Get past the winter blues
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    It’s that time of year again. That time when skies are perpetually grey, when the wind is always blowing in your direction, and when the temperature is stooping dangerously close to zero. When life just sucks.

    Winter is coming.

    Did you leave your Californian or Floridian paradise to come to Northwestern for all those great academics and students, forgetting what a winter coat even was in the process? Were you, like me, excited to leave the tundra of New England, only to end up somewhere even colder?

    If so, you’re not alone. Considering that we at Northwestern not only in one of the coldest cities in the world, but also live directly on a lake that has the exact opposite effect of oceans in terms of moderating weather, here are a few places to go in order to brighten your wintry life.

    If you’re looking for a fun, tropical-tinged night out, go to the Hala Kahiki Lounge. Located 20 miles away from campus in nearby River Grove, the tiki bar offers an enormous array of South Pacific-themed beverages, including the Dr. Funk of Tahiti and the Pineapple Boomerang and eight different types of Coloda.

    For those in need of a more active reminder of those warmer days, try the KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort. Right next to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, the 65,000 square ft. park offers five slides, a wavepool, a lazy river and even a whirlpool spa area.

    If you wanted to immerse yourself in a fully tropical environment, you could check out the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. Despite extensive damage from the June 2011 hailstorm, the Park is still open to the public. Their “Palm House” houses what is probably the largest Double Coconut Palm in any U.S. conservatory, and their “Desert House” purports to hold a diverse collection of cacti and succulents. The park is also accepting volunteer applications if you're looking for a major time commitment.

    And if none of these work for you, just remember, at least we’re not here.

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