Starting on March 1, the senior editorial staff  from the Quad began contributing weekly posts outlining the activities, places and trips all Boston-area college students should have on their bucket list.  A total of 10 posts makes up what these graduating seniors believe to be the most compelling, noteworthy “must-do’s” for all underclassmen to accomplish before graduation.  Here is the list in its entirety:

Cheat Sheet:

1. Party Favors, a hidden gem 2. Splurge on a great meal 3. Explore local culture in Jamaica Plain 4. Beer me, Boston. 5. Boston’s Alternative Movie Theaters 6. The Skywalk Observatory 7. Urban Biking Adventures 8. Explore music venues for every genre 9. Getting out of Boston 10. South Boston Street Festival

Photo credits:

1. Kara Korab 2. SweetonVeg 3. Mr. Ducke 4. compujeramey 5. D’Arcy Norman 6. whisperwolf 7. joeldinda 8. bradsearles 9. Rice Bear 10. animalvegetable

All photos, except Kara Korab, courtesy Flickr/Creative Commons.

There are so many great things to do in Boston that it may seem pointless to leave at all. However, it is sometimes nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of a big city and relax in a quieter, yet equally interesting town or city. New England is full of great tourist destinations but there are a couple great ones within reasonable distance of Boston.

Newburyport
I first visited Newburyport with my family on vacation a few years ago and I fell in love. It is a small coastal town about an hour north of Boston and is home to great shopping, food, and of course beautiful vistas. Easily accessible by car or train, Newburyport is a fun place to get away for the day and it is easily the quietest out of these locales. Homemade fudge, home decor, clothing, kitchen wares – all these and more are for sale in this cute port town.

Provincetown
At the northern tip of Cape Cod is Provincetown, a culturally thriving tourist town filled with great seafood places, souvenir shops, quirky locals and of course a beautiful view of the ocean. Provincetown is accessible by car and bus, but it takes three hours – so if you dont get too motion sick I would suggest taking the fast ferry which cuts the trip down to 90 minutes. Commonly referred to as “Ptown,” this place is great all year round but is best in the summer or spring and even early fall. Ptown has a vibrant hippie-alternative flavor unique to the rest of the cape and is not a trip to miss.

Salem
Probably the most popular out-of-town trip for Boston University students, Salem comes alive in the month of October for Halloween festivities. I have visited three times myself and I can never get enough of it. Museums, haunted houses, great food, souvenir shops and of course, street performances, make this town one that you could easily spend the whole day in. With these modern tourist attractions also comes the plethora of history that characterizes Salem and there are plenty of sites to see, including the old Burying Point cemetery. For the best cinnamon buns A&J King Bakery is a must.