It doesn't take more than a few weeks at Tufts to realize that the normal weekend routine can get a little monotonous. After a certain number of afternoons spent holed away in Tisch Library followed by one too many nights spent dancing in the sweaty basements of the frat houses lining Professors Row, the need for alternative forms of entertainment becomes strikingly apparent.
This past weekend, Tufts Mountain Club (TMC) members and adventurous tagalongs celebrated TMC's annual Peak Weekend by splitting up to collectively summit New Hampshire's tallest mountains. But luckily for Tufts students who would not be caught dead donning a hiking backpack — or for those undergoing withdrawal from living out of theirs — New England is a gold mine for weekend getaways and day trips. From the wilderness of New Hampshire's mountains to the haunted houses of Salem, Mass., the area surrounding Boston provides ample opportunity to take a break from the purple hallway and go explore. Mount Washington, N. H.
Little do many students know that the highest peak in the Northeastern United States sits only a few hours away from the Tufts campus. Located in Coos County, N.H., Mount Washington peaks at 6,288 feet and is the perfect place for wilderness−oriented Jumbos to test their hiking skills and climb to the top. Senior Louisa Bradberry and her friends recently ditched the Hill for the weekend and made the trip out to New Hampshire.
"We wanted to go get away from the city and get some fresh air and exercise," Bradberry said.
The weather at Mount Washington is dangerously unpredictable, making for an exhilarating but sometimes risky trip to the top.
"The hiking was a real challenge, but it was awesome," Bradberry said. "We were unable to continue along the ridge once we reached the summit because the weather conditions were so bad on the other side, but it was still well worth it to get out and do something challenging." Salem, Mass.
Discovering the cost of a LUNA Bar at Hodgdon Good−to−Go is usually enough to scare the average Tufts student, but those looking for a truly bone−chilling experience should head to Salem, Mass.
Site of the historic witch trials of 1692, Salem is only a half−hour drive from campus and is also easily accessible via the commuter rail for those Jumbos who don't have access to a car. Come Halloween season, Salem boasts a plethora of festive and frightening activities. Salem's historic district is one of the town's most frequently visited Halloween attractions and offers a range of activities including spell−casting presentations, historic walking tours and haunted houses. Providence, R.I.
Boston's oft−overlooked neighbor to the south offers more than may first meet the eye. Providence is home to a rich colonial tradition and offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants.
Visit friends at Brown University, and you may be lucky enough to attend their infamous annual party, SexPowerGod. The celebration, which is put on by the Brown Queer Alliance, has proved to be so raucous in the past that in 2005, undercover reporters from Fox News came to document the event.
For those looking for a slightly tamer form of entertainment, Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel is the perfect venue to see your favorite indie bands that have decided to skip a performance in Boston. During the day, enjoy some falafel and kabob on the ever−trendy Thayer Street.
Perhaps the best thing about Providence, though, is accessibility — the small city is only a $7.75 ticket and just over an hour's train ride away on the commuter rail from South Station. Harvest Fairs
Embrace your inner child and attend one of New England's many fall fairs and carnivals. In nearby Harvard Square, stop by the Fruitlands Museum for its Harvest Weekends, held starting Oct. 16 and through Nov. 7. The event features fall−themed outdoor activities that are sure to appeal to both the inner child and the budding intellectual in you: Bob for apples, get your face painted, and then explore the museum's art gallery, featuring works from Native Americans and the Hudson River School.
This year the museum will be offering "Farewell to the Trees" walks as it says goodbye to a long−time art exhibit that will soon be uninstalled. Director of Education and Public Programming at the Fruitlands Museum Maggie Green explained that the tree sculptures dotting the landscape have been a huge draw to the museum.
"There are tree sculptures all over the campus and each one has a different story that goes with it," she told the Daily. "We'll now have a staff member who has been trained by artists to tell the story about each one of the trees."
Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, Mass., offers a similar array of fun fall activities as part of its own Harvest Weekends. Pick your own produce, enjoy a harvest hayride and interact with the farm's wildlife. Cape Cod, Mass.
Don't let its reputation fool you — the Cape isn't simply reserved for the Kennedys and those who have graduated from Harvard, Princeton or Yale. Massachusetts' beach−laden boot is also the perfect escape from Arabic homework, Economics exams and term papers.
Senior Megan Kono has made an annual trip out to the Cape since she was a freshman at Tufts.
"Each year after we are all done with finals, a few friends from the swim team and I go out to our friend's house on Cape Cod," Kono said. "This started my freshman year because we are all from different places around the United States, and we wanted some time to relax as a group before we go home for the summer. I live in Chicago, so it's a great way to spend time with friends before leaving for the summer."
Kono's weekends at the Cape have become a memorable aspect of her Tufts experience, she said.
"My friend's parents have a barn they converted in the back of their house which has a loft for sleeping. We always open the second floor barn doors and sleep outside and then walk to Coast Guard Beach in the morning before all of the tourists get there," she said. "It's become an awesome tradition that I relate to Tufts." New York
The Big Apple, the City That Never Sleeps, the Mighty Manhattan, America's most populous city is a mere bus ride away from Boston. The trip to New York is a simple one thanks to the rise of BoltBus and Megabus — inexpensive alternatives to the more well−known Greyhound line. Both are also known to be safer alternatives to the accident−prone Chinatown (Fung Wah) bus. Buy your tickets weeks in advance, and you can secure a spot on the leather−seated, wireless Internet−equipped BoltBus for as little as $15.
Once you make it to the city, go on a cupcake tour of Manhattan, and be sure to hit up Magnolia Bakery, Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery and Crumbs Bake Shop. Then work off those cupcake calories with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge while enjoying a stunning view of the city.
