Summertime in Carbondale is freaking sweet. Sure, soon there will be clusters of bugs reminiscent of an Indiana Jones movie and it will be so hot that your thighs will stick together like Velcro, but this is an amazing and unique time to be in southern Illinois. As the rapper Wombaticus Rex once wrote, “This town’s a lot nicer when there’s nobody here.”

Still some folks find themselves stuck during the summer months. The normal echoes of, “There’s nothing to do here” and “I’m bored” seem to intensify as the lazy days drag on.

I spent my first summer in college at SIUC and it was one of the best few months of my life. I can really say that I fell in love with southern Illinois that summer. The next eight or so weeks could be an amazing opportunity to discover new people and places in your own backyard. And best of all, it’s really cheap.

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So the next day you are sitting around, bored out of your mind complaining, bit quitching and go on one of my Surefire Summer Adventures.

Nature: God’s playground

It’s hot outside. I know. Go jump in some water. It has the magical ability to cool you off. Seriously.

The Spillway is a day’s worth of fun. It also is probably the only place besides the SIU pool you are going to swim down here unless you illegally pool-hop local hotels. Why doesn’t Carbondale have a pool? Because your local government hates fun and sound community ideas.

Luckily we have the Spillway located on Route 13 past Murphysboro. It is a huge man-made Spillway/waterfall located at the base of a lake. There is a beach to swim and tan from and the water isn’t terrible (although I’d still take an industrial shower afterwards). They banned booze last year, which changed it from being a daily drink fest. But it did lessen the amount of cuts from stepping on broken glass and beer cans.

Crab Orchard Lake is another one of the many lakes in the southern Illinois region. Depending on how many hours you want to go, they rent Pontoon Boats for $150-$200. Split 10 ways, this can be one of the most fun trips you take all year. You can fish too, although they recommend eating only one fish from the lake per year. And if they recommend eating just one, I’ll take that as a cue to eat none, thank you very much.

Devil’s Kitchen, Cave in Rock, Garden of the Gods and Giant City are all spectacular this time of year. As strange as it may seem, we live in the middle of a natural forest. Take advantage. I dare you.

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From tourist to townie

When living in Carbondale during the summer, you will most likely see fewer Hollister-wearing Mongoloids and much more of an equally bizarre creature: the Townie. Be not afraid. They are more frightened of you than you are of them.

The Sunset Concerts, which start this Thursday, are your best chance to observe them in their natural habitat. This town pretty much shuts down every week while it gathers at Shryock or Turley Park to enjoy some free music. And booze is certainly permitted (if not strongly encouraged). Afterwards, if you have the courage, venture to the strip. A warning however: PK’s is not for the nervous rookie. Start out at Hangar and work your way up.

This summer, you can find new local places to go and eat too. Southern Illinois has all types of great barbecue joints and an even greasier selection of delectable breakfasts. Clog your arteries a bit down here whilst you get the chance.

Bring back the child

You remember how much fun things like Go-Karts used to be as a child? They are still that much fun; you just stopped riding them. Bring out the child in yourself and plan some summer adventures specifically to bring out the little rascal in you.

There are a number of bowling alleys in southern Illinois and the cheapest of all is in the Student Center. If, like Barack Obama, bowling isn’t your thing, go for the Go-Karts. There are a couple of places in Southern Illinois, but the closest is out in Murphysboro where 127 and 13 meet by Hardees. It’s cheap and worth it, plus they have mini-golf.

Whatever your preference, just go out and do it. Go to the dollar store and walk out with $8 worth of balloons and water guns. Drive to St. Louis for the day and spend it on their beautiful (yet pricey) boardwalk. Drive to Kentucky, where you can pay someone money to go hunt wild boars with handguns (seriously, you can). Whatever you do, just don’t come complaining to me that you’re bored.

O’Connor is a junior studying

political science.