When I first visited Concordia, I wasn’t sure where anything was, where people hung out or just about anything else. And while Concordia’s tour guides are fantastic, there’s only so much they can show you in a limited amount of time. 

What you come to discover, however, is that there are some places that are just fantastic to visit, where there’s always something to do, both on and off campus, and sometimes not even far from your dorm.

Here are some of the best places to hang out, get stuff, or just chill around campus.

University Town Center:
Arguably one of the most important spots on this list. University Town Center, or UTC as most people call it, is your best friend. The little hangout is just a mile or so down the road on Campus Drive, and is the most helpful spot for a quick bite to eat, some light shopping for essentials and nonessentials alike, and a solid choice for a spot to simply sit and breathe for a bit. https://www.shopirvinecompany.com/centers/irvine/university-center. 

Eagles’ Landing:
Another crucial spot, Eagles’ Landing is the place that just about every student goes for the simplest of conveniences. Offering coffee, pastries, and other snacks, as well as good service and friendly conversation, you’re not likely to find a better spot on campus to find all of the above. They’re open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but the grill closes half an hour before they shut their doors, so if you’re looking to grab some late-night chicken tenders, make sure to go a little early.

Library Stacks:
I’ll go ahead and preface this by saying that I’m not entirely sure what the new Library looks like, at least not the area in the stacks, but from what I understand, they’ll be adding a few lounge areas and study spots. If you’re looking for a spot to do some studying, I will admit that no small number of hours were spent in the air-conditioned rooms of the stacks while I studied for finals. It’s a nice, quiet place, available pretty much any time you need it.

Top of French Hill:
If you’re up for a hike, the top of French Hill is just a short one away, not that it’s the simplest, mind you. The path is almost entirely uphill, but you can see most of Irvine from the peak, and on clear evenings, you can see as far as Disneyland, and watch the fireworks go off. 

The Heritage Garden:
On the east side of campus, you can visit the Heritage Garden, which contains a 40-bed community garden, greenhouse, 30-tree fruit and nut orchard, apiary (that’s a place where bees are kept), prayer garden, and spaces devoted to the cultivation of native Southern California plants. If you’re interested, and have a green thumb, the garden is run almost exclusively by student volunteers, and is always looking for new applicants. https://www.cui.edu/studentlife/student-leadership/heritage-garden.

And that’s the list, and at least in my humble opinion as a senior, some of the best places to go around campus. If you’re interested in a bit of a wider lens, go check out Page Eight for our list of the best spots around Orange County.

 

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