Some advice for freshmen from small-town America: do not park your horse on campus. It will be stolen.

Every year thousands of students from high schools no bigger than a political science class come to Ohio State. The urban atmosphere may appear daunting to some, but many embrace it as a total change in lifestyle.

“It’s important to recognize that even though Columbus is a huge city and you live in the middle of it, there are places that remind you of the country that aren’t too far from campus,” said Jason Frischkorn, a sophomore in chemistry.

Mary Fristad, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at OSU, said the transition from high school to college can be stressful.

“This can be particularly true for students making an adjustment from a smaller town or rural area to the hustle and bustle of a huge college campus positioned in the middle of a major metropolitan area, where nothing looks or feels like your old, comfortable surroundings,” said Mary Fristad, professor of psychology and psychiatry at OSU.

Students who spent Saturday nights in high school bowling or tipping cows may not be into the Arena District’s clubbing opportunities, but the city does offer several nature-related events that may feel closer to home.

“You don’t have to go too far for good fishing. We stock Antrim Lake with trout a few times a year. In fact, we will be stocking it again sometime in March,” said Tom Hall, fisheries biologist for district one at the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Antrim Park is about a five minute drive from campus – located just off of Route 315 North the park has trails for bikers, hikers and dog-walkers, as well as soccer fields and the lake.

“Sometimes we ruin the fishing experience. When it’s warmer, the dogs love playing in the water,” said Gina Manfresca of Worthington, a park regular.

Knox Lake offers a bevy of small-mouth bass. Factoring in size and participation, Knox fared better than Lake Erie in terms of bass last summer, Hall said. It is about an hour away, but making a day of it in the spring may yield some encouraging results.

Delaware State Park is a little closer, about a 40 minute drive, and Alum Creek is only about 25 minutes from campus. For spur-of-the-moment outdoorsmen, the Olentangy and Scioto Rivers offer public fishing and access at numerous points.

Tuttle Park, off of West Oakland Avenue, offers hiking and recreation opportunities within close proximity to the campus area. It also is a stop for the Olentangy multi-use trail.

Trails connect many of the parks throughout central Ohio and some bike trails connect to the whole state.

The Olentangy multi-use trail runs from Worthington through Antrim and Whetstone Parks to downtown Columbus via Tuttle Park. Near COSI it connects with the Lower Scioto multi-use trail and runs south to State Route 104. It is designed for walkers, joggers, bikers, and rollerbladers. Columbus Parks and Recreation Chief of Staff Terri Leist is excited about the trails.

“In conjunction with the state metro parks, we hope to have 150 miles of paved bike trails available in and around Columbus within the next 10 years,” she said.

Recreational space is abundant in the downtown and campus area, providing ample space for picnics. Goodale Park, located in Victorian Village, is a local favorite. Or for the birdwatcher, try Sharon Woods Metro Park in Westerville. Known for its diverse population in terms of birds, the park plays to its strength with an observational platform. There also is an indoor observation area in case of bad weather, fit with a microscope in the trees so the viewers can hear the different species.

Whetstone Park in Clintonville offers one of the largest municipal rose gardens in the country and its gazebo makes it a popular attraction for weddings and parties. Students also can take advantage of the picturesque scenery or head to the Topiary Garden. The Topiary Garden located in Downtown Columbus is the only one in the world that is modeled from a painting – the shrubs make Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.”

“The Topiary Garden would be great even without the re-creation. It’s a very docile area right in the heart of downtown. You almost forget you’re in Columbus,” Leist said.