New York State has more colleges
than any state, according to U.S. News
and World Report, many of which are reachable by Amtrak. If you’re heading
back to school, or bringing your children to campus, consider taking the train
as an alternative to driving.
College towns often offer a lot to
do and see both on and off campus. We’ve picked a few here that have unique on-campus
attractions, from museums to massive athletic stadiums, and are also close to great
places to visit off campus.
Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY (2.5 miles from Poughkeepsie
Amtrak Station): Vassar College is a beautiful campus located in the Historic
Hudson Valley. On campus, there is the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center—a free
art gallery that includes over 19,000 works of art, and the Powerhouse
Theatre—a stage company which hosts productions every summer. For science
buffs, there is the A. Scott Warthin Museum of Geology & Natural History, with
exhibits of rocks, minerals and fossils.
Off campus, there are plenty of
historic sites, including the boyhood home of Franklin D. Roosevelt in nearby
Hyde Park and the home of Samuel Morse—inventor of the telegraph. The Bardavon
is the oldest theater in New York State, and has housed the performances of
several popular singers including Frank Sinatra and John Legend. Also nearby is the popular Walkway over the
Hudson, a pedestrian bridge offering amazing Hudson Valley views.
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| Eastman School of Music |
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (2 miles from Rochester Amtrak Station): Rochester was once voted
one of the top 10 college towns among mid-size metropolitan areas by USA Today. Visit the campus to see why. The
Eastman School of Music houses more than 20 student ensembles that perform
throughout the year.
Also located on campus is the Memorial Art Gallery, known
as one of the top art galleries outside of New York City. Off campus, you can cruise the
historic Erie Canal, or visit great restaurants, museums, concert venues, and
various festivals and arts fairs that are held throughout the year. You can
also take advantage of the snowy winters at many ski/snowboarding resorts.
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| Kleinhans Music Hall |
SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY (14.5 miles from Buffalo Amtrak
Station): The university houses the famed Buffalo Bulls, which according to
their website, “turns into a ‘sea of blue’ when fans turn out for Bulls home
football games.” In addition to the football games, the Bulls also are known
for their track and field and soccer teams. For a good concert or play, you can
visit the campus’s Center for the Arts, with several upcoming performances that
include Ace Frehley from Kiss and a stand-up set from comedian Chris Hardwick.
The musical version of “Legally Blonde” is also expected to hit the stage in
November.
Off-campus, there is plenty to do
as well. Buffalo has New York’s largest theater community outside of the city,
with a collection of over 21 professional theaters that put on shows throughout
the year. Kleinhans Music Hall is home to the world-famous Buffalo Philharmonic
Orchestra. There are plenty of architectural sights to marvel at as well, from
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin Complex and Graycliff Estate to Frederick
Law Olmstead’s Delaware Park.
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY (4.4 miles from Syracuse Amtrak
Station): Home to the famed Syracuse
Orange sports teams, the campus is also home to the Syracuse Stage, which
houses many live theatre performances throughout the year. There are also
plenty of a cappella groups, dance troupes and arts exhibits on campus.
Off campus are the popular Armory
Square and Marshall Street, with entertainment, dining and shopping. Outdoors,
you can enjoy the Green Lakes State Park, which has golf courses and trails for
wintertime surrounded by two glacial lakes. Destiny USA is the sixth largest
shopping center in the country, with more than 260 retail venues along with an
indoor go-cart track, a mirror maze, IMAX and RPX movie theaters, a ropes
course, and 30+ places to eat.
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY (1.9 miles from Saratoga Springs Amtrak Station):
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| Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum |
Skidmore is located at the heart of Saratoga Springs, a town brimming with history and culture. On-campus venues include the Arthur Zankel Music Center and the Schick Art Gallery, which celebrate the performance and visual arts on campus, respectively. There is also the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum, which hosts twelve art exhibitions a year curated by both faculty and students.
In town, legendary folk club CaffĂ© Lena once hosted the likes of Bob Dylan and Arlo Guthrie, and the nearby Saratoga Performing Arts Center is the summer home for the New York City Ballet and has also hosted performances from Yo-Yo Ma and Willie Nelson. Revolutionary War history buffs will enjoy visiting Saratoga National Park, which houses a famed American Revolution battlefield. Museums around the area are dedicated to various topics, from dance to automobiles to horse racing—the signature sport in the city.
SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY (1 mile from Plattsburgh Amtrak
Station): SUNY Plattsburgh has many sights both on and off campus. On campus,
there is the Plattsburgh State Art Museum is a museum without walls, and it has
over 4,600 artifacts on display throughout campus. Also, there is the E. Glenn
Glitz Auditorium, which is newly renovated and houses both local and national
acts frequently throughout the year.
SUNY Plattsburgh is located in the
scenic Adirondack region, which boasts fantastic natural wonders such as Gore
Mountain and Lake Placid. The downtown area of Plattsburgh has many shops,
restaurants, a bowling alley and two movie theaters. The Strand Center for the
Performing Arts showcases the best of the performing arts in the area for a
relatively low price. There is also the Battle of Plattsburgh War of 1812
Museum that presents the history of this great town.
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