Last Non-Football Friday!

Three cheers!  We’ve made it through another offseason and when Women’s Soccer begins the year-long destruction of the UR Ticks today, all will be right in the Valley again.  It’s also the last Friday we won’t have a game preview for football for quite a while and students are returning to campus (if you’re an upperclassmen and you’re not back yet, you’re doing it wrong by the way).  So we wanted to take a little time today and dole out some cranky old-man advice for making the most of your fall in the ‘Burg.  This isn’t to say you shouldn’t enjoy this clip and start learning the words before the MRD’s much-anticipated unveiling of Start Wearing Purple in its full 300+ member glory next weekend, but despite the fact we’re old enough to have know idea what a FROG is, we’re still absolutely certain Harrisonburg can be a launching spot for some great times, even those of the non-party variety. Obviously this list is biased towards our own interest, so everyone please add to it in the comments.  We know there’s a ton of good stuff out there.  LOTS of preview content coming next week.

1) Go jump off a reservoir tower or a dam.  We can’t rememeber the directions (and wonder if we should have a disclaimer here? ah, old again), but ask your hippieish upperclass friend with the beat-up truck and they can fill you in.  Pack a cooler, a towel, and even a tent if you’ve got the night.  Grab one good friend and two you’d like to get to know better and go.  Do it NOW while the water’s still warm.

2) Mountain Biking – not sure if you realize, but you live in one of the best places in the country for this right now.  In fact, next weekend one of the biggest, baddest, most fun races and debauchery festivals on the East Coast takes place just outside of town.  The Shenandoah Mountain 100.  But even if that’s over the top for you, there are incredible rides and great fall views out of town in every direction.

3) Hike – Take Port Republic all the way out through the stop sign till it dead ends into National Forest road.  Go left.  Park at the last gate.  Go up. Or check out Hiking Upward and find what suits you.

4) Wine/Beer festivals.  Craig’s list for a HHS kid to drive your ass.  These were just getting started when we were there and now they’re everywhere.  Consider yourself lucky.

5) Go see live music.  Interlocken festival is just over Afton mountain next weekend.  Plus you’ll be surprised how much you’ll find right in Harrisonburg if you take the time to seek it out.

6) Reddish Knob – If all that hiking or biking sounds like too much work, at least do yourself the favor of driving to the top of Reddish Knob for the incredible view of all that hiking and biking you could be doing.

7) STAY for Fall Break and long weekends.  Said it once, we’ll say it 1000 times.  If you really think arguing with your folks and hitting some crappy suburban Coastal Flats with your high school friends will make a memory that will last forever, then by all means, take that break you think you need so much and go back to mom and dads.  Otherwise, stick around even if you think “there’s nothing to do.”  Trust us, you’ll find something, and it will be better.

Have fun and see you next week!