<p>What is the area like around Rice? I know there is Hermann Park and the Medical Center, but is there a city street with lots of restaurants and shops (preferably with student-friendly businesses) around? I like colleges with some urban feel (UCLA, Penn). Is Rice like that?</p>
<p>The campus has lots of green space. Two blocks from the football parking lot end of Rice is Rice Village, which has tons (about 300) little student/people friendly shops and restuarants,etc. See [Rice</a> Village](<a href=“http://www.ricevillageonline.com/]Rice”>http://www.ricevillageonline.com/)</p>
<p>it is a urban environment. But Rice has a very definite campus. 300 acres belongs to Rice and there are many open areas. Outside Rice is like the middle of a city with Rice Village nearby</p>
<p>The city doesn’t run through Rice, but it runs around it.</p>
<p>The med center (across the street) is decidedly urban, and downtown is only a few stops away on the lightrail. But if you’re looking for a place where day-to-day life consists mainly of wandering around the city or studying in a nearby coffee shop, Rice isn’t that place. Most of day-to-day life is contained on-campus. People do get out pretty often, but Rice is decidedly a self-sustaining campus — the city is a separate entity.</p>
<p>I think the overall feel of Rice is suburban, when you consider the campus and Rice Village. If you go over and start walking around at Texas Medical Center, then you will think you are in an Urban environment, but it is a lot nicer there than NYC, etc. It is kind of interesting in this regard and similar to South Florida and places in California.</p>
<p>Yeah it’s weird. The Med Center is like a little downtown. Rice is definitely suburban. The only thing urban about it is the Med Center, but that is only on the east side, and part of the east part is Hermann Park (e.g. across from Brown). North and south are houses, big ones. West is basically two blocks of houses/apartments, then the village, then more houses.</p>
<p>I love rice.</p>