<p>Is the town (read: coffee shops , cafes, places to escape campus) walking distance from the campus ?</p>
<p>There is a cute little neighborhood just off campus. Pizza place, Indian food, natural/smoothie place, expensive but nice grocery/deli, jewelry store, coffee bar with a great lounge, post office, two upscale clothes stores. You can walk there and it is a nice little oasis. In the other direction there are a couple of fun restaurants within walking distance, just not as sheltered and pictureque.</p>
<p>To get to a mall (there is a big one nearby) you will need to use another form of transportation.</p>
<p>I don’t recommend walking alone around Pok much until you get a feel for the different nieghborhoods. This said, it is fun to explore the Italian neighborhood, the riverfront parks, the downtown area and the clubs. Just be prudent, don’t walk alone at night, etc. Public transportation is not as accessible and convenient as in other places but it does exist, you just have to figure it out in order to get further away from campus. A study break is easily taken care of in the immediate neighborhood.</p>
<p>Personally I love Vassar’s gorgeous campus, and there is an organic farm right across the street.</p>
<p>If you make friends with someone who has a car, be sure to check out New Paltz (directly across the river) and the surrounding apple farms for a day’s outing – esp in fall when it is so beauitful.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>PS - I take it back - you don’t necessarily need a car to get to New Platz. Look up the Metro Link bus, it can take you from the train station on the waterfront in Pok to Nerw Paltz and back again. About $1.50 each way. Have fun!</p>
<p>Assume that you mean “campus” although perhaps you are being witty and also referring to Camus? Second momcinco about several excellent walking distance, pizza, few restaurants and cafes (Culinary grad run).</p>