By May 19 the Binghamton University campus will be virtually devoid of student activity, save for that associated with Summer Session. For those students who do stay, whether it is for work or play, the question is: what does Binghamton have to offer in the summertime?
It’s more than some might imagine — from fairs to carnivals to taking a few classes, students who remain in Broome County for the summer can find plenty to do.
Graduate student Justin Joseph spent the past two summers at BU and is planning to stay here once again — possibly a display of his appreciation for summertime in Binghamton.
“It’s really nice,” Joseph said. “It’s a lot of fun and the weather is beautiful.”
While little actually happens on campus during the summer, the festivals, fairs and carnivals undoubtedly make up for it, he said.
The descriptively-named “Spiedie Fest,” which is held at Otsiningo Park, and downtown Binghamton’s “July Fest,” are just a few of the festivals that take place in Broome County over the summer.
The Triple Cities area offers a number of other cultural attractions as well.
From the Roberson Museum and Science Center, at 30 Front St. in Binghamton, to the Ross Park Zoo at 60 Morgan Rd. in Binghamton, there are a bunch of things to do that cost little or nothing and can be a great escape.
With a $4 admission fee, The Roberson Museum and Science Center offers great art — and for an extra dollar, a planetarium show. The zoo, with an entrance fee of $8.50, has tigers, leopards, their recently born baby wallaby and — most appropriately for the BU student — a bearcat.
Any BU student interested in the city’s historically creepier side can make their way to 67 Bennett St.: you may have thought Wal-mart was a trip, but how about the childhood home of “The Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling?
The less adventurous types can go see, and perhaps even ride, one of Binghamton’s famous carousels. If you come down with a Holden Caulfield moment, get sick of school and start to hate everyone, a ride on a good old-fashioned carousel might help. At Recreation Park, one of the few older carousels is still working. There are others in Johnson City, Endwell, Endicott and also one at the zoo.
Graduating senior Erin Hauck spent last summer and, like Joseph, is spending this coming summer here at BU. In addition to working several jobs, she found time to indulge in Binghamton’s summer life.
On days of recreation, she and her friends found their way to Binghamton Mets games. And, along with trips to the ball games, camping and go-cart racing in Kirkwood are a few of the other pastimes on hand for BU students spending the summer.
Of course, there are always the more environmentally-based pastimes the area has to offer: kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing and mountain biking are just a few of the activities available with only a 30 minute drive to Chenango Valley State Park.
“You can go cliff jumping, or wine tasting in Ithaca,” Joseph added.
Besides the plentiful choices for daytime activities, nightlife also proves a concern for the students who stay the summer.
According to Joseph, “the bars are pretty much dead, but most of the time there are house parties.”
“It’s a different crowd, but it’s interesting,” Hauck said. “The people are the same age as during the year, except they are the local kids who were away at school.”