Blog Posts

The Most Instagrammable Summer Vacay Destinations-image

Now that it’s summer time, you’ll probably be jetting off to some pretty cool places over the next 4 months until you head back in the fall for school. Summer vacation is the time for kicking back, relaxing, and exploring places other than your hometown. There are so many options when it comes to travelling that it can be impossible to choose just one destination. However, since it’s Photo Month, consider setting your lenses on an Instagram-worthy location for your summer vacation. Before heading out though, make sure to brush up on your iPhoneography tips and tricks from Buzzfeed. 1. The Bahamas If there were a checklist of all the things a vacation should have, ‘beaches’ would be at the top of the list. The Bahamas is bursting with beautiful beaches just begging to have your toes dug into them. Just imagine all of the fabulous beach pics you can take. You may even get a guest appearance from some local pigs swimming in the ocean with you. If you have a waterproof camera, you can get some spectacular shots of live starfish just under the surface. 2. Alaska While Alaska might not be the summer beach vacay you envisioned, Alaska is arguably one of the most beautiful vacation spots on the planet. Being able to come within feet of enormous, majestic creatures that you only get to see on National Geographic is just a small perk of being in Alaska. The wildlife and scenery that you can see while you’re there will take the breath right out of you. Just don’t forget to snap a picture before you leave. 3. Cooper’s Rock Not all vacations have to mean hopping on a plane and zooming off to exotic locales. There’s adventure right in our very own backyard. Just 20 minutes away from Pierpont Place Apartments you’ll find beautiful Cooper’s Rock . While from the bottom it might just seem like any old expansive forest with a gorgeous ribbon of river sliding through it, from the top you’d better prepare yourself for that view. A 1,200 foot drop gives way to some of the most amazing views you’ll see in your lifetime and all from little old West Virginia. Pick your jaw up off the ground and snap some shots for your Instagram. While you’re incredibly lucky if you get to travel to places like the Bahamas and Alaska, you don’t have to jet-set in order to find spectacular locations. Instagram-worthy scenery is right under your nose!

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[embed]https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharisberries/17188536726[/embed] Moms are literal queens. They do practically everything for us and don’t even bat an eyelash. (Until you walk into her house with dirty shoes on, of course) They raised us into the well-rounded individuals that we are today and they don’t ask for anything in return even though you know they deserve anything they could ever want! This year for Mother’s Day, make it a little extra special by pampering her. You spend the majority of the year with us here at Pierpont Place and WVU but dedicate a day just to her. Families who brunch together, stay together. (Or something like that.) So this year for Mother’s Day, treat the special lady in your life to a delicious and extravagant brunch. Table 9 in Morgantown offers some truly tasty selections and all for a reasonable price. Since you’re the DD for the day, make sure you order your mom a drink. We all know she deserves it! Their Bloody Mary is amazing but give the Pomegranate Mimosas a try too. Steak and eggs, bacon hash, bananas foster; no matter what you pick, your mom will be impressed. See the rest of their menu here and book your reservation today. If you’re really crunched for time and don’t have time to pick your mom out something heartfelt and thoughtful, you can’t go wrong with a giftcard from somewhere like Citi Nails, Bath & Body Works, or New York & Company in Morgantown Mall . If you’re a perpetually bad gift-picker, we definitely recommend this option. Treat Mom to a day out at the movies this Mother’s Day to see what else but Mother’s Day! The movie about the holiday is the perfect pick for you and your mom to enjoy together. Even if it’s not your kind of movie, we’re sure your mom will appreciate the gesture. Regal Cinemas Theater has showtimes all day Sunday but buy your tickets now to ensure yourself a seat in the showing of your choosing. Your mom only wants what’s best for you and you should return the favor. Treat her to a nice Mother’s Day and maybe even clean your room up a little. We know she’ll appreciate it. What are you doing this year for Mother’s Day? Does your family have a tradition?

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Post-Finals Unwinding-image

West Virginia University’s finals start next week. Some people are probably already stressed out thinking about them but we’re already planning for the week after finals. We know you’re going to be stressed all next week but if you just imagine that feeling of freedom and relief when you finally step out of your last final and out into the world for a summer of freedom. (Unless you’re taking summer classes. Sorry, guys.) Sure, you have to devote heaps of mental energy towards studying for your finals but you should also leave a little for deciding how you’re going to spend the week after your finals. Veg out There’s nothing more relaxing than doing absolutely nothing. Retreat to your room for a full week and get that Netflix season (or entire show) out of the way. We hear The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt season 2 was just released. Or grab yourself a book and a bundle of blankets and just cocoon yourself in for a week while you finish it. We bet you haven’t had the time to read recreationally since before the semester started. Be a hermit for a while and just enjoy your free time. 2. Sweat the stress out You’ll probably have built up a lot of frustration over the course of finals week. Burn it off doing some good, hard exercise. Whether that’s just running outdoors in the heat or taking a new and challenging exercise class. Look into somewhere like Crossfit Morgantown to really whip you into shape. You won’t remember any of finals week after a crossfit class. After your sweat sesh, make sure to run yourself a nice, hot bath and stay there until it gets cold. Your muscles will deserve a rest too. 3. Plan yourself a real retreat We bet you’re about to be exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally. All that time in the library studying, staying up late, it takes its toll on your body. You need an actual vacation and not just a week spent at home by yourself. You can find the best cheap vacation destinations for students here . If that’s still too much, take a mini vacay. West Virginia has spectacular white water rafting and rock climbing that’s both challenging and fun. Get away from it all in the most basic sense. Leave! Finals week is a rough time. We get it. But don’t forget to actually relax afterwards. You deserve it! How do you unwind after finals week? Share your ideas with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Go Green-image

It’s not that easy being green. Being a newbie is a rough experience. You’re new in town, you probably don’t know anybody, it’s difficult! But that’s not the kind of green we’re talking about. Being green means being sustainable and reducing the amount of waste you produce as an individual. Each year on Earth Day, organizations around the country do their best to raise awareness for the cause and educate people on the ways they can cut down on their waste. What can you do to lessen your impact on the planet? 1.Invest in Canvas We all have that plastic bag in our apartments that’s just filled with other plastic bags. Do you ever use any of these? Probably not. You just keep collecting them. Invest in a couple of good, canvas bags instead. Before heading out the door to go grocery shopping, grab them and you won’t have to worry about carting home anymore plastic bags to feed your other plastic bag. Just make sure you wash your canvas bags regularly. 2. Cut the Plastic The average American uses around 167 disposable water bottles each year but only recycles 38 of them. If you stacked the number of bottles used each year end to end, you would be able to stack them to the moon 10 times or span the Morgantown Marathon over 87,824 times. The next time you go to reach for a bottle of water before heading to the Student Rec Center, instead consider a glass water bottle. You’ll look more stylish and you’ll create a lot less waste. 3. Attend an Event This week, in honor of Earth Week, WVU is hosting a slew of events celebrating the Earth and spreading the word about conservation. See the EcoCar3 Team transforming into hybrid cars in the Statler College of Engineering. (April 19th) On April 20th, test your knowledge on all things environment related and see a stormwater demonstration to find out how your actions affect waterways. Make sure to pick up your free plant. April 22nd holds quite a few events for you to attend starting with crafting rugs out of old plastic bags. If you’re deft with your hands, you’ll excel at this immediately! An area near Falling Run Road is due for a bit of a pick-me-up early in the morning. Join a stormwater specialist in this ‘wastelift’. There are so many opportunities to make a difference this year for Earth Day and Earth Week. How will you do your part this year? Share your sustainability tips with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Do you remember your New Years Resolutions? It feels like ages ago that we set goals for ourselves. Have you been keeping up with them? Not the Kardashians, your resolutions! If your resolution was to be more adventurous this year, you’re in luck. Today is the day to Walk On Your Wild Side. Walk On Your Wild Side Day encourages you to get out on the ledge. Be a little brave and do something that scares you. West Virginia has some of the best white water rafting in the entire world. It was actually listed in the top 10 white water rafting spots in the world, so you know you’re getting the real thing! You can take it easy down The New River’s calmer sections or the Cheat River OR you can be daring and head for the Gauley, which boasts some of the best paddling in the whole world. Tygart River is the newest addition to the courses but this isn’t for the faint of heart: its steep drops are the most powerful on the Monongahela River. No matter what your comfort level is, you’ll be able to find some rapids that suit you. Are you gutsy or do you prefer to keep it tamer? Most of these will require a bit of a trip to reach, but we’re certain you won’t be disappointed once you arrive. 1,500 feet below the hills of New River Park sits the Beckley Coal Mine . This is definitely not for the claustrophobic among us. Travel under the earth in an authentic mine cart and learn about the history of low-seam coal mining from the past all the way up to the modern mechanization era. If you’re brave enough to descend under the ground, you can explore a historical coal camp spread throughout the grounds. If you’re unafraid of tight spaces or you’re brave enough to overcome the fear, Beckley Coal Mine is an interesting experience. You’ll even leave a little smarter. Beckley Coal Mine is a bit of a trip, but for the adventurous, it’ll seem like nothing! Real daredevils won’t be deterred by the frightening height of Seneca Rocks. Nestled in Monongahela National Forest, Seneca Rocks is quite a sight to behold. Soaring 900 feet above the North Fork River, acrophobics should steel themselves before glancing upward at the peaks. An intrepid visitor will be excited to trek up the 1.3 mile self-guided trail, which ends in stunning views of the valley below. Will you embrace your fear or shy away from it? If your New Years Resolution was to be more adventurous, you’ve got plenty of opportunities to do so in West Virginia. In honor of Walk On Your Wild Side Day, step outside your comfort zone a little bit. Even if it’s just picking a new drink at Starbucks. It’s so easy to Walk On Your Wild Side in wild, wild West Virginia. Do you face your fears or do you prefer the safety of your Pierpont apartment ? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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World Health Day-image

[caption width="4903" align="alignnone"] Image courtesy of pexels.com [/caption] Each year on the anniversary of the inception of the World Health Organization, an area of global public health is selected to be highlighted. They raise awareness for that selected problem area in the hopes of teaching people about the problem and how they can prevent it. This year on World Health Day, April 7th, the World Health Organization has chosen diabetes as their selected area. More than 29.1 million Americans are affected by this disease. Experts say that one of the best prevention and management methods is exercise! Staying active can help to keep the problem at bay and also to keep it under control if you already have it. How do you stay active? Even though most of us are young and active already, it’s easy to fall prey to the Netflix-college-kid mentality. Not all of us have the attention span to get up and go for a run. With classes, and jobs, and Twitter to think about, how could we possibly focus on a workout? You need something a little tougher then. Crossfit might be what you need to keep you on track. Crossfit is constantly changing exercises at a high intensity. You usually do it with a group of other people and that team of people could be what helps keep you focused on the task at hand: staying healthy. MoTown just so happens to have three crossfit gyms in the area: Mountaineer Crossfit , Crossfit Morgantown , and Crossfit Ridgeline . With programs specialized for each member and their fitness needs and goals, there’s no way you won’t find something for you. No matter your fitness level, there’s a program that you can complete. The team mindset of crossfit gyms makes for a motivating community of health focused individuals. If crossfit feels a little too high intensity for you, those gyms obviously aren’t for you. That’s okay! Pierpont Place has an amazing alternative to the high pressure crossfit gyms. Our state of the art fitness center has everything you need to make your workout your own. Whether you’re an experienced muscle head or a newbie to the gym, you can customize your own workout to fit your needs. Do you want to strengthen your muscles with free weights and machines? We’ve got that! Do you want to build your endurance on the treadmill? We have that too! Would you rather sit your butt on the stationary bike and watch The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on your tablet? We’ve definitely got those! Staying active doesn’t have to be a boring chore. There’s something for every fitness level and every attention span. Staying active is key to staying healthy. While there are obviously other aspects that go into it, we’re happy to start with this! (You can pry the pizza from our cold, dead hands) How do you keep active without getting bored? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter!

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