A variety of National Parks not too far from campus provide some sweet opportunities for rejuvenation during the summer months. Here are four different trips that will give you a reason to stick around in New England, even after you've been handed that long-awaited diploma.
1. The One with a Beach: Cape Cod National Seashore
Cape Cod has long been one of the highlights of Massachusetts, and considering the region's forty miles of beach, marshes and ponds, and activities galore for both twenty-somethings and families, this is no surprise. There are six different beaches to post up with a blanket and Frisbee, or you can take an afternoon trip to the Three Sisters Lighthouses or one of the Cape's wild cranberry bogs. Also, despite severe budget cuts, visitors in July and August will still be able to view the Beach Apparatus Drill, a historical re-enactment of methods to rescue crews from wrecked ships, at Old Harbor Lifesaving Station. If you find yourself without a car this summer, the Cape is a great option. The MBTA recently announced the return of the "CapeFLYER", a rail service from Boston to Cape Cod beginning Memorial Day Weekend and running through Labor Day. The train will run on Friday evenings, Saturdays mornings and Sunday evenings and will cost you $35 round trip.
2. The One Where You Go Camping: Acadia National Park
This park is home to the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast, Cadillac Mountain, at approximately 1,500 feet. Cadillac is known as the first location in the U.S. to receive sunlight each morning, so the mountain has become a popular spot to hike before dawn to see the "nation's first sunrise". Other than hiking, there are climbing opportunities for the more skilled outdoorsman, as well as biking on historic carriage roads. Another option for the carriage roads is to take one of the horse-drawn carriage tours offered by Wildwood Stables. The horses at Wildwood can't be rented out, but horse owners are allowed to bring their own to do riding in the park. If the water is where you like to spend your summer days, you can rent canoes, kayaks or sailboats from surrounding communities on your way into the park. Due to the variety of activities at Acadia and the longer drive from Boston, which is about five hours each way, camping is the way to go. There are two campgrounds in the park: Blackwoods on the eastern side and Seawall on the western side of Mount Desert Island. Camping at Blackwoods is recommended if hiking Cadillac is on your itinerary.
3. The One with the Ferry: Boston Harbor Islands
Don't want to go too far from the city? Boston's Harbor Islands offer all of the same activities as other National Parks but are only a 20-30 minute ferry ride from Long Wharf North in Boston. A ticket costs $15 and the ferry takes you to either Georges Island or Spectacle Island, but you can transfer at Georges to get to several other small islands. As with other other parks, there are opportunities for kayaking, touring lighthouses, hiking and even camping. There are features special to the islands, though. On Thursdays and Fridays starting in late June, so long as you've made reservations ahead of time, you can enjoy a New England clambake on Spectacle Island while watching the sunset.
4. The One That Isn't a Joke: Appalachian Trail
The 2,184 mile-long public footpath through the Appalachian Mountains is only for true go-getters. The trail goes all the way from Georgia to Maine, providing amazing views across the entire Eastern U.S. And while completing the entire trail takes between five to seven months for thru-hikers - and it's worth noting that only about 20 percent of hikers who begin the trail actually complete it - you could show some New England love even if you only hike the final portion. The only New England state not included in the trail is Rhode Island, but the trek from Connecticut to Maine is still over 700 miles long.
Most of the trail is in wilderness, but you will occasionally come across roads or towns on your way. In New Hampshire, the trail passes through White Mountain National Forest and peaks at the top of Mount Washington. The journey ends atop Mount Katahdin in Maine. As the title professes, though, this trip should not be a spontaneous summer plan - completing even a portion of the Appalachian Trail requires preparation and training.
