Category: Travel

Finding warmth in a cold, Irish city

February 17, 2014

by Katie McKenna Growing up in greater Boston, I’d had my fair share of nasty winters. Some of my happiest moments have been reading the thermometer and feeling that indescribable joy that comes with the saying, “Hey! It’s supposed to be above zero today!” I know no greater joy than sleddin...

Four nerd havens in the Pioneer Valley

Colleen Jones, Contributor

December 2, 2013

Filed under Around the Valley, Travel

Based on the popularity of Humans Vs. Zombies, a game of tag, it’s clear that the Five College area has its fair share of nerds. But now that “HVZ” is over and Halloween has past, where can nerds go to get their nerdy fixes? Sometimes it’s hard to find new people to game with, go to movies and conventi...

Off the beaten path: Studying abroad in Wales

Samantha Gillis, Writer

December 2, 2013

Filed under Study Abroad, Travel

Since studying abroad in Wales, I’ve come to find that most people don’t seem to know where it is. I’ve heard some pretty good guesses: “Near the Czech Republic?” Not quite, try more west, and then go over some water. “Australia, right?” To be fair, there is a New South Wales in Aust...

Bungee jumping: Sometimes it just takes a push

December 2, 2013

Filed under Study Abroad, Travel

by Erin Wolosz There I was, tethered to a cable car suspended more than 450 feet over a valley in Costa Rica. I shuffled to the edge. My feet felt like rocks, maybe because of the harnesses on my ankles, or maybe it was just the sheer terror. I looked out over the open edge- there was no way I was...

24 hour series: North Adams

December 2, 2013

Filed under Around the Valley, Travel

by Erin Frick One might think that the largest contemporary art museum in the United States would be located in an art mecca like New York City or Boston. Instead, North Adams gets the bragging rights, having the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) located in town. Nestled in the northwest...

A Southern Belle in Ireland: Bringing Memphis to the Emerald Isles

Katie McKenna, Writer

November 18, 2013

Filed under Study Abroad, Travel

There were few things I knew about Memphis before I met Katherine: it was the birthplace of Elvis, B.B. King had his blues club on Beale Street, summers were hot, and I assumed they talked with that same slow, drawn-out southern twang that makes Tennessee sound a bit more like Tennessaaaay. I assumed,...

Learning to be a Tica: Discovering life as a minority in Costa Rica

November 18, 2013

Filed under Study Abroad, Travel

by Erin Wolosz Over the past three months that I have been studying abroad in Costa Rica, one comment from friends and family has been consistent- “must be nice to live in paradise.” While it is certainly true that weekend trips to some of the best vacation spots in the world, along with a classr...

Visiting ancient beasts at Beneski

November 18, 2013

Filed under Travel

by Vincenza Parella “We have the world’s largest fossil track collection,” said Beneski Museum of Natural History monitor Rainer Lempert. It’s hard to believe this small three-story museum at Amherst College doesn’t get more notoriety. A tour guide taking a small group through the museum calle...

Northampton for wine and cheese lovers

November 18, 2013

Filed under Around the Valley, Travel

by Emily Abrams For wine and cheese lovers, Northampton offers something around every corner. Also known as Paradise City, Northampton can give you just what you’re looking for on a relaxing fall weekend, from gourmet Brie and Chèvre, to your finest southern French Wines. Try sample itinerary if you...

Travel to the “Scenter” of the Universe at the Yankee Candle Village

November 18, 2013

Filed under Around the Valley, Travel

by Colleen Jones No matter which of the half-dozen entrances you use to make your way into the Yankee Candle Village, there’s no escaping the tidal wave of scents that will make your nostrils instantly flare with excitement. The village, which can be found just off of Route 116 in South Deerfield...

No more wandering for weekend travel

Vincenza Parella, Writer

November 14, 2013

Filed under Around the Valley, Travel

College students barely have time to travel on the weekends, but when they do, they want to find the cheapest transportation fast. Wanderu.com takes the frustration out of trip-planning by showing the cheapest transportation options available in one place. A startup travel search company based in Boston...