Columbus day weekend is approaching! The only 3-day weekend this fall semester, ladies! If you feel the need to break out of your every-day study ritual to catch a breath of fresh air, conquer the nightlife in another city, or see what the pumpkin spice lattes taste like in a town down the road, this is the perfect opportunity for you to get off campus and explore what the east coast has to offer!
Here are some destination tips (keeping travel time and expenses in mind) from glamorous metropolitan cities to charming little seaside towns you’re bound to leave your heart in:
1. New York City, NY
I’m starting with the most obvious one: Manhattan. For any out-of-town students or freshmen, this will probably be the most exciting.
Travel:
Car: ca. 4 hours, avoid rush hour (especially this weekend)
Bus: ca. 4 hours from South Station to Times Square, $20-40 per ticket, try Bolt Bus or Greyhound (Chinatown buses will drop you off in Chinatown)
Train: ca. 3:30 hours from South Station, $100-200 per ticket on Amtrak
Things to do:
Besides channeling your inner tourist and cruising through Times Square, the MET, 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center, allow yourself to get lost in the little side streets of Soho and lower Manhattan.
Tips:
-Skip the line for the Empire State building and go to Top of the Rock on top of Rockefeller Center (tickets are $29 each) for an amazing view of the concrete jungle.
-Rooftop Bar at the Peninsula Hotel if anyone wants to sip a cosmopolitan while enjoying a sparkling view of 5th Avenue (drinks and snacks are pricy, nice attire recommended).
-For all my Gossip Girl lovers, you can take the Gossip Girl tours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You’ll visit the Gossip Girl filming locations via bus. Tours start at 10am and take up to 3 hours. Tickets are $45 each.
-New York Vintage offers high-end vintage. It is well known for dressing celebs including Michelle Obama and carries cocktail dresses, jewelry and shoes from Chanel to Gucci (for cheaper alternative, try Shirley + Alice and Mr. Throwback).
-For all my 21+ girls (ehem…) looking to delve into the New York Nightlife, Le Bain on the rooftop of Meatpacking District’s Standard Hotel has a pool open to party guests that usually include leggy models and glitzy Broadway producers.
-PH-D at the Rooftop Lounge of the Dreem Hotel is great for Sunday nights (since Monday is off!) and has the most beautiful view of the Empire State building.
-If you’re looking for a tasty credit-card-friendly meal try Baohaus in East Village for Vietnamese mini-burgers (the Birdhouse Bao is my personal favorite) or Katz’s for the best Pastrami Reuben sandwich.
2. Montreal, QC
Goodbye USA and hello Canada! This might be for the girls who have the time to travel a bit farther. Don’t forget to bring your passport and maple syrup!
Travel:
Car: 5-5:30 hours
Bus: 7-9 hours from South Station to Central Station with Greyhound, $68 per ticket
Train: 4:45 hours from South Station, $170-200$ per ticket on Amtrak
Things to do:
Besides the fact that the drinking age in Quebec is 18 or the fact that you’ll probably be swept off your feet by some handsome French-speaking Canadian, Montreal is a large culture-filled city with beautiful waterfront lounging and dining.
Tips:
-La Ronde is a Six Flags Amusement Park right on the water! Plus all month of October it is Halloween themed. All-day passes are $46.99 if you buy them online or $59.99 if you buy them at the park.
-Rue St-Paul is one of the oldest and prettiest streets in Montreal. Check out the Bonsecours market while you’re there.
-For amazing lobster pasta try Liverpool House or the best Macaroons and French pastries in town Maison Christian Faure (warning: you might never be able to enjoy a regular chocolate croissant again).
-For all my film lovers, the Festival Du Nouveau Cinema will be held Columbus Day weekend at Cinema Imperial in Downtown to celebrate the latest practices in cinema. Tickets are $12 each.
3. Newport, RI
If you’re looking for a city-getaway that is still “happening”, Newport is the place for you. It’s a small seaside city on Aquidneck Island with long elegant beaches ideal for watching the sunset.
Travel:
Car: ca. 1:30 hours
Bus: ca. 1:40 hours with Peter Pan Bus, $25 per ticket
Things to do:
Enjoy the sunset on Newport’s long elegant beach or stroll through the cute boutiques and art galleries around the harbor.
Tips:
-Newport is famous being home to some of the most famous mansions in the world, including the Vanderbilt mansion on Ochre Point Avenue or the Rosecliff where scenes for The Great Gatsby and 27 Dresses were filmed (the Preservation Society of Newport County offers mansion tours).
-To my Germans and beer lovers, on that Saturday and Sunday there is an International Oktoberfest at the Newport Yachting Center, so grab your dirndl and enjoy the live music and bubbly brews!
-For delicious seafood, try Mooring Restaurant in the Wharf or The Pier in the harbor to enjoy a mind-blowing view and some soft sultry reggae music.
-Thames Street is a 1.5mile stretch of shopping and pubs (try Brick Alley pub if you’re craving nachos), like Shop Pink, which has gorgeous dresses, scents and room accessories or Rag & Bone Art and Design.