Geography lesson: Dartmouth sits in the quaint town of Hanover in the small but fierce state of New Hampshire, fondly referred to as "the middle of nowhere." Yes, you have agreed to spend the next four years of your life nestled in between the White Mountains and the Connecticut River at the crossroads of liberal arts and the Appalachian Trail. Temperatures here range from the high 90s at the peak of the summer months to a few dozen degrees below zero in January and February, but don't let the extreme weather conditions and isolation from civilization get you down CNN and Money Magazine have both named Hanover the second best place to live in America.
As a freshman, you will undoubtedly spend an excessive amount of time in the library taking notes on readings that most upperclassmen didn't remember were assigned, though hopefully even more time in frat basements and freshman floor pre-games getting to know the thousand or so other '15s who make up the worst class ever (just kidding, you're statistically the best class ever). Contrary to what I believed as a freshman, Hanover is the metaphorical, and sometimes literal, tip of the iceberg. It may seem like a another crunchy thru-hiker pit stop on the AT, but there are ton of things to do off campus if you can muster up a little bit of energy and independence.
Outdoor activities:
If you like to run, Dartmouth is the place for you. Supporting a large population of aggressively fit joggers, the Hanover region is chock-full of shady, empty roads, forest trails and riverside paths that are ideal for jogs anywhere from one to a dozen miles long. I recommend Pine Park for some serene riverside wooded running, Rip Road for a pretty 4-ish mile loop and a run across the bridge into Norwich, Vt. for a longer stint.
New Hampshire is well known for great hiking. The fall is an awesome time to go on treks organized by the Dartmouth Outing Club on a weekly basis, especially when foliage is at its peak and before the permafrost destroys all signs of life. Or if you want a shorter walk with a pretty view, hike up to the Fire Tower on Gile Mountain, which is only a 10-minute drive away.
Once warm weather hits in the spring, make sure you take advantage of the Ledyard Canoe Club. Rent a canoe or kayak, or just jump in the river off the (new!) swim dock. When the weather is warm, the amount of time that Dartmouth students spend in the Connecticut River causes them to moonlight as aquatic animals.
If you didn't get enough of the outdoors on your first-year trip, look into renting a cabin from the DOC for a weekend with friends or canoe a couple of miles to Gilman Island, where you can camp overnight.
Hanover activities:
For your first few months in college, you will be overwhelmed by the number of Dartmouth Dining Services food options. But soon enough, eggs from the Courtyard Cafe will start to look too yellow, or the Class of 1953 Commons will become overwhelmingly facetime-y, or you will begin to miss the flavor and spice of a decent home-cooked meal that hasn't been deep-fried in lard. When this happens, check out the gastronomic options in town. There's Yama if you're looking for some affordable sushi with Hanover-themed names; Market Table, a new hub with great sandwiches and pastries; Molly's, famous for its bread and mysteriously delicious butter; Salt Hill Pub, a newer venue that serves a good burger and sweet potato fries; Murphy's, for some "local" American fare; or The Orient, for some take-out quality Chinese food. Lou's is a must for brunch, though it fills up quickly on weekend mornings. As an alternative, Bagel Basement and the Dirt Cowboy offer a nice change of pace from DDS coffee and the asphyxiating crowds in Collis.
There's certainly more to do in downtown Hanover than eat, but not much. Definitely catch a movie at the Nugget Theater (5 bucks for Dartmouth students) on a Monday night when you don't feel like studying, socializing or drinking Tylenol-flavored drinks out of buckets. Although I prefer to pretend as though they don't exist in order to protect my wallet, JuliAna Boutique and Bella both have great collections of cute but pricey clothes, shoes and accessories right on Main Street if you're in need of some retail therapy.
In the spring, if you have access to a car, head to West Lebanon for Ice Cream Fore-U, which boasts absurdly large portions for ridiculously low prices. This also provides a priceless opportunity to mingle with townies and actively embracing the "freshman 15."
The list of things to do off campus ranges from organic farming to working at the pottery studio to intentionally subjecting yourself to the elements on a camping trip to relive the glory days of your DOC trip. There certainly isn't a shortage of activities, so be sure to ask around about your particular interests when you get to school. Next time your friends make fun of you for deciding to pursue a liberal arts education at the end of the known world, return home with confidence and boast about all the cool, adventurous trails you blazed or all the new life skills you've developed like pooping in the woods.
