Summer in Auburn is at its best quiet and at its worst hot and slow. When Auburn University students leave town in May, the pace of life slows dramatically. With the cool days of spring long gone and months before football season, Auburn residents may feel they have to travel great lengths to find summer fun.
A closer look reveals it’s only a short distance to find entertainment (some of it’s even air conditioned) in places like Montgomery, Atlanta and Lake Martin.

Montgomery
Aside from being the state capital, Montgomery is home to attractions like the Hank Williams Museum, the Harriott II and The Capri Theatre. Montgomery is even more appealing to Auburn residents looking to have fun because it’s only 45 minutes south on Interstate 85.

The Hank Williams Museum
The Hank Williams Museum is located at 118 Commerce St. and features a wide variety of exhibits including some of the musician’s personal artifacts, autographed records and awards and two life-size portraits of Williams. The museum’s main attraction is Williams’ 1952 baby blue Cadillac. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more on the museum, visit thehankwilliamsmuseum.com.

Harriott II
For some relaxing entertainment visitors should check out the Harriott II. One of Montgomery’s newest attractions, the Harriott II is a renovated 19th century riverboat. The Harriott II is available for dinner cruises four nights a week. Guests are served a meal while cruising the Alabama River. Prices vary depending on the cruises, which include the Tuesday Evening Praise Cruise, the Wednesday Evening Commerce Dinner Cruise, the Friday Evening Harriot II Dinner Cruise and the Sunday Evening Blues Cruise. Tickets must be purchased 48 hours in advance. For more information, visit montgomeryal.gov.

Capri Theatre
After dinner on the Harriott II, visitors can catch the late show at Montgomery’s Capri Theatre. Built in 1941, The Capri was originally named The Clover and was Montgomery’s first neighborhood theater. It has been operated by the Capri Community Film Society since 1983 and now shows independent films you might not find at your regular multiplex.Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Capri will be playing “Whatever Works” and “The Girlfriend Experience” in July. Admission for non-members of the film society is $5. Children pay $2. For more, visit capritheatre.org.

Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium
Catch a Montgomery Biscuits minor league baseball game at this 7,000 capacity stadium. Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium is a modern ballpark built into the historical train station and offers luxury suites, picnic areas and more. Single game tickets range from $7 to $11. For the game schedule, visit biscuitsbaseball.com.

Atlanta
Atlanta is a short drive north on I-85 and offers Auburn residents a chance to experience a day in a big city. Some of the places to visit in Atlanta include Oakland Cemetery, Piedmont Park and the Georgia Aquarium.

Oakland Cemetery
Oakland Cemetery boasts being the oldest cemetery in the city. The cemetery Web site explains that it was first used in 1850. Oakland is steeped in history. Confederate Cmdr. John B. Hood used the hill in the cemetery as his command center during the Battle of Atlanta in 1864. Twilight walking tours of the cemetery are held on Saturdays and Sundays, each with a different theme. Some of the tours include African American History of Oakland, Oakland and the Civil War and a “Gone With the Wind” tour. Adult admission is $10 and student admission is $5 with a student ID.
Payton Staub, a senior at Auburn University, stumbled upon the cemetery by accident.
“My girlfriend and I were on our way back to Auburn and we saw a sign for it. We thought we'd check it out,” Staub said. “It’s probably one of the coolest places I’ve been to in Atlanta.”

Piedmont Park
After visiting the cemetery, head north to visit Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Piedmont Park is 190 acres of nature framed by Atlanta’s city skyline. Piedmont has something for everyone-even the dog. Visitors can fish for Brim, Crappie, Catfish and Bass off Clara Meer’s fishing piers. The park has 22 grills throughout the facility to accommodate guests. Piedmont features a swimming pool with lap lanes and a landscaped deck. The park also includes an enclosed exercise area for dogs. On Saturdays visitors can enjoy Green Market for Piedmont Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to piedmontpark.org, the open-air market offers locally grown produce and live music from Atlanta musicians. Paul McCartney will perform on Saturday, Aug. 15.
Amendi Stephens has lived in Atlanta for several years and visits the park regularly with her dog Molly.
“I moved to Atlanta because I loved the city, but sometimes I need a break from it. So Molly and I come to Piedmont for a chance to be outside,” Stephens said.

Georgia Aquarium
One of Atlanta’s best-known attractions is also the most highly sought after in the hot summer months. The Georgia Aquarium is one of the coolest spots to visit because it is indoors. Some of the aquarium’s exhibits are Cold Water Quest, which features beluga whales, sea dragons and spider crabs, and Tropical Diver, featuring clown fish and sea horses. The aquarium’s extended summer hours are Sunday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. General adult admission is $26. For children ages 3-12 admission is $19.50. For more on the aquarium, visit georgiaaquarium.org.

Turner Field
Watch the Atlanta Braves play through the end of July. Ticket prices range from as little as $6 to as much as $80. Fans can buy two Upper Reserved tickets for the price of one every Tuesday. For more, visit atlanta.braves.mlb.com.

Lake Martin
For those who love the outdoors, Lake Martin is a short drive and worth the trip.

Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail
Lake Martin is home to “Alabama’s most scenic trail”: Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail. The 11 miles of trails are reserved for hikers only.
According to the Web site, cherokeeridgealpinetrail.org., “the trail provides the public with a water and wooded retreat into nature and promotes preservation of this unique alpine area of the Tallapoosa River Valley in Central Alabama.”
The Web site went on to add that some of the bluffs along the trail feature vistas that look out for more than six to eight miles onto such sights as Kowaliga Bay and Chimney Rock.

Wind Creek State Park
For visitors who want to stay overnight at Lake Martin, Wind Creek State Park provides campsites, cabins and RV facilities. The park also offers fishing and swimming facilities. Guests can also rent boats while visiting Wind Creek with prices ranging from $7.50 for a half day in a non-motorized boat to $120 for four hours in a pontoon boat.

Columbus
About 30 miles east on Hwy. 280 and an hour time difference, Columbus, Ga., offers a quick way to escape this summer.

RiverCenter for the Performing Arts
Located in the historic district of Uptown Columbus, the RiverCenter contains the 2,000-seat Bill Heard Theatre, the 450-seat Legacy Hall and the 220-seat Studio Theatre. Upcoming events include comedian Ron White on Aug. 20, and comedian Mike Epps & Friends on Aug. 29.

Coca-Cola Space Science Center
Opened for the purpose of educating the public in space sciences, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center houses a Challenger Learning Center where groups can experience a simulated mission, the Omnisphere Theater which has a high-resolution, full-dome projection system used for viewing stars during day or night, and the Mead Observatory where telescopes are available to view space. Admission price for adults is $6. For more, visit ccssc.org.

The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center
The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Patriot Park tells the story of Infantrymen through more than 30,000 artifacts. The museum has an an IMAX Theatre, full service restaurant and gift store. Patriot Park includes a parade field for Fort Benning Infantry School graduations, a memorial walk of honor and an authentically recreated World War II Company Street.