College towns are catalogs of fun things to do

February 01, 2009|Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

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Middlebury is also a great pick for those who like outdoor play. The college operates both the Middlebury College Snow Bowl (Route 125, 802-388-4356, adults $42 weekend/holiday, $28 weekday; students and seniors $30, $25, www.middlebury.edu/campuslife/facilities/snowbowl/) for skiing and snowboarding, and the Rikert Ski Touring Center (Route 125, 802-443-2744, full day $15, half day $10, www.middlebury.edu/campuslife/facilities/rstc/), with 26 miles of groomed trails.

Off campus, the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History (1 Park St., 802-388-2117, www.henrysheldonmuseum.org, adults $5, 6-18 $3, family $12) is a reasonably priced triple-header for history buffs. The 1829 Judd-Harris House recalls life in 19th-century Vermont, the Walter Cerf Gallery hosts changing exhibits related to art and history, and the Stewart-Swift Research Center is filled with 19th-century books and records. Don't miss the Frog Hollow: Vermont State Craft Center (1 Mill St., 802-388-3177, www.froghollow.org), a fabulous gallery with works by more than 200 Vermont artisans, or the Vermont Folklife Center (88 Main St., 802-388-4964, www.vermontfolklifecenter.org), dedicated to traditional arts and crafts. Be sure to check the docket at the magnificently renovated 1884 Town Hall Theater (68 South Pleasant St., 802-388-1436, www.townhalltheater.org).

Williams College

Williamstown Few locations in New England rival the Berkshires as a destination for art lovers. The Williams College Museum of Art (15 Lawrence Hall Drive, 413-597-2429, www.wcma.org, free) is one of the eminent college art museums in the country. Although its 12,000 works span the history of art, it is especially strong in modern and contemporary American art and world cultures. Temporarily on view at the museum, while the Chapin Library of Rare Books is closed for renovation, are original copies of the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Articles of Confederation. Be sure to check into the '62 Center, the college's new arts center for theater and dance, to see what's on stage.

When hunger hits, visit the Paresky Center, home to The '82 Grill, serving pizzas for $7 and lunch and dinner specials for $9; the Eco Café, with baked goodies costing about $1; Whitmans' food court; Lee Snack Bar, selling inexpensive deli sandwiches, salads, and fried and grilled foods; and Grab and Go, if you want to eat on the run. Campus dining halls also are open for all-you-can-eat meals: $4.10 for breakfast, $10 for lunch, and $13.15-$14.25 for dinner.

Off campus, stay in art mode with a visit to the nearby Sterling and Francine Clark Institute (225 South St., 413-458-2303, www.clarkart.edu, free Nov. 1-May 31), where the collection emphasizes French Impressionists and American and old masters. Farther afield, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, or Mass MoCA, (1140 Mass. MoCA Way, North Adams, 413-662-2111, www.massmoca.org, adults $15, students $10, ages 6-16 $5) exhibits works by contemporary artists and doubles as a performing arts venue.

Hilary Nangle can be reached at Hilary@HilaryNangle.com.