By Lucy Verlaque
Elm Staff Writer
Though Washington College students tend to be booked and busy during the school week, schedules can get a little slow over the weekend. It is easy to feel restless when there is not much to do on campus.
If you need a change of scenery, here are some places you can go off-campus on weekends.
Explore Chestertown
Downtown Chestertown is only a 10-minute walk from campus, making it an accessible location for students. Though the downtown area is fairly small, there are plenty of charming shops to explore and activities to enjoy.
To start your morning off, coffee shops like Play It Again Sam and Evergrain Bread Company make for great brunch spots, offering sandwiches, pastries, and more.
If you are in the mood for shopping, there are plenty of options.
The Chestertown Farmers Market takes place every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. until noon. Vendors set up tents along High Street and sell a variety of products, such as produce, baked goods, and art.
Popular downtown shopping locations include Twigs and Teacups, a gift shop that sells miscellaneous trinkets, and The Bookplate, Chestertown’s local bookstore. If you are an animal lover, you will be pleased to know that these stores are also homes to cats Johnathan and Elsa, and Keke, respectively.
Speaking of cats, the Cat Colloquium is a non-profit organization that is home to over a dozen rescued cats. Located above Stam’s Luncheonette — a great diner if you need lunch plans — the Cat Colloquium allows visitors to interact with the cats and learn about animal advocacy.
For evening plans, restaurants like Cafe Sado, which specializes in Asian-fusion cuisine, or Luisa’s Cucina Italiana are popular dinner spots. However, fast-food locations like Domino’s and The Freeze are cheaper and within walking distance of campus.
If you need a dessert to end your day, Sugar Doodles Sweet Shop serves ice cream, milkshakes, and more to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Take a Daytrip
Want to get out of Chestertown? There are plenty of places within an hour’s drive from the College that make for great day trip locations.
Betterton Beach is 20 minutes away, so when the weather is nice, you and your friends can head to the beach and take a break from studying and assignments.
Middletown, Del., is about a half-hour drive from campus. There are various chain restaurants, fast-food joints, and department stores for students who need a break from Chestertown’s pricey boutiques.
If you are prepared to brave the Bay Bridge, Annapolis is less than an hour away. With unique dining options, such as the infamous Chick and Ruth’s Delly, and a stunning waterfront, the downtown area is a great place to explore.
For students who do not have cars or other means of transit, WC provides access to transportation through a weekend service called DayTrippers.
According to DayTrippers Manager sophomore Keegan Enzor, “[DayTrippers] is a program that allows students who may not have transportation or may not know the area to just have a day to go out and experience something.”
Typical DayTrippers locations include Betterton Beach, the Annapolis Mall, and the Christiana Mall in Newark, Del.
DayTrippers also plans trips to align with special occasions.
According to Enzor, mall trips are often organized before events like Homecoming or Birthday Ball so students have an opportunity to shop for formal attire. A recent Halloween-themed trip allowed students to visit Devil’s Playground Haunted Attraction in Galena.
The program also organizes around specific events. Earlier in the semester, as part of a collaboration with the Black Student Union, students got the chance to visit the World Culture Festival in Washington, D.C.
“[DayTrippers] provides a lot of experiences for a lot of different people,” Enzor said.
Look out for emails from daytrippers@washcoll.edu or follow their Instagram account, @wc_daytrippers, to stay updated on locations and times of future trips.
Whether you need a break from campus or just want to experience a new area, there is always something to be gained from getting out and exploring.
Photo by Lucy Verlaque.
Photo Caption: The Bookplate, located in downtown Chestertown, offers a variety of used and new books for customers to peruse and purchase.