<p>
[QUOTE]
Seriously, if you do decide to travel through the NYC area, there are better routes up to Boston than I95. Take the Hutchison River Parkway to the Merritt, for example.
[/QUOTE]
I did the NYC-Boston route for years as a student and after. My route was 287/Tappen Zee Bridge -> 684 -> 84 -> Mass Pike. On Saturdays, I'd use 91 to get around the shopping traffic in the Hartford area. </p>
<p>I-95 is a "college route", so if Yale, Trinity, Conn College, or one of the RI schools is in the mix, it's a necessary road. If you do a loop and finish in RI (PA, NYC, MA, PVD), the amount of time on 95 is lessened.</p>
<p>Just remember the Boston "rules of the road"</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The cheaper car has the right of way.</p></li>
<li><p>The "straight ahead rule": the car going straight has the right of way, and need not stop for red lights or stop signs. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>What, you many ask, do you do at, say a four way intersection with two cars at right angles? Just remember, rule 1 before rule 2.</p>
<p>Obviously, these rules have a few implications. Always take a beat up cab from Logan Airport. You'll get to your destination faster (rule1) Pedistrians beware at intersections (rule 2).</p>
<p>Street signs in Boston? yea, right. When the sox win. (Oops, time for an update here...)</p>
<p>Freeway signs? After the intersection in some cases, just as a reminder of what you missed. </p>
<p>One important note, meant seriously:</p>
<p>Plan on extra time for any trip, freeway or local. Freeway and local road speeds are lower than Texas, they wind and travel is alwyays a bit more confusing. What looks close on a map may be rather roundabout on the ground.</p>
<p>Confound all foreigners! That should be the MA drivers' mantra.</p>
<p>There used to be more little statuettes of the Virgin Mary hanging from cabdrivers' mirrors. It may be a sign that:1. fewer cab drivers are Irish Catholics; or 2. MA drivers have gotten better. ;)</p>
<p>Seriously, from what Xiggi has said of his sister, I have the suspicion that neither Bennington College (which is in Bennington, VT) or Bard College (in Annandale-on-Hudson) will be on her itinerary. </p>
<p>If she is interested in all-women's colleges, Smith and Wellesley should be of interest. If she wishes to go a bit north of Boston, Bowdoin is two hours away in Brunswick, ME. Dartmouth is also two hours away, in Hanover, NH. Brown is one hour in the opposite direction, in Providence, RI; Yale, about two hours away and Wesleyan 2.5 hours away (and 30 minutes from Yale). In Phlly there is, of course, UPenn; close by is Swarthmore; Princeton is an easy drive as well.</p>
<p>Wellesley and Yale are used by the Exploration Camps during the summer. I don't know if Wellesley has other programs going (Yale has summer school as well) but I think the Wellesley campus is used by younger kids. So the campus will not be dead, but it won't be full of college students.</p>
<p>There will be lots of science research going on at Smith during the summer (you can meet with profs and meet students), as well as Science and Engineering camps.</p>
<p>My wife describes Boston-area driving as the Olympic training ground for auto-dressage. ;)</p>
<p>If you find yourself traveling north/south from NYC to Albany for any reason, try the Taconic State Parkway rather than the NY Turnpike. No trucks and a much nicer driving experience.</p>
<p>Same thing from White Plains, NY out past New Haven - try the Merritt Parkway, but not during rushhour!</p>
<p>Make sure you have a full tank of gas, as the stations are rather sparce.</p>
<p>Thanks to all - you're the best. I'll start printing small booklets next week. It looks like the trip with be in three weeks. We'll avoid the heat wave in the Northeast. :) </p>
<p>PS Do not hesitate to send more suggestions. I really appreciate them, and I know the ladies will. Now, they are a bit cocky after having survived the West Coast.</p>
<p>This was my "whirlwind tour": 13 schools in eight days, starting in Washington, DC.</p>
<p>Day 1 - Clark, Wellesley
Day 2 - Harvard
Day 3 - MIT, Dartmouth
Day 4 - Middlebury
Day 5 - Williams, Smith
Day 6 - Amherst, Brown
Day 7 - Yale, Wesleyan
Day 8 - Vassar</p>