Leo’s local gems: What to do near campus for freshmen and new arrivals

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By Brooke Brinker, Social Media Manager

For Incoming freshmen or new transfers, it can be overwhelming moving to a new school in a new area with not much knowledge on what to do. If you are new to Saint Leo University and the town that surrounds it, you should check out these fun places all nearby your new school.

Dade City

The unique town of Dade City is ten minutes away from Saint Leo University. There is a vintage touch to the town. As you walk through it, it feels like you are walking through the town Stars Hollow from the popular 2000s TV show, “Gilmore Girls.” There are coffee shops, restaurants, a library and antique stores. If you are looking for a peaceful afternoon after class, you can pick a spot in Dade City to work on homework and sip on a latte. Check out Treehouse Mercantile—they have the best iced vanilla lattes!

If you are wanting a fun activity to do at night, check out the “Joy-Lan Drive”. It is a drive-in movie theatre with popular movies every week and inexpensive ticket prices. If you go on Wednesdays, the tickets are only $5. Invite your friends, buy some popcorn and your favorite snacks, take a break from schoolwork, and relax while enjoying a good movie.

If you are adventurous and looking for something extreme and fun, check out “Treehoppers Adventure Park”. You can go zip lining and climb through an obstacle course that is high in the sky! The price for a ticket is $67, and it is located in Dade City, Florida. Tell your group of friends about this unique experience and try something new together!

Wesley Chapel

Wesley Chapel is twenty minutes from Saint Leo University. There are many creative and fun places to explore. If you are looking for an artsy place, check out “Creative Painting Studio,” where you can paint and decorate pottery. This would be a great way to de-stress and find a happy place around your new college.

Wesley Chapel is filled with shops, from The Grove, to your local stores, like Five Below, Ulta, Michael’s, etc. Right next door to the The Grove, is The Krates, a well-known shopping plaza constructed of repurposed shipping crates, with delicious food, and adorable boutiques inside. Lastly is the Tampa Premium Outlets, which is an outside mall with stores such as, Ralph Lauren, American Eagle, and Kate Spade. The outlet mall is also filled with amazing choices of restaurants. If you want a weekend outing, these two malls would be great choices.

Walkable places

It can be tough to find time to drive off campus, or if you do not have a car, there are many places you can walk to just from your dorm room! If you are hungry, and not in the mood for the dining hall, you can walk to Panchos Villa, a delicious Mexican restaurant, with a boutique right across the street. There is also On Q Smokehouse Grill, a barbeque restaurant and a local grocery store, Jiffy’s, which is known for their amazing sandwiches. Lastly, if you want your morning coffee, check out, A Cup of Organic.

Take your journal or your computer and find a coffee shop in Dade City to de-stress and relax. (Photo was taken by Brooke Brinker)

For a walkable activity, there is a park with picnic tables, five minutes from campus. You can be productive and get some homework out of the way for the day.

Going to these places will help you adjust and learn more about your new school town. It will also make your college experience more fun and enjoyable!

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