You’re broke, you’re bored, and you’re dying to get off campus. You think to yourself, “What could possibly make my uneventful weekend stimulating enough for an appealing Instagram post?” Dear readers, fear not. A four-hour trip to New Haven may not be the first item on your list of choices, but you would be surprised to find that there is a lot, in fact, that the city has to offer — even for bored kids with a limited, student budget.
Your primary concern once you Uber to Elm City will most likely be to satisfy your hunger. If so, take a stroll over Wooster Street to find Sally’s Apizza or Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana — two of the classic New Haven “Little Italy” restaurants.
Now, dessert sounds like a stellar idea. You could drop by Libby’s Italian Pastry Shop for some “crazy-cheap” Italian ice. Walk a little farther away to Arethusa Farm Dairy for an award-winning ice cream parlour recommended by numerous satisfied customers. The Mochi Store, Insomnia Cookies, and FroyoWorld are all also excellent options for mouth-watering sweets.
What about a lighter snack or simply a spot to unwind? Koffee? is an adorable coffee shop on Audubon Street.
After such great noshing comes the obligation to walk off the calories, and a splendid location to do so is the East Rock Park. Take a hike to the top of the rock and enjoy the exquisite vista of the entire city before you.
In terms of cultural activities, the Beinecke Library is a beautiful architectural feat full of rare literature that is well worth a visit. For all the art enthusiasts, the impressive collections at the Yale University Art Gallery and the British Art Centre make these galleries a must visit — not to mention there are free tickets!
You see, so much more can be done in New Haven than you would expect, even with $30 or less. So the next time you’re looking for an adventure beyond Wallingford, take a chance and go explore New Haven!
