How to Make the Most of Your Fall Break in Boston

Photo Courtesy Flickr user ~Duncan~

It’s that time of year again: fall break, the long-awaited five-day deliverance from classes. Many students head home for the Thanksgiving holiday, but a good handful stick around. If you’re one of these people, you may live too far away or think “What’s the point? Winter break is around the corner.” Either way, you’ll be here in Boston while a bunch of your friends are likely to at home celebrating Thanksgiving with their families. What can you do to avoid that pang of loneliness or hunger for mashed potatoes with gravy? The Quad will tell you all you need to know about making the most of your fall break in Boston this year.

Take a day trip.

One of the best things about going to school in Boston is that it’s easy to leave when you want a change of scenery. You can get to New York City, one of the country’s cultural epicenters, in just four hours by bus. Megabus, Boltbus, Lucky Star and Fung Wah all provide service to New York City, and tickets cost $1-$30 each way. You might even try to catch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while you’re there. Whether you feel nostalgic for your favorite childhood cartoon characters or you’re simply curious about how long you can hold your pee (or take a whiz discreetly in public), it’s bound to be entertaining. Headlining this year’s performances are Kanye West and Jessica Simpson. For more ideas about how to take a bite out of the Big Apple, check out Flavorpill New York.

If New York City isn’t your thing and you’re looking for a different kind of getaway, you might consider the two-hour trip to Portland, Maine. Amtrak tickets cost less than $25 each way. Still too far away? Check out Providence, Rhode Island. You can hop on the MBTA commuter rail at South Station, take the outbound Providence/Stoughton Line and be there in one hour for only $15.50 round trip. These two New England cities are art-lover and foodie meccas.

Get together with your friends for a Thanksgiving potluck.

Maybe you’re the sedentary type and you just want to stay put and relax before finals. You’re craving all the delicious food that Thanksgiving brings, but you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, and let’s be honest, Boston Market just doesn’t cut it. The solution? Find a few friends who are also spending fall break in Boston and have a festively themed potluck. After all, you are in Massachusetts, the state where the first Thanksgiving went down. Whip up some hot rum-apple cider or frothy eggnog and try your hand at grandma’s apple pie. Come on, when else will you have the opportunity to make inappropriate turkey baster jokes? Here’s a Roast Turkey recipe from the Food Network’s Alton Brown to get you started, and for more inspiration, check out these Thanksgiving sides from food52.

Loosen up with arts and crafts.

Preparing for midterms has done some damage to your psyche, and you want to unwind. Arts and crafts can be very therapeutic. My suggestion? Make a hand turkey of your favorite pop culture icon. If you were (unfortunately) spared the amazing experience of making a hand turkey in elementary school, here are some short, easy instructions. First, you’ll need to get colored construction paper, markers and a pencil. Next, take a piece of the construction paper and place it on a flat surface. Then, put your non-dominant hand firmly on the paper and trace the outline of your hand with your dominant hand using the pencil. Your thumb serves as the turkey’s head, and your fingers are the turkey’s feathers. Lastly, embellish your hand turkey with the characteristics of your choice celebrity using the markers.

Work and make some extra cash.

So, you just spent all your money stocking up on the recently banned Four Loko, and you’re looking to make some extra cash. If you have a job in Boston, pick up additional hours. Boston University’s Quickie Job Service offers another option. In fact, if you can find a job doing party help or catering, you may even get a free Thanksgiving meal out of it. Jobs are listed on Student Link and at the student employment office.

Have ideas about how to celebrate Thanksgiving Boston-style? Share them by commenting on this article! In the meantime, start getting pumped for your better-than-going-home fall break.

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