When you think of the schools that make up the Ivy League, chances are it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine the campuses are beautiful. And most of them are, when you close your eyes and imagine an Ivy League campus you probably expect to see a green quad surrounded by trees and classical style buildings.
Most of the Ivy’s are found in larger cities throughout the Northeast, but since they are well over a hundred years old, these schools have the luxury to have both large and green plots of land. The good news is these open and walkable campuses are really nice spots to visit, many also have museums and libraries on campus you can visit as well.
So, the next time you happen to be in any of these big Northeastern cities on vacation, take a relaxing afternoon and stroll around these campuses. You’re welcome to bring along a picnic lunch, a book, or even your laptop, park yourself under a tree or on a bench and have a very nice afternoon.
Let’s take a look at some of these beautiful Ivy League campuses.
Princeton University
I once heard someone say if you imagined what a postcard of an Ivy looked like, Princeton would be it. Well, they weren’t lying. Tucked away in the beautiful college town of Princeton, New Jersey, it’s driving distance to both Philadelphia and New York City. One of the best ways to take in the campus and town around Princeton is to do a walking tour. The town is not only home to the University but also the Princeton Art Museum, and the beautiful University chapel.
Cornell University
A sunny afternoon and a clear view on the Slope. #cornell
A photo posted by Cornell University (@cornelluniversity) on
Unlike many of the other Ivies, Cornell is hidden away in the beautiful bucolic Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. Sharing the town of Ithaca with Ithaca College, the campus and surrounding areas of Cornell are known for their gorges.
With over 150 waterfalls, Ithaca is known for its abundance of natural hikes and trails that are popular with students and visitors alike. Another popular attraction that brings people from all over the country are the Finger Lakes Wine Trails. On campus, check out the Johnson Museum of Art.
Brown University
Via Brown University on Facebook
Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University covers a large swatch on the East Side of the city. With a beautiful classic campus featuring plenty of green quads, it’s exactly what you would picture a historic New England style campus to be.
There is plenty to do on campus, with a number of well known museums like the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, the Jenks Museum, and the John Carter Brown Library, which features a very historic collection of old maps and books.
Visit these campuses and you’ll be ready to drop everything and head back to school!
Take a few hours the next time you’re in any of these areas to explore the campuses, visit the museums, and take in some of the unique activities the local areas have to offer.
What are your favorite campuses? Let us know in the comments.
