Mountain Georgia. Don’t let the ads fool you, this isn’t just for kids! You can drive through the park in your own car, ride the bus, or rent your own zebra car! You’ll get to see all kinds of animals and even feed some too. Plus, you’ll get some cool pics! This park is definitely worth the drive.
9. US Space/Rocket Center
This is probably the best day trip you can take from Troy. It’s about a 3 and a half-hour drive, but you won’t regret it at all. This isn’t just for people who are interested in space. There are always lots of events going on at the Space Center, and you can always take tours.
If that’s not your thing, you can just walk around and look at everything yourself. There’s a lot of interactive things to do here as well. You can watch a movie in the IMAX theatre, and take pictures with all the rockets!
10. Alabama Museum Of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, so you’re looking at about a 3-hour drive. But once you get there, you’ll forget all about that! Since the museum is on the University of Alabama’s campus, it’s kind of like two trips in one.
We all know Troy University is the best, but it’s fun to walk around and see other campuses! You’ll get to see the campus while visiting the museum, and you can make it back to the BEST campus before time for dinner.
