Getting Outside this Fall

If you haven’t noticed, it is fall. Another period of life and warmth has begun to lay down its head and die. If you are not careful, you might miss the show. If you’re at all like me, you often feel a sense of duty when the colors come out. In a sense, you owe it to the world to get out and take a look at it every now and then. So, after you put in your hours and hours of work, studies and temporary distractions, I would like to encourage you to try out some of these places:

Antelope Park

The first time I visited this place, I was so impressed with it that I had to text my friends. One of them promptly asked me if there were any antelopes there, and he found my answer disappointing. While the park does include Lincoln Children’s Zoo, which cares for a number of exotic animals, they have no actual antelopes. Otherwise, the park is stunning. There are long peaceful trails that run between Antelope Creek and the colorful forest. One nice thing about these trails specifically, is that the park itself is a little too small for professional cyclists to zoom through. On longer trails, one may have to dodge people in little shorts going what seems like 60 miles per hour. This has not been a problem on my excursions thus far.

Jamaica Trail

This is a very long nature trail off of Van Dorn. When I arrived, there was no room in the extremely small parking area. Luckily someone happened to be leaving when I got there. This place would be perfect for an autumn walk alone or with friends. Nearly every overly-descriptive writer has correctly pointed out that the air this time of year is ‘crisp.’ I encourage everyone to check it out. I will say that unlike Antelope Park, this one does have a few professional cyclists zooming by, so be careful.

Pioneer Park

I love this place because it’s so large. I cannot think of a better escape from the routines of college life. You can easily lose an entire day at Pioneers just observing the vast world around you. Recently, they have mowed large paths through the forests to make way for the UNL cross-country team. The energy of a forest provides a mental reset that many of us seek. The drive is worth it, especially at this time of year.

By Luke Morris