By Jill Bongiorni

Boston is known for its “college town” demeanor – offering countless bars, clubs, restaurants, museums, theaters, shopping districts, music venues and sporting events – but sometimes the hustle and bustle of city life can be a bit overwhelming.
Many out-of-state students don’t realize that a peaceful escape to the suburbs is just a few feet and dollars away. Just as the MBTA’s commuter rail offers students from suburban colleges the ability to enjoy a night in the city, the commuter rail is a cheap, easy way for Boston college students to take a break from the city.
Whether it be to catch a scenic train in the fall, the Halloween Train to Salem, shopping at the South Shore Plaza or at the Natick Mall, trips to the Capron or Roger William Park Zoo or any other retreat, the commuter rail has students covered.

Check out some of these fun, fall-friendly destinations:

FITCHBURG LINE
Concord (Concord, W. Concord Stations)
The Old North Bridge is a historical site from the Battle of Concord, the first day of battle in the Revolutionary War. The site is now part of Minute Man National Park, which contains many other significant sites from the Revolutionary War, like where Paul Revere was captured during his midnight ride.
Orchard House offers visitors guided tours of the house in which Louisa May Alcott wrote and set her novel “Little Women.” The house is open to tourists year-round.
Lincon Station
DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the largest park of its kind in New England, houses more than 60 works. The 35 acre property provides a constantly changing landscape of large-scale, outdoor, modern and contemporary sculpture and site-specific installations.
Hastings Station
The Case Estates is a botanical garden located in Weston that at one time had active plant nurseries for the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. The Estate features a 10 feet high x 6 feet thick x 200 feet long wall named “Louisa’s Wall” because Miss Marian Roby Case gave it to her sister Louisa as a birthday present in 1911. An early brochure given to visitors described the wall as “the largest free-standing dry wall in New England,” but that fact has never been confirmed.

FRAMINGHAM/WORCESTER LINE
Ashland Station
Stone’s Public House, built in 1834, is said to be haunted since a murder took place in the basement and several years later, the niece of a former employee died of a severe illness while being cared for at the inn. Now an Irish-American restaurant, many guests and employees have reported bizarre occurrences, like glasses flying off the shelves or the feeling of hands around their necks.
 Framingham Station
Amazing Things Art Center will hold “Alive She Cried,” a Doors tribute show, Friday, Oct. 14. Tickets are $15 with a $1-off student discount.
Garden in the Woods is the largest landscaped collection of wildflowers in the Northeast, including 1,500 native plant species.
Natick Station
The Natick Mall, the largest mall in New England, is a retail and restaurant destination with 200 retail stores including the first Nordstrom in Massachusetts, the area’s only suburban Neiman Marcus, along with JCPenny, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s and Sears.
Worcester Station
EcoTarium is a unique indoor-outdoor science and nature museum, which features several exhibits, a planetarium and a tree canopy walkway.

FRANKLIN LINE
Islington Station
Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) is the world’s only museum dedicated to the collection and preservation of “bad art in all its forms and in all its glory,” according to the museum’s website.

HAVERHILL LINE
Haverhill Station
Chunky’s offers a unique experience where dining meets the movies. Guests can enjoy food service to their tables, featuring comfortable leather seats, while watching current movies on the silver screen.
The Paper House is a house made entirely out of newspaper. Even the furniture is intricately designed from paper, including a piano. The house is open every day, spring through fall, for tours. Admission for adults is $2.

NEWBURY/ROCKPORT LINE
Rockport Station
Thacher Island, located just off the coast of Cape Ann, is a national historic landmark with twin lighthouses. Visitors are able to climb the 154 steps to the top and see the Boston skyline to the south and the mountains of Maine to the northwest.
Beverly Depot
Salem Willows Park is an oceanfront amusement park that offers free admission. The park offers tree-shaded grounds that afford ocean views, children-friendly rides, beaches, picnic areas and four eateries.
Salem Station
The Witch House is the 17th century home of Salem Witchcraft Trial Judge Jonathan Corwin. He served on the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which ultimately sent 19 “witches” to the gallows. The “Witch House” is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Witchcraft Trials of 1692. Just a short walk from the commuter rail station, visitors are welcome to guided or self-guided tours of the house.

OLD COLONY LINE
Braintree Station
The South Shore Plaza is a Simon mall containing over 180 specialty shops including The Gap, Pandora, Coach, Banana Republic, Forever 21, Juicy Couture, Godiva, Vera Bradley and Apple.

GREENBUSH LINE
South Weymouth Station
Barrett’s Haunted Mansion, now in its 20th year, will be open for the month of October, according to bhmansion.com. Barrett’s is always guaranteed to be unique, as the mansion changes every year. For those more easily spooked, there is a special lights-on tour of the house Saturdays at 2 p.m.

PROVIDENCE/STOUGHTON LINE
Attleboro Station
Capron Park Zoo’s eight acres are full of exhibits that visitors of any age can enjoy. The zoo features a Nocturnal Building, where day and night are reversed so that patrons can see nocturnal animals in addition to a tropical rainforest and African lions.
Foxboro Station
Gillette Stadium in Foxboro is home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution. Departing from South Station in Boston and Providence Station in Providence, R.I., round-trip train tickets for events held at Gillette are only $15. NOTE: Foxboro station is a commuter rail stop only used for these special events. For train schedule, visit MBTA.com.
Providence, R.I. Station
The Dunkin Donuts Center a.k.a. “The Dunk” is home of the AHL Providence Bruins and the Providence College Friars. The Dunk is a premier events arena that hosts various sporting events, concerts, trade shows and more. The arena is also a regular stop on WWE tours.
Roger Williams Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the nation and Rhode Island’s most popular tourist destination. It features some of the world’s rarest animals, from the giant anteater to the Chilean flamingo.

Rates range from $1.70 to $8.25 and monthly rates are available. More information on commuter rail rates and zones can be found at MBTA.com.