An all-too-familiar wail of boredom rises from campus, from students tired of the same old weekend entertainment options and weary from a long week of classes.

There’s nothing to do in Charleston, right? Not in the opinion of local workers at some of the more off-the-beaten-tracks attractions of the Coles County area.

Many options for entertainment are available within a short driving distance of Eastern’s campus, some within walking distance.

Fall events in the area range from camping to sports bus trips, historical reenactments to biking along area trails.

Fox Ridge State Park, located south of Charleston off Route 130, offers camping, hiking and fishing for area residents. Beginning Tuesday, the park is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.

Officials at the park said camp sites are available for $11 a night, and there are three cabins available to rent, each at $35 a night. The cabins are considered primitive, with no running water inside. Water is available outside the cabins, as are bathroom and shower facilities. Heat and electricity are available in each cabin.

The park also offers picnic shelters, which can be reserved for $20. If no reservation is made on a shelter, they can be used for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations for camping and shelters can be made by calling 345-6416.

Fishing is available in the Embarras River, which flows through the state park. The park also offers hiking trails and a visitors center.

Scott Smith, director of the Charleston Parks and Recreation Department, said popular events sponsored by the city include trips to professional sporting events, offered each fall.

This year, the department is offering a trip to Indianapolis to watch two NFL teams, the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys, play on Nov. 17. The cost for the trip is $59 per person and includes the game ticket and a seat on a charter bus to and from the game.

The department also is offering a trip to St. Louis to see the NHL St. Louis Blues take on the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan 18, 2003. Again, tickets and bus fare cost $59 per person. Both trips’ tickets can be reserved by contacting the Parks and Recreation Department at 345-6897, or stopping by the office, located in the Municipal Building, 520 Jackson Ave. in Charleston.

Lincoln Log Cabin Historical Site in Lerna offers another option for spending a Saturday afternoon.

The site is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and offers displays and exhibits for visitors. During the week, the site hosts elementary students, who spend the day dressed in period clothing, learning about the way people lived in the 1800s. Historical interpreters are on site most weekends, said Tom Vance, historical site manager.

This weekend the site will host it’s 28th annual Harvest Frolic. The event, which runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, will feature period entertainment, doll making, spinning and weaving demonstrations and children’s games, Vance said.

Saturday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. hayrides, candlelight tours and a barn dance will be offered for visitors.

Other options for entertainment in the area include multiple golf courses, biking trails including a trail that runs from the north side of Charleston to Mattoon, and many area pumpkin patches and orchards. Also, a bazaar will be held at the Round Barn, located eight miles south of Charleston on Rt. 130 on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.