by Brooke Wright

NEWS Intern

The dog days of summer are upon us, which means school is out and kids, teens and adults alike are bored out of their minds trying to find something to do.

Clinton County is notorious for its small town atmosphere with not much to do but eat, fill up on gas and go grocery shopping. With that in mind, it might be difficult to keep yourself occupied with something before you go stir crazy with boredom.

Here are a few ideas to help not get that feeling of uselessness during summer:

1. Read a book

Summer is prime time to go on a reading binge. I personally get most of my reading done during this time because college doesn’t allow much free time to read for enjoyment. I particularly like to sit outside in the sun while I read to enjoy the nice weather, which also helps me get my daily recommended need of vitamin D. Not only is reading valuable to your health, it is beneficial in many other ways. According to research done by Reader’s Digest, reading can help you live longer, help you think critically, help increase emotional intelligence and expose you to new vocabulary and facts you wouldn’t learn elsewhere. I’m currently reading Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, an enthralling mystery that chronicles the lives of three women as they struggle with hardships in their daily lives. If you’re looking for something more relatable with a college setting, I recommend Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. If you’re looking for an interesting science fiction/fantasy series, I recommend The Lunar Chronicles. If you’re looking for something funny with action, I recommend One for the Money by Janet Evanovich.

2. Start a series on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime

If you’re like me, when you start a series on one of these platforms, you’re likely to finish it within a couple days, so this might not keep you occupied for long. However, starting a new series will reduce boredom and likely provoke inspiration for something else to do after you have finished watching said show. I recently finished season 2 of Marvel’s Jessica Jones. I highly recommend any of the Marvel shows currently on Netflix as well as the BBC series, Sherlock, which is a 21st Century spin on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mysteries. These platforms have a variety of different shows and movies; some are originals you can only find on the platforms, but they also have shows that usually come on cable television as well.

3. Take a short road trip

Clinton County is full of winding country roads that sometimes lead to places you haven’t been before. If you’re interested in doing this, I suggest you start with where you’re familiar, but if you come to a stop, flip a coin to choose whether to turn left or right. Keep doing this until you end up somewhere you don’t recognize and get out and explore. Take some friends as well to experience the fun with someone else. They can also help you navigate your way back if you get lost. However, be wary of your surroundings if you decide to do this. Summer is also prime time for snakes and other dangerous animals to lurk in wooded areas.

4. Visit the lake

Clinton County is in the middle of two lakes, Dale Hollow and Lake Cumberland, which are both a short drive away depending on where you live. Make a day of it and go to either lake, walk around the dock, fish, look at the wildlife and visit the marina shops. There are many marinas nearby, including Wisdom Dock, Grider Hill Dock, Wolf River Resort, Lake Cumberland State Park and Dale Hollow State Park. Take advantage of that friend you have with the boat and join them on the water to get the ultimate lake experience.

5. Explore town

This may not seem like much, but the town of Albany can be very interesting. Park on the square, walk around and read the many signs placed around the courthouse. They relay information about the courthouse burning and other historical things about Albany. Moreover, if you go inside the courthouse, you’ll find a Confederate army soldier uniform on the first floor and other historical artifacts. To add to this activity, if you’re looking for something educational for kids, create a scavenger hunt for them to find these items and write down facts they learned from reading about the history behind Albany. There are also other things to do in town, including shopping at The Klassic Shop, which has a variety of women’s clothing, and Bean and Me, a clothing boutique. The Cornerstone Restaurant has a variety of food if you want to grab lunch, and Clinton Jeweler’s can help with all your jewelry needs.

6. Go to the park

Mountain View Park recently got a new playground set, so take advantage of the amenities and bring your kids to let them explore the new playground. The park also has two baseball fields available to utilize for family fun tournaments. The trail around the park allows you to enjoy the nature around the area and helps you stay active during summer. If you don’t want to walk or run alone, bring a friend or walk your dog to stay active too.

Small town living can be fun if you know how to use its amenities to your advantage. While there are many other things to do around town, these are just a few ideas to help out with the boredom you might experience during the summer. As John Mellencamp puts it, “my bed is in a small town, and that’s good enough for me.”