Things to do in Ottawa

November 9, 2009  
Filed under Feature

The small town of Ottawa has been accused of having a limited amount of activities to do to keep today’s youth occupied. Having cow fields instead of malls and bowling alleys definitely gives Ottawa a bad reputation. If teens could find some interesting things to do to keep them occupied they wouldn’t get involved with drinking and drugs, and maybe the escalading teen pregnancy rate would drop. “Cruising is the main activity teenagers do in Ottawa, I used to do it more than I do now. It is not as fun, it’s a time and gas waster. I wish we had more places to go in Ottawa to have a good time,” Tabitha McPheron, sophomore, said.

There are plenty of things to do in Ottawa and in the surrounding towns in Franklin County if you look hard enough.

If you are a movie lover, the Crystal Plaza on Main Street in is a great place to catch one of the newest blockbuster movies. A 30 minute drive to one of the multiple movie theaters in Lawrence would also suffice. Olathe although a long distance, is a great place to catch a movie at AMC theaters. But let’s get back to the good old town of Ottawa.

If you like to eat out and enjoying a nice meal with family and friends there are a handful of very popular restaurants in town, including El Mezcal, Applebee’s, Pizza Time, Pizza Village, Potter’s wheel, Poncho’s or the newly opened Nigel’s. Some of these restaurants have gotten rave reviews and are worth checking out, let your taste buds decide.

If you are the kind of person who is one with nature and enjoy activities such as backpacking and riding your bike, the wilderness might be closer then you think. The Spirit Trail bike path winds all the way through Ottawa and is a great way to get your daily exercise.  Minimal traffic makes for pedestrian friendly streets, which makes walking a safe and easy way to get some fresh air and exercise.

Haley Park has been host to many great local bands.

“It’s nice because it’s free for people who want to watch and it is good for band publicity because it’s on Main Street” says junior, Allie Williams. All kinds of bands from all different genres and age groups have congregated to perform for the community to display their talents.

The great music and culture draws a crowd and if you are interested in music you should stop by sometime and listen.

Forest Park is a great place for outdoor activity. People of all age groups can find something interesting to do there. Playground areas are available for younger children, they are safe places where kids can run off that excess energy and their parents can watch from a distance without worrying. Tennis Courts are available to train possibly the next Wimbledon Champion, or just someone wanting to hit the ball with a few friends. In the summer the Ottawa public pool is open for business! The cool water will beckon you to dip your toes in to cool off in the Kansas summer heat. In contrast when the white winter rolls around and decides to sprinkle some white powder across our town the Marais De Cygnes River dam is a great place to go sledding.

So the next time you complain that there is nothing to do in Ottawa if you get up off the couch and look around. You will find entertainment beyond the television and computer screen.

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Haley Butler

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