So what's the key to finding that happiness? Keep your expectations low, your flexibility high and listen up. This is the list of everything you should be doing (as in, now) and how to make it happen.
There has definitely been more rain than sunshine lately, so let's start with those gloomy day adventures that come in the form of excessive overconsumption of food. Don't let guilt stop you here just think of it as stocking up for when DDS refuses to feed us over the weekend.
A classic summer treat taken to a new level, the Vermonster at the Ben and Jerry's factory is well worth that extra trip to the gym. Served in a bucket, the tasty treat includes 20 scoops of ice cream, four bananas, four ladles of hot fudge, three chocolate chip cookies, one fudge brownie, 10 scoops of walnuts and two scoops each of four of your favorite toppings, plus whipped cream. Don't think, just eat and bring a lot of people. Once you start to get full, run Trips back and "yum-yum" the dessert. If you finish the Vermonster, you even get a free shirt.
If you're looking to expand outside of ice cream although really, what more could you ever want? hit up the farmers' market. Hanover's version comes every Wednesday, but if you're limiting yourself to the Green, you're missing out on delectable jams, fresh flowers and other local fruits and vegetables. Nearby farmers' markets take place in Norwich, Lebanon, Enfield, and Canaan.
When the sun finally makes an appearance, spend an afternoon at Super Acres Blueberries, a farm where for only $2, you can pick more blueberries than you could conceivably eat in one afternoon plus the berries you eat during your frequent breaks from picking.
If you're into biking, you might be familiar with the Balch Hill descent. It begins with a gradual ride up the backside of Balch Hill and ends with a heart-stopping descent back into town that is probably the closest thing Hanover has to a roller coaster ride. If you aren't feeling active, Balch Hill is just a few minute's drive away and offers one of the most scenic picnic spots that you will find. The grassy summit has one tree in the center to provide some shade, and you'll easily get a view of campus, Ascutney and Gile Mountain.
It wouldn't be summer, however, without some fun in the water. The docks are great, but if you feel like changing it up, spend a few hours tubing down the White River. The half hour trip to Stockbridge is well worth the relaxing feeling of tubing down the river. It might be a good idea to bring water shoes in case you end up in a shallow spot, and one local community member also recommended bringing a bottle of bleach to rinse the tubes off in case they touch poison ivy. Better safe than sorry!
While coasting down a river and basking in the sun are relaxing ways to take advantage of the outdoors, the more adventurous among us are probably already aware of the many ways to feel an adrenaline rush in the Upper Valley. Jumping off the Ledges, the Copper Mines, and the roof at River Ranch is enough of a rush to satisfy even the most daring enthusiasts.
In addition to hurling yourself into water, there are places to climb just to reach the top. If you didn't take a picture with the sign on top of Moosilauke during trips, you should definitely be crossing that off the bucket list this summer. Gile Mountain is nearby for a relatively short round trip hike, and offers spectacular views from the fire tower at its summit just be sure to take bug spray to ward off the pesky mosquitoes that often frequent the top of the tower. Franconia Ridge and Cardigan are ideal for those seeking a challenge, but avoid both if the thunderstorms are threatening, since you'll be exposed to the elements at their high elevations.
After your outdoor adventures, you'll want some relaxing evenings, but don't restrict yourselves to movies at the Nugget and stargazing at the golf course although if you've never stargazed from the Fairways and putting greens, it's an easy thing to cross off your bucket list. The Canaan Meetinghouse has been around since the 18th century, and was designated to the National Register of Historic Places over 40 years ago. The house hosts some of the region's best writers.
And if you're feeling groovy but don't want to road trip all the way to Canada for a crazy music festival like Osheaga, there are plenty of local places to see live bands. Norwich hosts concerts on Saturday nights, and Saint-Gauden's National Historic Site in Cornish does the same on Sunday afternoons. If you want to get off campus during the week, try the Lyme Town Band on Tuesday evenings.
Sophomore summer is well upon us, and judging from how fast our first two years at Dartmouth has flown by, the rest of this term will be gone before we know it. It's up to us to make the most of the next seven weeks and after that, the next two years. Will you get to check every box off of the bucket list taped to your wall? Maybe not, but some is certainly better than none, so get off the computer, out of the basement and into the sun or rain.
After all, it sure beats snow.
