Living in the Midwest definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. As a true Midwesterner, I know this firsthand. Things like constantly being surrounded by corn and scorching summers are the quintessential burdens of the region, however the lifesaver is having awesome cities and places to visit that are only a few hours away. We'll never be this young again, or have as much disposable time and money that’s not wrapped up in expenses, so now i the perfect time to go on as many weekend getaways as possible and explore the places around you. Traveling with your college friends to a new place other than campus will make memories that you will carry with you forever. Here are 11 reasons why putting down the books and getting away for the weekend is so important for a college student:

1. Seeing somewhere new: kind of the point, but here we are. Getting out of class on Thursday or Friday and getting in the car with your friends to go somewhere you’ve never been is so exciting! Navigating is something you get to figure out together, all while making hilarious memories along the way.
2. Recharge your batteries: it’s incredibly easy to get worn down in the college environment. With constantly being busy and living out of a planner, scheduling time to get away will do wonders for your mental health.
3. Doing things you can’t do in your town: this is one of the best parts of traveling because experiencing something new is the key to enjoying your time away. Exploring new interests will make you a more interesting person overall, so you might as well take advantage of all the exciting opportunities that arise while you still can.
4. Food: honestly I don’t need to explain this one, but eating a sushiritto is not something anyone should pass up. The previous applies to rainbow bagels and ice cream as well. Who am I kidding, eat it all.
5. Do it for the vine: or Instagram photos, because we are all so guilty of going somewhere just for the photos we know we’ll inevitably post. It’s what we do.
6. The mental vacation: getting all of your school work done before the fun begins is the best way to fully enjoy getting away. After successfully tending to all your responsibilities, you feel accomplished and can let loose instead of agonizing over the monotonous French exercises that are due Monday morning.
7. The week before: leading up to a getaway, it’s fun to get excited and pick out the outfits you’re going to wear, and to plan where you’re going to go on your weekend extravaganza. The excitement keeps the week going and trumps the little bummers along the way, knowing you have something fun to look forward to.
8. The week after: it feels great to start a week on a good foot and have the lingering excitement of the weekend will get you through the gray Monday.
9. Sharing the experience: whether you’re getting away with friends or someone special, traveling is the perfect way to solidify those relationships and to make lasting memories.
10. The talks: these are the bread and butter. It’s amazing being able to do fun things, but going in depth with other people in meaningful or hilarious conversations is so socially rewarding. Getting to know someone more intimately is never a bad thing.
11. Being young and having fun: I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, this is the time to be selfish and do the things we want to do, so when life hands in the lemons, it’s our damn duty to make the lemonade.