Just look around!.

ART MUSEUMS

If art-watching is a hobby for you, there's plenty of places to visit. Most importantly, the St. Louis Art Museum is massive and is constantly bringing new shows to the area. While it is a bit expensive for students, it's worth the money. The Art Museum is in Forest Park in St. Louis and is at 1 Fine Arts Drive.

Of course, art for kids can be found in the area as well. The City Museum is a place where kids can interact and make their own art. In fact, the entire interior of the building is an enormous piece of artwork. The City Museum is at 701 N. 15th in St. Louis.

If you'd rather stay close to home for your art-watching, take a stroll through SIUE's Art and Design Building. Not only is there a gallery, but you can even see art students working on their pieces in classrooms and sometimes outside the building. Also, there is a gallery in Morris University Center on the second floor. This space is almost always being used for art shows and even visiting artists' work can be found here.

Also close to home is Sacred Grounds, a cafe in downtown Edwardsville, that showcases local artists' work. You can sit down for a cappuccino, have a quiet place to study and even buy some art if it tickles your fancy.

CONCERT VENUES

By far, the best venue for a concert in St. Louis is Mississippi Nights on Laclede's Landing, right next to, you guessed it, the Mississippi River. Don't expect to be able to wait to buy tickets to any show at this venue because with an extremely low capacity, most shows sell out fast. Mississippi Nights brings performers like Ben Harper, Long Beach Dub Allstars (Sublime) and any other band that prefers an intimate setting as opposed to a large amphitheater. With two bars serving drinks, low ticket prices and a designated place for underage patrons, everyone is satisfied. Mississippi Nights is at 914 N. First St. on Laclede's Landing in St. Louis.

The American Theatre, at 416 N. Ninth St. in St. Louis, is also an excellent place to see a concert. Everything from Rob Zombie to Rusted Root comes through this tenured venue. There is a large pit area for standing fans who wouldn't mind a bit of moshing, as well as standing room for those not taken with broken bones. Upstairs on either balconies are rows of antique red velvet seats, all supplying an excellent view of the stage. Security is tight, but you'll have fun.

To see more obscure bands or local groups just getting started, places like the Galaxy and Pop's are ideal locals. The Galaxy typically features rock or heavy metal bands, with Mondays set aside for Club Fetish Night. It has a bar area, a mosh pit area and a back room with a light show and games. The Galaxy is in St. Louis at 1227 Washington. Pop's is on this side of the Mississippi River in Sauget next door to the infamous strip clubs. This bar is massive and caters to the toughest people on Earth: bikers. Concerts usually run until just after midnight, but the doors never close on this place. It's open all night for those suffering from severe insomnia.

While weather is still permitting, Riverport Amphitheatre is an excellent outdoor venue for evening shows and all-day festivals. Ticket prices here however, might land you on welfare and security might land you in jail. Seats are always more expensive, but that's all right because most of the fun is found in the lawn. Any performer able to sell a hell of a lot of tickets will play here if it's not winter yet. To get to Riverport, go to Earth City and look for one of the many signs. If it is late autumn or winter, Riverport just won't do. Instead, the Kiel Center or the TWA Dome is used.

FOR NATURE JUNKIES

Because SIUE is located near the Mississippi River, there are a lot of natural sites to be found close by. Cahokia Mounds is a historic Native American burial site found south of Pontoon Beach, a mere 15-minute drive from campus. This place is perfect for leisurely strolls through the woods and picnics. Once in a while, local Native Americans gather there for cultural dances and festivals.

North of Edwardsville is Alton, which has a couple of natural wonders to offer the nature enthusiast. There are many caves just past the downtown area of Alton at the beginning of the Great River Road. These caves are a great place to visit, but be careful not to enter a cave that has been marked off by the authorities.

Driving the length of the Great River Road is beautiful, especially at sunset. It runs for miles along the banks of the Mississippi River and despite the barges, the view is lovely. Near the end of the River Road is a park called Pere Marquette. This is an excellent place for hiking and eagle watching. Hundreds of eagles nest in this area and to see them in flight is quite majestic.

Of course, for caged animal-lovers, there is the St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park. With a variety of animals ranging from reptiles to tigers, the zoo even has a petting zoo for children.

If leaving campus isn't something you're prepared to do, SIUE has some of the most amazing trails around. The trails are perfect for biking and hiking......