<p>Even though Williams is in a "rural " setting the campus and town feel more like a little city. Spring street with its stores, restaurants and movie theater is within a short walk for all students.
The fact that the school is set in, and merged with, the town gives the place a flavor that is very different from the self contained modern campuses located in the middle of nowhere.
Anyone who is even remotely interested in Williams must visit the campus before dismissing it because of its rural label.</p>
<p>Interesteddad, LOL (I should better change my Location, otherwise other people might belive I actually live in Antarctica!!! Hehe)</p>
<p>Thanks for the input, holycow</p>
<p>
[quote]
Even though Williams is in a "rural " setting the campus and town feel more like a little city.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Huh? Williamstown? Feels like a little city? Not the Williamstown I know and love. There is nothing even remotely city-like about Williamstown.</p>
<p>Pittsfield? OK, it's a stretch, but I could buy that (population 45,000). North Adams, not so much (pop 14,600). But, not Williamstown. It's not even a very big town. The whole population of the town is 8,400 people and it's not like there are suburbs on top of that. The surrounding area is woods, farmland, and mountains.</p>
<p>"The surrounding area is woods, farmland, and mountains."</p>
<p>Wow.. that's pretty rural-intense.</p>
<p>Yes. Williamstown is very rural New England. It's spectacularly beautiful, but in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>Super nice in June, July, August, September, October. January and Februrary are OK...if you like it cold and snowy. March and April can be pretty brutal waiting for summer.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But, not Williamstown. It's not even a very big town. The whole population of the town is 8,400 people and it's not like there are suburbs on top of that.
[/quote]
According to the 2000 Census, there were 8,424 people in the "town" of Williamstown. But officially the "town" of Williamstown covers some 49 square miles in the northwestern corner of Massachusetts. There were only 4,754 people in the "census-designated place" of Williamstown, which basically represents the community surrounding the college. </p>
<p>Realistically, you would be hard pressed to find a smaller college town. Williamstown makes Hanover or Middlebury look urban. But some people like it that way.</p>
<p>"Williamstown makes Hanover or Middlebury look urban"</p>
<p><em>Coughs</em> Alright, now I get a general picture of this -Williamstown-</p>
<p>Hey, Williamstown isn't that small. There is one gas station, although it's almost at the North Adams town line. There's a brand spanking new grocery store just over the line in North Adams.</p>
<p>I don't think there is a stoplight anywhere, but there maybe a flashing yellow light down south of town where 43 and 7 intersect.</p>
<p>Seriously though, it is absolutely wonderful in the summer and fall -- as are Vermont and New Hampshire. There are quite a few restaurants around. It's a very popular vacation area in the summer with the Williamstown Summer Theater and Tanglewood not too far down the road.</p>
<p>Corbett is right. Hanover seems downright metropolitan next to Williamstown. Hanover even has (or at least had) factories and stuff.</p>
<p>kevster, I think of Williamstown as the quintessential New England village. There are one or two of everything you need -- drugstore, cleaners, bookstore, photo place, movies, a handful of restaurants, a couple of banks, some fine museums -- but it may or may not be everything you need. There is no Gap, no Starbucks, no Macdonalds, no mega anything.</p>
<p>To me the biggest draws are the profoundly beautiful countryside and the insular nature of the campus community. My son who had only lived in BIG cities all his life was actually surprised to be drawn to rural colleges. Compared to really isolated campuses like Hamilton or Kenyon, Williamstown has more "town" but it's definitely small. It helps a lot to be involved in somekind of snow based activity. Otherwise, it can be a long, cold winter.</p>
<p>The college itself offers a lot sophisticated activities -- in the arts, sports, parties of course, so there's plenty to do.</p>
<p>Williamstown actually feels like the safest place on earth..since it;s so small. hence u get news like -'police were alerted after a student saw a bear near chapin hall. The bear turned out to be a rather large squirrel'. Seriously, the worst that can happen to you is being sprayed by a skunk (and there are a lot of those bastards lurking in the frosh quad)</p>
<p>Have you been sprayed by a skunk?</p>
<p>My child, who lived for 18 years in a major metropolitan area numbering several million inhabitants, loves W'town for its refreshing contrasts -- and especially for the fact that Williams students can enjoy an environment free of many of the stresses of urban living.</p>
<p>At the same time, several cities -- including the capital of New York -- are within an hour's drive of the college.</p>
<p>nope..not yet..but i know ppl who have been...(and the security also warned us about it)</p>
<p>I'd say an hour to Albany would be pushing it - assuming anybody wanted to go there for some strange reason - but there are a few bars in Troy.</p>
<p>The closest international airport to W'town is in Albany -- as are outlets of national chains at which teenagers enjoy browsing/shopping.</p>
<p>Driving to bars in Troy sounds seedy, and not like what healthy, intelligent (and underage) Ephs would be most interested in doing -- as others have pointed out, there's a wide range of entertainment options provided for the students on campus.</p>
<p>Byerly, it's slightly less than an hour to Albany, but I agree this isn't really a draw. Having the Albany airport relatively nearby is a plus. The bars in Saratoga Springs would be more of a draw than any in Troy.</p>
<p>Williamstown is just one of those places you HAVE to visit before deciding on going to Williams. There is no place like it and you either love it or hate it. </p>
<p>I love it.</p>
<p>What's the foliage situation up there right now, priceless? Is it past prime?</p>
<p>driver,
We visited last weekend - beautiful weather, beautiful foliage. I hear it was much better than last year. I'd say that it was probably the peak or maybe a day or two past. Haven't spoken with D since returning, so I don't know if the leaves are still on the trees.</p>
<p>At least it looks like the weather will hold for WUFO's Purple Valley tournament--on Saturday, at least. I'm hoping to be there.</p>
<p>We're in W-Town right now (Thursday). It's been murky and cloudy. The leaves are perfect but the lowering clouds don't show them off to the best affect. Very atmospheric though. </p>
<p>Having a great time hearing about the kids' summer activities, favorite classes, and (horrors!) what they plan to do when they're sprung on the Real World. No small college claustrophobia here. They all want to re-up for another 4 years. </p>
<p>I can tell you unreservedly that these kids are going to continue to have AMAZING lives.</p>