Sometimes, for whatever reason, you just don’t want to go home.

Maybe the person you used to come home to isn’t there anymore, and you’re lonesome. Maybe your roommate is driving you completely insane. Maybe you’re going through something really terrible and your couch has become a monument to sadness.

Or, maybe you just want to get out of the house before your wife tells you to “clean out the fridge if you’re so bored!”

The good news?

You don’t have to spend $40 just to escape from your own living room.

Here are five free places to wander around and clear your head before returning to your lair.

1. Lubbock Memorial Arboretuma bunch of pink and yellow flowers in a gardenPhoto by MAK on Unsplasha bunch of pink and yellow flowers in a garden

This is a great place if you just want a little peace and a few moments of nobody needing you.

You can walk trails, check out the gardens, sit under a tree and read a book, whatever you like, AND admission is free.

2. Mackenzie Parkbrown and white animal on green grass during daytimePhoto by Zoe Shumitto on Unsplashbrown and white animal on green grass during daytime

Sometimes, you may need a little bit more room for the dramatic monologue going on in your head.

Mackenzie Park has plenty of space to walk, canyons to explore, and cute little prairie dogs to visit.

Read More: Texas Tech Historic Enrollment Surge Shatters Campus Records

3. Mae Simmons Parka person throwing a frisbeePhoto by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplasha person throwing a frisbee

Nature trails. Water. Disc golf.  Plenty to do before heading home to your boring apartment.

4. Texas Tech CampusJames_GabbertJames_GabbertJames_Gabbert

You don’t have to be a student to enjoy our gorgeous university campus. I’ve spent hours wandering around and playing Pokémon Go! I highly recommend spending a few hours on campus if you need a break from your roomie (or your mom).

5. Lubbock Lake Landmarka group of people working outsidePhoto by Trnava University on Unsplasha group of people working outside

If you need a serious break from traffic, screens, and people, check out Lubbock Lake Landmark. It’s one of the coolest places in Lubbock.

Wander through the trails and learn about the prehistoric archaeological sites in our area and what it was like here long before cars, planes, and trains.

Sometimes, you don’t need an argument.

You just need to get out of the house for a while.

Tell me what you like to do when you just don’t want to go home in the comments below this article, then keep scrolling for more Lubbock fun in the galleries below…

Lubbock Road Trip: Ghost Towns You Can Visit In West Texas

Looking to explore a real ghost town? Here are some road-trip worthy sites you are allowed to visit, along with how far they are from Lubbock.

Gallery Credit: Renee Raven

9 Beautiful Lubbock Parks To Stroll Through To Burn Off Pesky Calories

These are some really great places to burn calories and enjoy nature in Lubbock.

Gallery Credit: Chrissy