UNH Today

Boston, one of the major cities of the northeast, is also one of the easiest rides to and from the UNH Durham Campus. Whether you know it or not, students at the University of New Hampshire are only an hour and a half via Amtrak to North Station which makes several trips up and down the coasts of New Hampshire, Maine and the north shore. Being a college student also affords you certain things, like discounts and advantage programs, something that becomes more prevalent as you go to bigger cities, like Boston. Whether it’s the museums or the attractions, a college ID makes traveling that much more affordable. It also helps when I end the day looking at my wallet to see if I can still get that cup of coffee the next morning before class.

Here are our top discounts in Boston.

Getting to Boston

Getting there is half the fun! Living on campus gives students access to the Amtrak Downeaster, the local commuter train that goes from Boston to Portland daily. Tickets run about $36 – $40 round trip (saver and value prices). However, if you have your student ID, you can get 15 percent off the lowest value or flexible fare when you book your travel at least three days in advance. Two other alternatives include the student advantage card and the College 6Tix Pass. With the student advantage card, you’ll receive 15 percent off Amtrak tickets as well as a variety of other discounts at 20,000 locations nationwide. The College 6Tix Pass allows one traveller to pay $86 for six one-way tickets that must be used within the year (365 days).

MFA (Museum of Free Arts?)

Want to spend less money? Free with your UNH tuition, you can spend the day at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) discovering Asia, Europe and the Americas through historical artifacts and contemporary art. This awesome discount, thanks to the McLane Family’s New Hampshire Student Membership Program, also offers an additional 10 percent off purchases at the gift store as well. Going with a friend? If their school is not part of the program then they can still use their college ID to get two dollars off their ticket. (UNH: free, other college/university: $23/person)

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Only five dollars with a student ID and free on your birthday (or if your name is Isabella!), visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum brings you one of the best kept secrets of Boston, its historical wonders. Featuring paintings amidst horticultural art, “the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants,” you are transported to an old world. Inside the courtyard are orchids, nasturtium and chrysanthemums, all which bloom during different times of the year, changing the color of the garden.

Skywalk!

Looking for some #instaunh photos of you showing off your Wildcat pride? Go to the Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential Center outside the Hynes Convention Center and receive a four dollar discount on admission with your ID, originally 19 dollars per person. Being 50 stories above Boston’s streets gives you amazing views as far as the eye can see. Some locations visible from the observation deck include Logan International Airport, Fenway Park, the Charles River Basin and the Citgo Sign, as well as schools like Northeastern, BU and MIT. (any college ID: $13/person)