Medford isn’t exactly the hippest place, but Somerville is pretty nice (it’s very close by).
I delete it too like almost instantly every time I download it haha 
But when I have a list of new colleges to look into I usually like to download it (along with looking up the college name on Twitter) just to get a feel for what the students are like and what they think of the school. During the summer there’s not a lot going on though. Also, recognize that there will be idiots at just about every school. What’s more important is the ratio of idiots to smart people haha 
@lad2266 ----Half of Tufts is in Medford and half of Tufts is in Somerville. Tufts’ post office is located in Medford, hence the Medford address. Culturally, over the past 3 decades, Somerville has evolved from the home of Whitey Bulger and the Winter Hill Gang to one of the “hippest” cities in North America (it now has the second highest density of young people and artists in the US, while Cambridge has the third). This transformation has been driven by the extension of the Red Line to Davis Square, the elimination of rent control in Cambridge and the general migration of young people from the suburbs back into the city. In essence, artists and young professionals were forced out of Cambridge by rising rents and attracted from the suburbs by jobs and lots of places for young professionals to hang out. Medford is also gentrifying, but at a slower pace, which will probably accelerate when the Green Line is extended to the Medford side of the campus in 2020.
http://now.tufts.edu/articles/new-academic-building-planned-t-station
The roughly 4 mile corridor that runs along the left bank of the Charles River connecting Tufts to MIT (with Harvard in the middle) is, in effect, a large “college town” with an “artsy, intellectual” vibe. The main gathering points are located around the subway stops. Traditionally, Harvard Square was the most popular hangout, but in a recent poll, Davis Square eclipsed it. I am not sure if you are going to get the full effect in the summer, but you should plan to spend some time in both Davis Square and Harvard Square if you are interested in Tufts, Harvard or MIT. Tufts students will also walk to Powder House Square, Ball Square and Teele Square (on the Somerville side) for individual hangouts and the Medford Hillside on the Medford side. Medford Square and Union Square (in Somerville) are a little harder to get to and reserved for the more adventurous (or those with cars). If you are of the “outdoorsy” type, you might want to check out the Middlesex Fells which is a 2,500 acre urban forest about 2 miles away on the Medford side.
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-north/middlesex-fells-reservation.html
Tufts maintains a Lodge up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire (Dartmouth territory) that is open year round, but that would be hard to go see.
Here are some other places in Medford/Somerville that might be of interest to a potential history major
The only surviving slave quarters in the Northeast is in Medford (Yes, there was slavery in the Northeast)
http://www.royallhouse.org/
One of the stops for Paul Revere on his famous ride is in Medford Square
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Hall_House
The oldest brick house in the country - owned by the family that helped to found Tufts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tufts_House
The oldest stone building in Massachusetts - which played a role in triggering the Revolutionary War (this is right next to Tufts).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder_House_Square#Old_Powder_House
@LAD2266 - Boston is known as “The Hub” because public transport and major highways tend to radiate out from it like spokes attached to the hub of a wheel. People from the Boston area tend to plan college trips based on the major highways.
The traditional “Trip to Maine” is hits Bowdoin, Colby and Bates. Colby is farthest north and Bates is a little west of Bowdoin, so you save about a half hour of driving by doing it in a “loop” rather than working your way northward. I have found that Bates creates a more favorable first impression by approaching it from the north, on the way back from Colby. Each school has a small city/town associated with it that should be explored. Stopping at Portland (which is south of the colleges) for a meal and walking around is a good idea. The southern coast of Maine (between Portland and the Massachusetts/Maine border) is pretty with a number of resort towns that also make for interesting stops along the way. You can choose from Kittery (just over the border) where the Maine Outlet stores are located. Ogonquit is a cute resort town just a little further north. Kennebunkport is a little further north (but further from the highway so less efficient), then there is Old Orchard Beach and then you hit Portland. It is possible to drive along the coast but that can take a long time, especially with summer traffic. What people usually do is stay on the main highway (which is slightly inland) and pick a single town or beach to go to. With some planning, a two-day trip hitting all three schools, Portland and a spot on the coast of Southern Maine is possible - if you are just “scouting” the schools.
Dartmouth is usually included in a “Trip to New Hampshire/Vermont” which includes Dartmouth, Middlebury and sometimes University of Vermont (which is very old, small state university in a beautiful, but remote location with a nice college town).
Then there is a “Trip to Western Mass” that includes UMass/Amherst, Amherst and potentially another Five College Consortium member as well as Williams (which is out in the Berkshires on the New York Border).
Then there is a “Trip to Worcester” for Clark University (really more of a LAC with a couple small Phd programs), WPI and Holy Cross.
@Mastadon Thank you immensely for your thorough and informative responses! They have been very helpful in my family’s trip planning–especially the tourist destinations. Sorry I haven’t been active, but once again thank you!
Here are more ideas:
For someone interested in Political Science, the JFK Library in South Boston can be interesting. It is easily accessible via the Red Line. Carson Beach (Boston has several beaches accessible via public transportation) is off the same subway stop as is UMass Boston.
http://www.jfklibrary.org/
http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/location.php?nid=6&sid=45
For more history and relaxation, the Boston Harbor Islands are a national park. You can visit the remains of Fort Warren and Fort Andrews (two different Islands) and a beach (third Island)
http://www.bostonharborislands.org/
http://www.bostonharborislands.org/#!historic-sites/chwg
For even more history and relaxation you can follow the path of Paul Revere’s ride out to Lexington and Concord where there are lots of historic sites. Walden Pond is located in Lincoln which is sandwiched between Lexington and Concord.
This is best done by car, but it is possible to do it by bike.