Visit Yale University

A trip to New Haven would not be complete without spending some time touring the picturesque grounds, aesthetically stunning buildings, and top-notch amenities of this institution, which is the third-oldest university in the nation and one of the most prestigious in the entire world.

Start your day at the Mead Visitor's Center with a free guided tour, where student docents will entertain you with tales about the long history of the university as they lead you on foot to see historic landmarks like the Gothic Sterling Memorial Library and several of the 14 on-campus colleges spread across seven different campus regions. The well-known Harkness Tower, which is especially well-liked on graduation day, is said to be a fantastic location for photographs. To keep kids interested during the tour, parents with young children can pick up the "Architectural Treasure Hunt" leaflet.

After that, you can spend some time going deeper into some of the university's attractions, such as the Peabody Natural History Museum (which will reopen in 2024), the 8-acre Marsh Botanical Garden, or the Yale University Art Gallery, the country's first university art museum and home to nearly 300,000 works of art. Check out the university's event calendar, which is packed with free and public cultural and educational events like movie screenings, author visits, workshops, and live performances. Staying at The Graduate New Haven or The Study at Yale hotels will complete your college-themed trip.

• Address: 149 Elm St., New Haven, CT 06511