When I was at Freshman Orientation some three years ago, I distinctly remember my Orientation Leader telling my group that everything you need or want is on the Ball State campus. I thought to myself, "What a bunch of bulls---." These are going to be some of the most wonderful and memorable years in your life; don't waste them spending all your time on campus. Muncie is more than just the bars in the Village. Take it from me, here are some places in or near Muncie you should explore while you are here:
If there is one place you need to go sometime during your stay in Muncie, it is Ivanhoe's. A mere 30 miles away in Upland, Ivanhoe's is the best ice cream in East Central Indiana.
Winchester is the location for the cheapest first-run movies around. If you want to take a short trip for dinner and a movie, go to the Airline Twin Drive-In, where it is $4 for adults, and Tuesday nights are $4 car load nights.
If you are into stage productions, the best in the area are the Muncie Civic Theatre and the Mainstage Theatre in Anderson, which is one of Indiana's longest running community theaters.
Always keep a look out for something going on at the Water Bowl in Muncie. This past summer, it was the location of an amazing grassroots music festival.
For those of you looking for the cheapest food around, head over to Anderson, which is the location of the nearest CiCi's Pizza. The chain -- which has over 550 locations in 26 states -- has a $4.99 all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta and salad buffet.
If you want to re-live your childhood, go to the Muncie Children's Museum and have some fun with the exhibits. Next to the Museum is the Horizon Convention Center, which has the best expos and gatherings in Muncie.
In Albany, the second-best ice cream can be found. Daily Dream is a long-running ice cream parlor that features some of the best shakes in all of Indiana.
For those of you wanting some entertainment and education at the same time, the Minnetrista Cultural Center and Oakhurst Gardens is one of the cornerstones of Muncie. However, it seems very few Ball State students visit it. Capture the beauty of this magnificent year-round gardens, especially during the Christmas season, when the annual Enchanted Luminaria Walk is available.
In Chesterfield, visit Camp Chesterfield, which is the home of the Indiana Association of Spiritualists. Several seminars and banquets are held there -- so for those of you who are into New Age spiritualism, it is a definite must-see.
In Yorktown, for those of you who are 21 years old or older, the Mr. Mouse Bar and Grill is one of the best bars in the area, and it always features local live bands for your enjoyment.
The Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association -- which can be found in Portland and at the Anderson and Winchester speedways and the Muncie Dragway -- offers the best places to get your fill of speed. Winchester Speedway has been raced on by the greats of NASCAR, including Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Rusty Wallace.
Write to Matthew at
mlstephenson@bsu.edu
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