Bored out of your mind?

Man, you (road) trippin!

By Cassandra J. Cunningham, staff writerDuring the summer, it's easy to get struck by summeritis. Everybody is gone until fall, there's nothing on television, nothing going on in town, and anywhere but here looks better. So what is one to do? Road trip of course!!!

With Whom: The Besties

Where: Holiday World

Mileage: 233 Miles

Estimated Time: 4 Hours

While gas is creeping back up into anger zones, splitting a tank three or four ways can make this trip easy! Holiday World is a holiday themed amusement park in Santa Claus. IN. It has four different sections themed like various holidays: Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Halloween and of course, Christmas! It has various roller coasters, spinning rides, and a kid park for the little ones. It also had a huge water park attached to it, with some sort of African theme, which has nothing to do with holidays, but it adds to the fun.

Holiday World has been voted the cleanest fun park in America, and get this, FREE DRINKS! (Not that kind of free drinks.) The park features a number of stands called the Pepsi Oasis, where guests can get free Pepsi products all day! The price of admission is $39.95 for one day and $59.95 for a two consecutive day pass. There are various holiday themed hotels around the park and a camp ground outside the park that features five pools, a put put golf course, paddle boat rides and basketball courts. With cheap prices, free drinks, and a ton to do, this is one road trip that everyone has got to try!

With Whom: The Significant Other

Where: Key Lime Cove

Mileage: 177 Miles

Estimated Time: 3 Hours 30 Minutes

Key Lime Cove is located in Gurnee, Ill., right outside of Chicago. Key Lime Cove is a hotel with an indoor water park and arcade. It's located right next to Six Flags and Gurnee Mills Mall. Price for a normal hotel room with two Queen beds, a pull out couch, and flat screen television is $165.00 for a night, which includes bracelets for unlimited access into the water park throughout guests stay. The extravagant hotel also has a giant arcade, and several resturants including an old fashioned ice cream shop that builds ice cream sundaes as big as the full size sink they bring them to the table in! Key Lime Cove is a mix between a carnival and an outdoor water park all under one roof. It's the perfect mix of fun and romance for any couple to enjoy.

With Whom: The Fam

Where: King's Island

Mileage: 237 Miles

Estimated Time: 4 Hours

King's Island is the notorious amusement park in Cincinnati, OH that features the world's scariest and longest wooden roller coasters. With a big water park attached, it's a great way to keep the family occupied for a day or two. General admission tickets for one day cost $32.99 and a two consecutive day pass costs $47.99. King's Island also features the Firehawk, a roller coaster that gives people the only flying experience Ohio offers.

Use downtime to reconnect with art!

By Samantha Hylla, staff writer

Krannert Art Museum

In the heart of the University campus stands the Krannert Art Museum. It's a hidden gem of sorts to the C-U area (unless you're a student that's in tune with the art scene). The Krannert Art Museum not only houses an entire gallery of contemporary works, but is also the home to many older and cultural pieces. The museum's Gelvin Noel gallery features Andy Warhol's "Marilyn" and many other impressive pieces that are part of the "Vivid Lines in Graphic Times" exhibit.

Megan Kwasny, an employee of the museum, said her favorite gallery is the classics because of the 15th and 16th century original oil paintings that can be seen there. Visiting the Krannert Art Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in art from any time period and genre.

Currently the museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is free to everyone, although donations are greatly appreciated. The summer months are slower for the museum and they tend to see less people which means it's open until the end of July and will re-open in August when school starts back up. Plenty of parking is available, but before 5 p.m. on weekdays you'll have to pay the meter.

More information on the museum can be found at www.kam.uiuc.edu.

Parkland Art Museum

When looking for art this summer, don't forget about the Parkland Art Gallery. The Media Arts Student Juried Exhibition is going on until June 18, so be sure to stop by and take a look at what Parkland students are up to.

The Parkland Art Gallery website sums up the exhibit, saying, "The media arts exhibit allows students taking Graphic Design, Web Design, and Illustration courses the chance to present their best work to the community and to industry professionals in marketing communication, advertising, and design."

Over the summer, the art gallery will be open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Gallery is closest to the M parking lot which is free to the public.

MELD

Monday Evening Life Drawing group is run by RJ Karlstrom, a former Parkland student and the first editor of Prospectus. The group is a great place for students, retirees, teachers, and all others who want to relax and practice their drawing skills.

According to RJ, they like to keep things "as loose and casual as possible." There is no membership or obligation besides a small fee of $7 dollars every time you come. Artists are responsible for bringing their supplies and MELD provides table space, trays, lighting, chairs, props, and the model.

RJ likes to keep things fresh and often rotates the models as well as their poses. The session is 2 hours long, begins at 7 p.m. on Monday nights, and is held at Boneyard Pottery. The best way to improve your skills and keep them fresh over the summer is to practice, so what better place to do that at than MELD?