Experience BG: A Parental Guide to Their Student’s College Town
Coming to Bowling Green to visit your millennial in college? Is your student a first year and they have not yet had the chance to explore all of what Bowling Green has to offer? Coming to college as a millennial can be stressful and nerve racking, especially if they have been living on campus away from home for the first time. Here’s an abridged blog about what Bowling Green’s off campus attractions are. Focusing on activities that both parent and child, and maybe grandparents can all participate in.
Some of
the sights to see in Bowling Green are the various architectural features of the
buildings throughout the city, both on the campus and in the city. Other
attractions that the city has to offer are its nine different parks, recreational
activities and locations, along with museums, and art galleries. Interwoven
from over two centuries, Bowling Green is a mixing pot of traditions and
history. The Wood County Historical
Center and Museum is where the former county Infirmary operated for nearly a
century, from 1869-1971. This site has housed many exhibits since its conversion
in 1975, at times the Wood County Historical Center and Museum hosts art
exhibits. Which, leads to another attraction that the city has to offer. BG is
the home to ten art galleries and theaters. BG also has many outdoor
recreational locations that consist of BG City Park, Wintergarden Park, Carter
Park along with several others, if it is the outdoor experience they wish. The City Park is complete with playgrounds, a
skate park, a water park and a golf course.
When the
college student grows hungry, not just for food, but rather, off campus
cuisine, Bowling Green has many unique dining options with fifty local
restaurants. They range from different types of international cuisine to pub
style dining. Unique BG dining opportunities are Call of the Canyon Café, and SamB's, Uraku Sushi, and El Zarape. Call
of the Canyon Café is a charming family restaurant that offers southwestern
style cuisine. This restaurant also offers an assortment of mouth-watering pies
and other desserts. SamB’s is a local favorite that has been in Bowling Green
for over forty years. SamB’s is known for their pecan chicken
dinner, as well as seafood specials. Another seafood option is sushi, which can
be found at Uraku Sushi, a Japanese
Restaurant. Uraku has a wide variety of Japanese, Korean, and Thai foods; along
with a very extensive sushi menu. Another restaurant with a very extensive menu
is El Zarape. El Zarape is the local Mexican restaurant, which offers authentic
Mexican cuisine. If pizza is what the student is longing for,
there are several locally owned pizzerias that do not leave disappointed. A
town favorite is Myles that is located on Wooster Street.
Other unique opportunities can be explored
utilizing the eight different tours that the Bowling Green Convention and
Visitor’s Bureau has to offer. Some of the tours the CVB offers are the BG Art
Tour, the Dark Tour, and the Green, Garden Tour, and the Brew Tour. The BG Art
Tour is a self-guided tour through out Bowling Green’s craft stores that
include hands on experiences, as well as art galleries, and theater
productions. And if music is of interest, Finders Records has the largest
record collection in Ohio. The Dark tour offers a unique experience through allegedly
haunted locations in Bowling Green. The turmoil caused by a ghost, who haunts Joe
E. Brown, Eva Marie Saint and Gish theaters on the BGSU campus. This occurs
when a seat and formal invitation are not given to her. The Dark Tour offers
spooky experience for those seeking a little more thrill. Another tour is the Brew Tour, which is a
self-guided exploration though locally owned and run breweries. If you wish to
participate with your college student and they are 21 years or older, the
nightlife and entertainment venues are vast and plenty. Grumpy Dave’s Pub or
Howard’s Club H are where people come to perform. Many of the performers are
locals, but every once and a while celebrities such as Frankie Muniz or Nick
Jonas can be spotted performing or enjoying the nightlife.
If the
student is interested in life in general, the Green and Garden Tour would be
something for them. It offers a variety of you-pick destinations. A you-pick
destination is a farm or orchard where individuals can come and pick their own
fresh fruits and vegetables. The tour also has several nature hike locations
such as Wintergarden Nature Preserve. Wintergarden offers miles of nature
trails that you can enjoy as your student and yourself view the native forest
and prairie meadows. Another popular green location is the Bowling Green Wind Farm.
At the wind farm have the you have opportunity to walk right up underneath the
massive wind turbines and learn about wind energy.
From the hustling and bustling of Main Street to the historic district of Boomtown, Bowling Green has many different attractions for all ages. There is always a new experience to be had when you visit your student in Bowling Green.