As quickly as it came, it's now gone — summer's coming to a close, and we're trading in our flip flops for our laptops and our sunblock for alarm clocks. We're going back to good ol' Binghamton, seeing the same views from the nature preserve, eating the same old food from our favorite dining halls, pulling the same old all-nighters in Bartle — or maybe it doesn't have to be the same old-same old for us anymore.
Outside the walls and roads of campus is a world of experiences waiting to be had. Through some research, word of mouth and personal adventures, I have uncovered some hidden gems that could be yours for the taking this coming school year!
Disclaimer: As these are all suggestions for off-campus adventures, they require transportation of some kind — bus, car/taxi, etc.
1. Watch the local sports teams in action.
Something I learned early on about Binghamton is that there is a lot of pride in its local sports teams! I haven't personally been to a B-Sens or B-Mets game myself, but my friends rave about the fun times they've had when they went. So if you're a sports fanatic or just looking for some new excitement, you can definitely find it in the atmosphere of these games. An added bonus — you can get a discount for a Senators home game with your student ID!
2. Take a trip to Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park.
Unleash your inner kid and get all nostalgic walking through one of the oldest zoos in the country. Much like a local hockey game, you can take advantage of a discounted admission price as a college student! But maybe you're not into zoos or you're looking for something a little more "grown up." If that's the case, you should definitely attend Boo at the Zoo, a haunted walk through, in October. If you're easily scared like I am, I warn you — you'll surely be spooked!
3. Go apple picking.
Let's admit it — Binghamton in the fall can be so serene. Nothing beats that crisp breeze and those colorful skies, and there is no better place to admire the changing leaves and perfect temperature than at an apple orchard. Whether you're craving some delicious apples for snacking or looking for a nice place to shoot your next aesthetically pleasing Instagram photo, there are several orchards surrounding Binghamton University that can cater to those needs, like Apple Hills, Lone Maple Farm and, my personal favorite, Russell Farms.
4. Keep cool with Jones Humdinger ice cream.
Definitely one of my favorite places to take a break from the stresses of school and other responsibilities! Thanks for my townie best friend, I was introduced to this local establishment back in my sophomore year, and I have been back to visit many times since then. I mean, for super affordable (and yummy) soft serve on a college student's budget fewer than 15 minutes away from campus, could you blame me?
5. Visit the Cider Mill in Endicott.
Although it's not ice cream, the Cider Mill is also just minutes from campus and offers other tasty treats and sweets, like apple cider, doughnuts and jams that we can sink our teeth into that will get us to momentarily forget about our beloved Red Mango smoothies — but only momentarily.
6. Have a picnic on the beach lake at Nathaniel Cole Park.
Often referred to as "The Blake" and an absolute must when the weather is nice, which we all know can be quite seldom in Binghamton. Sure, our nature preserve is pretty, but the blake is truly a beautiful sight to see. Picnicking, swimming or even studying — the change in scenery from the dreary PODs desks in Bartle could give you that mood enhancer (and grade boost) you've been looking for.
So maybe this year, let's skip the usual trip to the Marketplace, give studying a little break and take a chance in the name of adventure! Even though we're all a year closer to graduating, it's never too late to try new things, right?
