Visiting Vassar

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vassar College
1

<p>My S and I are going to be attending the Vassar Open House this Columbus Day weekend. We're from Chicago and for a variety of reasons (mainly cost), we're flying in to Newark and driving up to Poughkeepsie. </p>

<p>I could really use some routing advice. Google Maps advises me to avoid the New Jersey turnpike, but it seems like the fastest route? I am a city driver, but have never driven on the east coast before. We're getting in to Newark around 3:30 on Sunday. </p>

<p>Also, anybody have any advice on what we should try and see? We'll have some time on Sunday evening, and we're attending the morning open house session. Then my S has a lesson with a music faculty member and we're heading up to Bard for the afternoon (killing as many birds as we can). </p>

<p>I'm hoping for some Hudson Valley Fall color, too :)</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>It’s Sunday. Easy drive. :)</p>

<p>Taking 20/21 north to 208 to I- 287/87 is a good route. Instead of taking I- 87 to Poughkeepsie, I suggest exiting at I-84 east, then 9N to Spackenkill Rd (113) it will be a right lane exit, left on Wilbur Blvd, right on Hooker Ave, left on Raymond Ave to Vassar.</p>

<p>When you come to the corner of Hooker and Raymond, the entrance to the Vassar Farm will be on your right. You’ll have to drive down the access road to actually see the farm.</p>

<p>And after you take the right on Hooker, look for a great (humorous) Vassar billboard. It will be on your right.</p>

<p>A word of caution: Do not speed, especially when going to Bard.</p>

<p>If you have time Sunday night, visit the dining rooms and, if it’s open, the deli at the Culinary Institute of America, aka CIA. All are in the same building. Should the deli be open, enjoying a chocolate croissant is a must. They’re equal to those I’ve had in France. As fattening as well :(</p>

<p>Google directions.
Newark Liberty International Airport</p>

<p>1 Brewster Road
Newark, New Jersey

  1. Head northeast on Departures/Terminal B toward Express Rd
    Continue to follow Terminal B
    0.3 mi
  2. Continue onto Express Rd
    0.3 mi
  3. Slight right
    0.2 mi
  4. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for US-1 N/US-9 N/US-22/NJ-21<br>
    0.5 mi
  5. Continue toward NJ-21 N<br>
    0.4 mi
  6. Keep left at the fork to continue toward NJ-21 N
    0.3 mi
  7. Keep right at the fork and merge onto NJ-21 N<br>
    14.4 mi
  8. Continue onto US-46 E<br>
    0.3 mi
  9. Continue onto NJ-20 N/McLean Blvd<br>
    3.9 mi
  10. Turn right onto Maple Ave<br>
    0.9 mi
  11. Slight right to merge onto NJ-208 N toward Oakland<br>
    6.7 mi
  12. Take the exit onto I-287 N toward I-87 N/Mahwah/New York Thruway
    Entering New York
    7.7 mi
  13. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-87 N/NY-17 N/Albany and merge onto I-87 N/NY-17 N
    Continue to follow I-87 N</p>
3

<p>If you have the time I suggest the walkway over the Hudson. Spectacular views, it’s free and five minutes from Vassar.</p>

4

<p>Thanks, Crewdad. I’m going to rely on the Google directions.</p>

5

<p>So, how was the visit?</p>

<p>Sorry I wasn’t a member here back in October.</p>

<p>I lived, at one time, about three blocks from Vassar. Could give very detailed directions.</p>

<p>If you travel back - one word of caution: avoid the George Washington bridge at all costs.</p>

6

<p>Hi MarkBass, the visit was good. I followed the Google directions and only got lost (really just confused) trying to find the entrance to our hotel in the swirling mess of the Newark Airport roads. </p>

<p>We had a nice tour of campus, S had a good lesson/meeting with the director of the jazz program, he connected with an old friend who is a freshman and we took her out for her first sushi since August :P. S liked the campus and has applied.</p>