What’s there to do walking distance from JHU? How’s the arts scene off and on campus? Is it easy to get to farther places without a car?
There are a lot of food places, some parks, a movie theater within walking distance. I don’t know much about visual art; don’t really see it on campus, but the Baltimore Art Museum is right next door to the school, and admission is free. There are many musical and dance groups, though, and concerts on campus and at the Peabody Institute.
It’s easy to get to certain places without a car through the free Hopkins shuttle, Charm City Circulator, and Collegetown Shuttle buses. That can take you to Hampden, the Inner Harbor (with aquarium and shopping center), downtown, the train station, the mall / Target / Walmart, and other places. But there are fewer means to go north or west.