The summer low-down

Summer is here. The skies are blue. But sometimes it seems like there’s nothing to do. Here are eight exciting ways to have fun this summer.

Harry Potter Theme Park

If students are up to flying to Florida, a grand new attraction is opening—the Wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Most Harry Potter fans mourned the end of the book series as the end of an era, but the new park will be a light in the lives of obsessive fans. There are various rides, including a virtual tour of iconic Harry Potter sites like Hogwarts and a dragon-fighting themed roller coaster. In addition, there are multiple shops where dedicated fans can purchase Harry Potter props and clothing, including Ollivander’s, where “a Wandkeeper can help a wand choose you.” Fans can close their eyes and imagine that their Hogwarts letter really did come (you know you were crushed when you didn’t get one) and that there really are wizards. The Harry Potter theme park opens on Friday, June 18 in Orlando, Florida.

Road Trips

Load up the car, fill up the gas tank and set up the GPS, because a road trip with a group of friends is essential. Nothing bonds people more than an eight-hour car ride filled with burping contests, fights over the radio and Cheetos dust everywhere.

Try picking a location, such as Santa Barbara, Oregon or Los Angeles, and then map out must-see sights on the way, like the World’s Largest Thermometer in Baker and the Pez Museum in Burlingame.

The Museum of Death in Hollywood is also an interesting destination for the more morbidly-inclined, with things like serial killer John Wayne Gacy’s clown self-portrait and the guillotined head of the Bluebeard of France. One needs to make sure to not eat too many souvenir Pez before viewing the autopsy video gallery.

Comic-Con

Looking for a road trip destination? Then consider San Diego, home of beautiful beaches, award-winning golf courses and, of course, the annual gathering of die-hard comic book lovers known as Comic-Con.

This four-day event at San Diego’s Convention Center caters to all types of comics and features autograph signings, exclusive product previews and collectors. It’s the nerd’s ultimate dream, and though tickets for this year’s event sold out in October, there are still tickets for sale on eBay and Craigslist. Volunteer opportunities are also available and include free swag, a behind-the-scenes look and admission.

Burning Man

If you’re not interested in comic books, the annual Burning Man Festival might be a better choice. A week-long temporary commune that celebrates community and self-expression, it’s the kind of legendary event that the Telegraph Avenue set dreams about while asleep in the back of their wannabe Mystery Machines.

Every summer, nearly 50,000 dirty hippies and free-loving burnouts journey to Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada to frolic together in this happy, clothing-optional commune.

Activities are endless and include tie-dye art, torching things and showering with complete strangers. And if the Black Rock City Police Department decides to pay an unexpected visit mid-hug session with your new flower child friends, one can even make a getaway in “mutant vehicles,” which are created by participants and range from giant motorized muffins to eight-legged mechanical spiders.

Winchester Mystery House

Another option for students is to go on a tour of the Winchester Mystery House. The Winchester Mystery House is arguably the craziest house out there with 160 twisting rooms. The story goes that the numerous secret passageways and labyrinth-like layout of the house helped Sarah Winchester (the house’s owner) escape the many ghosts chasing her. Winchester constantly added and removed rooms to her house until the day she died. Flashlight tours can be quite frightening as one can almost imagine evil ghosts stalking their prey through eccentric features of the house. Flashlight tours are on every Friday the 13th (August 13 this year) while there are daily tours every day. Tours range from $25 to $33.

Gilroy Garlic Festival

The 32nd annual Gilroy Garlic Festival draws foodies from around the world together for three whole days filled with everyone’s favorite Edward Cullen repellant: garlic. This year’s festival has over 60 vendors selling everything from run-of-the-mill garlic fries and bread to the not so common garlic ice cream, as well as a recipe cook-off hosted by former “Top Chef” contestant Fabio Viviani, live music, arts and crafts and a warm welcome from the new Miss Gilroy Garlic. And after loading up on free garlic samples, slip on a new Gilroy Garlic T-shirt and head back home. Just be sure to have a toothbrush or a mint handy for afterward.

Mystery Spot

If students happen to be in Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot is well worth a visit. The Mystery Spot is a circle of 150 feet where “every law of gravitation has gone haywire,” or rather our perception of gravity is affected. Within the Mystery Spot, balls appear to roll uphill, those standing uphill always appear taller than those standing downhill and standing at an alarmingly sharp angle appears normal. While it is unknown why this phenomenon occurs, theories range from spaceships buried in the ground to a hole in the ozone layer. The Mystery Spot is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Tickets cost $5.