Six Must-Dos as a Salem State University Student
Salem, Massachusetts, is a unique, vibrant, and historic community 15 miles north of Boston. There’s shopping, museums, restaurants, and bars. It’s also home to Salem State University, a unique state college that embraces diversity and encourages engagement to it’s 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students. As a Salem State student, you’ll hardly ever be bored. Both Salem and Boston are within a short trip off campus. The list of events and opportunities is endless.
There are always must-dos at every college. Here are seven things you must do as a Salem State student.
1. Attend a Salem State Theatre Department Production
Salem State has an award-winning theatre program. Each year the department puts on several performances free to Salem State students with their ClipperCard ID. The Drowsy Chaperone: A Musical Within a Comedy opens April 20, 2017, in the brand new Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts.
2. Spend Some Time Downtown Around Halloween
Each year Salem “more than 500,000 people travel from around the world to visit Salem during October” according to salem.org. There’s so much to do during the month of October. The Haunted Happenings parade, haunted houses, the Witch Trial Memorial, Salem Witch Museum, famous sites from Disney’s Hocus Pocus and more.
3. Tour the Peabody Essex Museum for Free with your ClipperCard
This is something you should do at least once, and you’ll probably want to go again. The PEM is conveniently located in downtown Salem a short walk from everything else downtown. It’s free for students with ClipperCard ID and currently showing “Lunar Attraction” until September 4, 2017. It “features artworks and interactives that explore our longstanding fascination and connection with the moon, ranging from myths about the connection between werewolves and the full moon to the gravitational pull that controls Earth’s tides to the 21st-century international race to build a base on the moon” according to its website.
4. Walk, Bike or Run the Bike Path
Commonly known as the “Marblehead Rail Trail” or “Bike Path” at Salem State, this trail stretches 4.1 miles through, Salem, Marblehead and Swampscott. Around campus, the trail is paved and begins between the Stanley building and central campus parking lot it continues behind central campus to a scenic area where you can look across the inlet at other parts of Salem. The trail is a great way to get away from it all and enjoy nature. Learn more about the trail at this website.
5. Visit the Friendship of Salem
Take a walk out to Derby Wharf to visit the Friendship, a replica of the 1797 tall ship that made 15 voyages across the world. Visitors can tour the main deck, “You will learn about the lives of the sailors who traveled the world, bringing exotic goods to Salem during the height of the East Indies trade.”
6. Attend a Salem State Athletic Event
Salem State is unique in that it doesn’t have a football team. However, there are 15 different sports offered. What better way to enjoy a nice spring day then sitting on the bleachers watching the baseball or softball teams play on the field? You can also attend a Men’s or Women’s Basketball game, Men’s or Women’s Ice Hockey game, a Women’s Volleyball match or any of the other athletic events offered. Visit the Salem State Vikings website for schedules.
There are many different things to do as a Salem State student take advantage of as many as possible while you’re here.
