While there are plenty of student clubs, concerts, and other engaging goings-on at Andrews to keep you busy after classes and on weekends, we realize there will be times when campus just won't cut it. You might want to venture off for a leisurely drive alongside local vineyards and verdant orchards or hit the mall for your beyond-bookstore shopping needs. Admittedly, Berrien Springs is small-town living, but you'll be happy to know that the surrounding area provides a plethora of opportunities to satisfy your craving for recreation--whether it be mountain biking or Manola Blahnik shoe shopping. And just so you know, if you're into cow-watching, we have that too.
Lake Michigan is high on the hit-list of warm weather places to be. With its 1,640 miles of coastline, you're sure to find the perfect niche to catch up on sun rays, reading, or recreation. Speaking of recreation, if surfing, sunbathing, or competitive sandcastle-building aren't your idea of fun, you might want to head out to one of the area amusement parks. Six Flags Great America is situated just north of Chicago and Cedar Point, named Best Amusement Park in the World for six consecutive years, is located in Sandusky, Ohio.
While you may not have an appetite just after your stomach goes bungee-jumping on a roller coaster, you won't want to miss out on area dining. Whether Taco Bell or tiramisu tickles your palate, you're sure to find mmm mmm good in Michiana. Berrien Springs itself boasts fast-food staples like Subway and Taco Bell, along with an Italian eatery, a Chinese buffet, a French-style baguette shop, and several mom-and-pop diners where you'll want to stop for a hearty brunch. For international cuisines like Indian, Mexican, Italian, and Thai, check out South Bend or Benton Harbor. Treat your significant other to dinner and dessert at one of the area's upscale Italian bistros like Tosi's by the Lake. And don't forget to satisfy that sweet tooth with a waffle cone of coconut ice cream at St. Joseph's specialty confectionery, Kilwin's.
Not only can southwest Michigan sate your appetite, it can also satisfy your shopping needs, whether you're looking to stock up on shampoo or buy a banquet dress. Beyond budget-friendly standards like Meijer's, Walmart, and Target--all conveniently located in nearby Benton Harbor--you'll want to peruse the quaint shops and boutiques lining St. Joseph's lakeside boulevards. Mishawaka's University Park Mall is the place to pick up a pair of Gap jeans or browse other name-brand favorites. And remember, Chicago's Magnificent Mile waits a little over an hour away for those who take shopping seriously.
OK, admittedly shopping and dining out don't always jive with a student budget, so you might want to visit a few of the fascinating museums in the Michigan area--many of which are free or offer a student discount. Nearby South Bend boasts two major art museums, the South Bend Chocolate Factory and Museum, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the Studebaker National Museum, many of which are free or offer a student discount. And don't forget about Chicago's Big Six: the Art Institute, Field Museum, Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd's Aquarium and Oceanarium, which annually attract millions of visitors from around the world.