Peoria is full of fun activities and attractions that will appeal to people of all different interests. From shopping to dining, there are a number of businesses within Peoria that provide entertainment and recreation to those who inhabit the city. For college students, going away to college can be stressful as they leave the familiarity of the cities and towns they most likely grew up in. For some Bradley students, the task of becoming acquainted with their new surroundings proved to be successful as they accustomed and familiarized themselves with the different places that Peoria has to offer them. These are some of the best off-campus locations Bradley students like to visit:
Fired Up: Paint Your Own Pottery
Located at 4532 N. Prospect Rd. in Peoria Heights, the art center allows customers to design and paint their own pottery creations. The business features a wide selection of of ceramics to purchase and paint in the store. Once customers have finished painting their creations, the staff will fire up the kiln to heat the paint and seal the pottery.
Outside Fired Up
According to Rachel Gardetto, a sophomore nursing and psychology double major at Bradley, Fired Up is the perfect location for students who are just trying to burn off a little steam during stressful times.
“I went during finals last year, and sitting down to paint [at Fired Up] was the best way to help me relax and destress between exams,” Gardetto said. “I would definitely recommend going there.”
Gardetto said the customer service within the store is friendly and allows for an overall satisfactory experience.
Inside Fired Up
“The customer service is really good,” Gardetto said. “[The employees] help you with everything from picking out the best piece of pottery to which colors would look best, and they are very fast at cooking the pottery too.”
The location offers various art classes for groups to learn about painting and pottery as well. Groups can make reservations to sit down together for an instructor-led class.
http://www.firedupstudios.biz/
Grand View Drive Park
For the more outdoorsy and adventurous people, a favorite of Bradley students is Grand View Drive Park. The hilly area offers a scenic route for explorers to go hiking and jogging.
Hiking Trail at Grand View Drive
During President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to Peoria in 1910, he called the hiking route “the world’s most beautiful drive.” Overlooking 180 acres and spanning 2.52 miles, the drive slopes in and out of hills providing a challenging hike with a beautiful sight.
For junior business management and leadership major Molly Paterson, the drive is an attractive opportunity to escape the “Bradley bubble.”
“It is really easy to get caught up on campus in the Bradley bubble,” Paterson said. “That’s why I like to take a drive over to Grand View Drive to go hiking. It is a nice change of scenery from campus, and it gets me moving to different parts of the community.”
The park was built in 1903 and is located at 3300 N. Grandview Dr. in Peoria.
https://www.peoriaparks.org/grand-view-drive/
Blue Duck Tavern
Peoria has a wide variety of unique dining options, however, among one of the newest is Blue Duck Tavern.
Blue Duck Tavern
Located at 212 SW. Water Street at the Riverfront in Peoria, the restaurant provides unique barbeque flavors and food combinations. For example, the Banh Mi sandwich utilizes traditional barbeque brisket meat while incorporating Asian spices and flavors, adding a unique combination to the food.
For Bradley students, the restaurant offers a fun place to eat, try something different and hang out with friends.
“It was great atmosphere, the service was phenomenal,” Stefan Miller, a senior accounting major, said. “The drinks were tasty and well-priced and they had wonderful barbeque.”
http://www.blueduckbarbecue.com/
The Shoppes at Grand Prairie
For college students, nothing is better than taking a trip to the mall, where all of one’s needs can be purchased at a convenient location. The Shoppes at Grand Prairie mall does just that.
Located at 5201 W. War Memorial Dr. in Peoria, the outdoor shopping center boasts more than 70 retail stores and restaurants ranging from H&M to Dick’s Sporting Goods to Flat Top
Grand Prairie
restaurant.
According to students, the shopping center is the place to go when in need of a night away from campus.
“I love going to [the Shoppes at Grand Prairie] because of the quality of shopping there,” Rachel Ehlermann, a senior public relations and political science double major, said. “The stores are really nice and accommodate to everyone’s unique style.”
Carmike Cinemas, the local movie theater, is located within the parking lot of the shopping mall as well.
http://www.shoppesatgrandprairie.com/
Map of locations (all locations are marked by stars)
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.760847,-89.5687962,12.27z
Locations are starred