Sometimes, we all need a break from the Marist bubble. It seems many people assume that there's not much else to do off campus besides walk to Applebee's, stroll through Ocean State Job Lots, and go Darby's or Union on the weekends. But there's much more to the area surrounding Marist than some might think. We've all seen the views from campus, but what's beyond the river? Plenty. It's good to get off campus, and there's a lot to explore in the beautiful area our school is located in.

Hiking.

Between Breakneck, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Mohonk Mountain, and others, there are so many amazing rocks to climb, cliffs to stand on the edge of, and sights to see atop the mountains of the Hudson Valley. There are easier, more structured trails located in Minnewaska (which is not far from New Paltz on the other side of the river) and rock scrambles throughout Breakneck which are a little more challenging. Whether you're going for leisure or for a challenge, the views of the Hudson Valley are incredible.

Walk through towns.

On a day I needed to de-stress from schoolwork and other pressures, I decided to just drive north on Route 9 as far as I felt like. About 20 minutes into my journey from Marist, I found myself right in the middle of the town of Rhinebeck, which features cute shops, "America's Oldest Inn," and nice places to sit and eat. Another town not far from Marist, but across the Mid-Hudson bridge is New Paltz. The town also has many interesting shops and places to eat to keep you busy on a sunny spring day.

Parks.

Marist students are lucky enough to have the Hudson River right in their backyard. We already have a walkway down to the river right at the bottom of campus. However, another one I recently discovered is Quiet Cove. If you don't have a car, it's not too hard to walk to. About two minutes north on Route 9, you'll stumble upon a tranquil and peaceful riverfront park, complete with Adirondack chairs and picnic tables. I've seen people fish, have picnics, and simply relax and take in the beauty of the river and mountains here.

Drive-In.

Less than 10 minutes up the road, across from the FDR house is the Hyde Park Drive-in Theater. It plays all the popular movies and has just reopened for the season. It's an easy, cheap, and fun thing to do on a warm night with your friends, granted someone has a car.

Shopping.

If you want a change from the Poughkeepsie Galleria, Woodbury Common Outlets is less than an hour away from Marist and has stores from Michael Kors and Aldo, to Dolce & Gabbana and the Disney store.

These are so many other things one can do in the Hudson Valley. So if you're bored of the same old routine of the typical Marist student, step out of your comfort zone, rent a Zip Car, and explore.