Out of Bounds
Some students, it seems, never leave their room. But for many others, even the whole of Boston doesn’t provide enough entertainment. Fortunately, the university is centrally located to give access to a myriad of Massachusetts-wide attractions, mainly through the T’s commuter rail.
On the North shore of Massachusetts Bay lie several beautiful beaches. Revere Beach, undeniably the most frequented by undergrads, is a refreshing fifteen minute walk from the T stop, but the North shore offers far more enticing if harder to reach locations. Crane Beach in Ipswich has the stereotypical “One Crazy Summer” sand dunes, ranger outpost, and luxury public restrooms, as well as a rather hefty $20 for non-member cars, and $6 for pedestrians. For those not willing to make such a journey without a car, Manchester by the Sea has all the beauty of Crane Beach and a closer locale than Revere.
After the cold hits, though, the best option on the North Shore is Salem. A commuter train drops visitors on the edge of the central strip to the historic (read: touristy) district. Rife with cheesy haunted houses, a mysterious hearse tour, the house of Seven Gables, and a restaurant-strewn waterfront, Salem is a slow-sipping kind of relaxation.
For more history, the bay state has two famous colonial villages, Plymouth and Old Sturbridge Village. The commuter rail runs directly to ancestral Plymouth where every street contains history or historic wares. At the very least, it’s worth the stop on the drive to the Cape. At the intersection of I-90 and I-84, Sturbridge Village is an hour from Boston and is yet another bit of colonial history packaged and sold. And finally, for those still unsatiated with history, Concord is accessible by commuter rail and offers a statue and a bridge for visitors.
To glimpse the lifestyles of the rich and everybody else, metro transit offers bus service to the Cape and ferry service to that inspiration of many limericks, Nantucket. Martha’s Vineyard and Elizabeth Islands can also be reached by ferry for quaint New England charm and wise overpricing.
Unfortunately, Western and Central Mass are not as gloriously connected to Boston; think Greyhound or Peter Pan for transportation. On the edge of the state lie the Berkshires, mountains unparalleled in radiance especially during the fall. Pittsfield is the main jump off point for most commercial vacations and is accessible by plane, train, bus, and for the fortunate car. It hosts multiple activities throughout the year from hiking, skiing, to biking with information available at www.berkshires.org.
If Mother Nature or American history is unappealing, corporate America has supplied plenty of opportunities for tacky instant gratification. For those of ages, Mohegan Sun and Suffolk Downs offer gambling. Off 395 or a $20 ride on a charter bus, Mohegan Sun bodes well for the lucky and for the unlucky has cheesy Native American paraphenalia. Those loath to go to far from Boston, or their rooms, to spend money can head just past Logan on 1A for the thrill of live racing or watch the simulcast. Finally, those eager to get a return on money waste have Wrentham Village Premium Outlets to please them. On route 1A at the intersection with I-495, Wrentham has all the cheeky brands from Off 5th and 9 West to Calvin Klein and Anne Taylor, a shoppers paradise. And of course, there’s always Six Flags New England, right off Route 159.
When the square is tiresome, the rest of Massachusetts provides plenty to do.