20 Dartmouth Should-Do's
You might of heard about the classic Dartmouth must do's. There's the Lou's Challenge, where students stay up all night before heading to Lou's breakfast when it opens at 6 am. Not to mention the Dartmouth Daily Dip, where seniors jump into the river every day of spring term. And we certainly can't forget the Polar Bear Plunge, where students flock to jump into Occom Pond during Winter Carnival.
As a senior, I'm here to share 20 Dartmouth should-do's, in no particular order. This may serve as a bucket list for current students. But I also hope this list can show students considering Dartmouth that are so many things to do in the Upper Valley. While it may take some searching, there's something for everyone, even if you're an introvert like me!
- Visit New Thailand restaurant in Lebanon, which serves up some of the best Thai food in the area. Tuk Tuk is also a strong contender. Other Upper Valley restaurants I love include Tuckerbox's Turkish food, Trailbreak's Mexican-inspired cuisine, and the Four Aces' hearty American breakfast options.
- Visit the Ice Castles in Woodstock. Though admittedly a one hour drive away, some of my favorite memories here were wandering the ice caves, sledding down ice paths, and going for a horse-drawn carriage ride with friends.
- Learn how to ski or snowboard at the Dartmouth Skiway. I didn't know how to do either prior to coming here, but some of my friends taught me how to snowboard. I also took weekly lessons during the winter term, and managed to go down a blue run!
- Do a hike, any hike, and admire the fall foliage. From Mt. Clough to Mt. Ascutney, there are so many ways to get involved in the outdoors. For those that are more ambitious, I recommend the Fifty, where teams attempt to hike the 50 miles from from Moosilauke Ravine Lodge back to Hanover, in one go with no sleep. I'm definitely not that adventurous and prefer a much tamer two to three mile hike at Gile or Balch Hill.
- You're heard about Lou's breakfast, but what about Pine breakfast? I recommend their fresh squeezed juices, raspberry pancakes, and home fries. Better yet, use the "Take Your Professor to Pine" program to get your meal for free on Dartmouth funding.
- Climb Bartlett Tower. The stone structure is located behind the Observatory (another must see) and honors former Dartmouth President Bartlett (1877-1892). Students can only climb the stairs during special occasions, such as Homecoming, but the Dartmouth Outing Club also allows students to climb up the sides of the tower with rope!
- Visit the Norwich's Farmers Market in the spring. You'll be greeted by fresh made pastries, homemade jerk chicken, fresh honey, and handmade pottery. Local bands often swing by to play. Best of all, it's been recently added as a stop on the Dartmouth shuttle.
- Admire Dartmouth's natural scenery by going on a long walk or paddle. Some helpful starting points include Mink Brook, Pine Park, Patchen Point, or right on the Connecticut River.
- Head over to Simon Pearce in Quechee. Simon Pearce is a glass shop with a restaurant, and happens to overlook a waterfall. They have made over 23,000 glasses by hand here for the U.S. Department of State. If you're lucky, their glass making station downstairs will be open, and you can watch the workers make the glass from scratch. Definitely a cozy must-see in the winter.
- Study abroad. Dartmouth sponsors over 30 off-campus programs, from the Environmental Studies program in South Africa and Namibia to the History program in London. There are also three-week "winterim programs" that happen during the six weeks between fall and winter term, including one to Vietnam and another to Berlin. Sometimes students get caught up in the flurry of campus life as they add on more majors, minors, and extracurriculars. Still, studying abroad is such a unique experience that it has to make the list.
- Do an internship in another city. While it's awesome to spend a term at home or in Hanover, moving to another city gives you the opportunity to practice being an adult in a low-stakes way. Through the flexibility of the D-Plan, I've interned in Boston, Washington D.C., Hanover, New York City, and remotely in my hometown, Edison, NJ.
- Make pizzas at the Organic Farm, known as the O-Farm. The college has a small farm that is just a ten minute drive away from campus. Students can get involved with weeding, planting, and growing crops. There is also a pizza oven for students to make pizzas with toppings picked straight from the fields.
- Meet a presidential candidate. New Hampshire is the first state to vote in the primary, which means that many presidential candidates will make a stop at Dartmouth. I attended events hosted by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren nearly four years ago. Just this week, Chris Christie will speak at an event hosted by The Rockefeller Center and The Dartmouth Political Union.
- Work an on-campus job. Whether you're looking to earn a little extra money or to build some skills for your resume, Dartmouth makes it easy with its online job portal, JobX. Dartmouth employers know that students are busy and constantly cycling off and on campus, and work to make sure students can prioritize their academics.
- Go to a show at Hopkins Center for the Arts, known as the HOP, or the local theater, the Nugget.
- Go to the Hood Museum. It's definitely special that Dartmouth owns and operates its own museum with about 70,000 objects in its collection. Many classes at Dartmouth meet in the Hood to supplement their learning or to conduct research. In fact, I'm actually taking an anthropology class about museums with Professor Ferguson that meets weekly at the Hood.
- Take ENGS 12: Design Thinking. By far my favorite course at Dartmouth, ENGS 12 taught me to think creatively and work effectively in teams. Over the course of ten weeks, I created a roller coaster with my teammates over Zoom and pitched a mental health app to Dick's House. I've carried these lessons with me throughout my four years at Dartmouth and will continue to do so in my future career.
- Check out BEMA Lights. Every winter, the Collis Center for Involvement installs an interactive light and sound experience in the big empty meeting area (BEMA) next to Bartlett Tower and the Observatory. My friends and I always make time to visit at the tail end of Winter Carnival.
- Have a picnic at Nathan's Garden. If you pass the CVS at the end of town, you'll wander into a botanical garden created to honor Nathan Hall. The garden is quiet and secluded, but especially beautiful during sophomore summer. I'd often stop by after swimming in the river to watch the hummingbirds.
- Treat yourself to pastries at King Arthur Flour (KAF) in Norwich, Vermont. KAF is massive, with a bakery, gift shop, classrooms for baking students, and areas for you to watch the bakers at work.