Hi everyone! Welcome back to the blog. It truly feels impossible that after today, I will have completed my last full week of classes of my sophomore year. I think i’m actually in denial that exams start so soon. But anyways!!! In honor of the truly lovely weather we’ve been having, I wanted to provide a couple of ideas of ways that you can take full advantage of the beautiful New England spring as an Amherst College student. This list barely even begins to cover the very many activities at our disposal, but these are just a few of my personal favorites. Enjoy!
Rail Trail
If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that a love a good walk. Feeling stressed? Going for a walk. Want some exercise? Going for a walk. Catching up with a friend? Happening on a walk. Lucky for me, the Norwottuck Rail Trail runs right by Amherst’s campus, and when the weather is nice, it’s so so wonderful. The trail is 11 miles long and overall quite flat, meaning that it’s perfect for walkers, runners, and bikers alike. I genuinely have so many happy memories on this trail, and since it’s also frequently used by UMass students, the people watching is often excellent. If you’re ever looking for a nice way to move your body and get some fresh air in the warm weather, the Rail Trail is definitely your friend. Bonus points if you see the house that has chickens! (Side note: I’m not sure why this photo keeps showing up as sideways for me, but if it looks that way for you too I apologize).
Working outside
So, let’s say the weather is nice and you want to spend time outside, but you have work to do. Lucky for you, Amherst College is equipped with many MANY outdoor spaces that are perfect for getting some work done. In this photo on the right, I’m sitting at one of the tables outside the Science Center, but you can also very frequently find me in an Adirondack chair on one of our campus’s many quads. It’s very common to see the First Year quad covered in people as soon as the weather is warmer than 60 degrees, so whether you choose to picnic, throw a frisbee, or do some work, spending time in some of the outdoor space on campus is a lovely way to take full advantage of the spring weather.
Book and Plow Farm
As you may have gathered from this blog’s cover photo, Amherst College has a beautiful farm called Book and Plow. Apart from supplying tons of fresh produce for our dining hall (like literally 10 tons yearly I believe), the farm also hosts frequent events for the student body and Amherst community. And, as soon as the weather gets nice, Book and Plow provides free flower picking for students. This is a photo of just some of the many beautiful flowers my friend and I picked, and if you can find something to put them in, the flowers can serve as some lovely, cheerful decoration for your dorm room. I absolutely think that Book and Plow Farm is one of the more underrated spots on campus, and it’s the perfect adventure for a warm spring day.
Amherst Farmer’s Market
In past blog posts I’ve spoken about how much I appreciate the town of Amherst and the involvement that the college has with the local community, and the Amherst Farmer’s Market is undoubtedly another example of that. The farmer’s market happens every Saturday in the fall and spring, and features a ton of great local vendors. You can get everything from baked goods to flowers to honey to handmade soap, and given the fact that the market is about a five minute walk from central campus, it’s incredibly accessible. If you don’t think you’re a particularly “outdoorsy” person, consider checking out the farmer’s market as a fun way to spend some time in the warm weather.
Well, I hope you were able to get a little springtime inspiration from my list, and that you consider trying out one of the activities. As much as a joke about how brutal the Massachusetts winter is, I truly love our spring here so much, and it always makes the cold feel worth it. As always, if you have any questions about life at Amherst College, feel free to email me! My email is eknauer27@amherst.edu. Bye for now!