Just 13 miles up the coast of Lake Michigan from downtown Chicago, Evanston is a fine place to call home, especially if you like cities but don’t want to live in one.

When your Northwestern University teacher cancels class, you can easily hop on the “L” to Chicago for big-city attractions like Wrigley Field, the Bean and the Art Institute of Chicago. Then you can come back home to Evanston’s calmer atmosphere.

But you don’t have to skip town. Evanston has its own music, dance, theater, parks, and recreation. You can go kayaking or sailing on the great lake. Go ice skating, visit the ecology center, or walk through the town’s gorgeous tree-lined streets to gawk at the architectural homes. This upscale suburban town has a mix of what some college goers love: a small-town vibe with access to the big city.

Students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have a bunch of cool hangout spots off campus and around town, like Campustown, a zone packed with just about everything you need: restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, and apartments.

The downtown area is vibrant, with film, dance, music and theater. Lots of neighborhood parks and trails and Meadowbrook Prairie (in nearby Urbana Park) add to the livability here.

Bonus: Champaign is well-connected to neighboring Urbana, so it’s almost like getting two college towns in one.

This college town that’s named after the explorer Daniel Boone and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains has a natural canvas of rugged beauty.

The stuff that man has built here, like 200 miles of bike trails that weave through the Pisgah National Forest, mile-high swinging bridges, and an old railroad, actually make it an even better place to live. Thankfully, what you won’t find here (if you’re considering Appalachian State University) is an overload of those other man-made wonders, like chain restaurants and stores. Instead, you’ll find mom-and-pop operations serving up local favorites like fish tacos and hot dogs—and boutiques selling vintage furniture, clothing and art.

Expect an abundance of Mountaineer signs. Residents of Boone are proud of who they are, and that includes their three-time champion football team.

Soul food, Southern charm, and a unique heritage make this Cajun Country town one of the best places to live when you’re a college student.

This home to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette is also known as the Hub City, and it’s filled with energy, passion, and a vibrant student vibe.

If you’re the kind of person who prefers new experiences to routine, you’ll be pleased to see how many different things the town has to offer, like seasonal festivals (try the Festivals Acadiens et Creoles), live concerts (pop into the Cajundome) and nature (visit Cypress Lake). Are you game for dancing the night away to the latest music? Swigging beer at a saloon? Curling up with a good book from a mom-and-pop bookshop? Whatever your jam, you’re likely to find someplace to do it in Lafayette.

In this Southern town, home to a handful of colleges and universities like the University of South Carolina, you’ll feel Southern hospitality oozing from every corner.

The vibe is friendly and relaxed yet upbeat. There’s a lively art scene, eateries galore, boutiques, spas and salons, and parks and gardens of all shapes and sizes. Craving for comfort food? Check. Prefer raw vegetarian? They’ve got that too.

When weekends come, you have lots of off-campus options, like the Riverbanks Zoo, South Carolina State Museum, and Congaree National Park.

This waterfront town on Lake Superior is friendly and down-to-earth, as any Midwestern town should be.

The town that the University of Minnesota calls home also has a decent amount of action. There’s always something going on at Canal Park, a waterfront zone peppered with eateries, breweries and seascapes.

Yes, it’s Minnesota, so it gets cold. But so what? It’s the perfect reason to ditch your class to go snowboarding or skiing at nearby Spirit Mountain. In the milder months, you can choose from a whole bunch of downright summery things. You can hike, bike, go to the beach or—wait for it—surf. No, really, you can. Simply bring your board out to Lake Superior on a day when the waves are peppy and catch a ride.

If you find knockout gorgeous scenery inspiring, your mood (and grades?) may get a boost from living in this northern Idaho town surrounded by forests, lakes and rivers. It’s so bucolic that it was featured in National Geographic magazine.

But you’ll need more than views to get the blood pumping, yes? Don’t worry—this backcountry hub (and home to the University of Idaho) is a blank canvas for skiing, whitewater rafting, biking, climbing and snowboarding. It has indoor attractions too, like hip art galleries, movie theaters and coffee shops. Lest you get bored from doing the same thing over and over, Moscow offers seasonal attractions, like the award-winning Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Artwalk and Fresh Aire concert series.

Just for kicks, people like to call this Kansas State University town the Little Apple.

You know, because the more famous Manhattan (in New York) is the Big Apple. But never mind that. It’s nothing—nothing!—like its big-city counterpart. For one thing, you can actually afford to live here without breaking the bank (or your parents’ retirement fund). Off-campus digs are relatively cheap, and you can get a taste of its culture for pennies on the dollar. And unlike the bars, restaurants, and shops in the other Manhattan, the ones here often have a quirky twist inspired by its college population.

For more wallet-friendly entertainment, you can mosey over to the Manhattan Linear Trail or Tuttle Creek State Park, home of the annual Kicker Country Stampede.

One of the first things people-in-the-know say about this town 25 miles east of Topeka (and home to the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University) is that it’s got an incredible music scene

If you’re a music-loving student, you can get amped up for Lawrence’s annual Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival, which draws tens of thousands of music lovers every year.

Not a music junkie? Don’t worry. This student-friendly town has other types of culture too. Like art, for example: You’ll find public art exhibits and one-stop venues like the Lawrence Arts Center, which features both visual and performing arts.

When you’re looking for a slower pace and something more chill, you can head to nearby Clinton Lake, the Kansas River, and Lawrence’s many neighborhood parks. And bring your pup—this place isn’t just student-friendly, it’s dog-friendly too.

You may not think “college town” when you picture this coastal Georgia town, but it’s a haven for students.

With a handful of colleges, including Savannah State University, South University-Savannah and Savannah College of Art and Design, how could it not be?

But Savannah isn’t just student-friendly. It’s charming, artsy and eclectic. Gawk at its old, classic Southern homes. Kick back at a park square stamped with Southern charm. Take in the culture at the Savannah Community Theatre and the Little Theatre of Savannah. (Both are super-close to campus.) Join the crowd at the Savannah Music Festival.

When it’s time to fill your belly—and feed your soul—gear up for decadence. Rich Southern cooking, craft brews and homemade sweets are just the beginning.

Going to the U.S. Naval Academy or St. John’s College?

Annapolis is a one-of-a-kind town defined by the sea (it’s on the Chesapeake Bay) and U.S. history. (Back in the days of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, it was the U.S. capital.) Lined with brick sidewalks and old-school buildings, it most definitely has a feeling that you’re steeped in history.

Annapolis has a pretty cool maritime history. A long time ago, it was a seaport used to greet international ships. But the town isn’t stuck in the past. Today, it’s a sailing hotspot, with races in the harbor and a vibrant waterfront, where you can go sailing, power boating, paddleboarding and kayaking. There’s ample sea-sourced replenishment: Think Maryland blue crabs, clams, oysters and freshly caught fish.

Like to shop? Choose from artisan boutiques and mega malls. Like culture? Visit the opera, symphony orchestra, or ballet theater. Or catch a performance of the USNA Band, aka, the Navy’s Oldest and Finest. Like sports? Cheer for Navy football or head to a major league game. There are seven teams within 30 miles: the Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, Washington Wizards, Washington Nationals, Washington Capitals and D.C. United.

This is a cool piece of Utah. The land is flat and the town is juxtaposed with the Rocky Mountains.

If snow-laced mountain peaks and gorgeous scenery helps you feel at one with your books, you’re good to go. It’s not just for looking—the landscape offers plenty of outdoor play, like hiking and fishing. Go climbing at Rock Canyon. Paddleboard around Utah Lake. Join group runs or bike rides.

When you live in this town that houses Brigham Young University, you can take in even more fresh air at its rooftop concert series and its summer cinema series. When you need a bite to eat, don’t worry because the foodie scene is nifty too, and has an eye toward sustainability.

You won’t find a bar scene, though—this town is all about BYU, which is funded by the Church of the Latter-day Saints (aka Mormons). Staying sober isn’t just the norm, it’s part of the school’s honor code.

Good luck finding anyone who went to Penn State University and won’t say something along the lines of, “State College is THE place to be.”

Is it the obsession with football that brings this tight-knit community together? Is it the thriving downtown scene? The largest student-run philanthropy? The small-town feel?

“You will quickly feel like a local as you tailgate on a game day at Beaver Stadium or enjoy a cone of the 20-plus homemade ice cream flavors from Berkey Creamery,” says Haley Staub, who works for the Pennsylvania Tourism Office. She says this Happy Valley neighborhood is the ideal college town. Good food, a heaping of student-friendly bars and mega college spirit make it a no-brainer for a student searching for the college life. Simply put, Staub says, “We are…Penn State!”

This Ivy League town set near the Vermont-New Hampshire border is super-small and quaint, surrounded by lakes and forest and perfectly perched along the Connecticut River.

Its relaxed downtown area is peppered with upscale shops and restaurants. A few Main Street outposts are locally-run college staples and sure to be favorite hangouts when you and your roomies need to pull all-night study sessions. Walk further up Main Street for a smattering of small stores and coffee shops.

What would a town that lays claim to Dartmouth College be without a cultural hub? Luckily you don’t have to look (or walk) far to find it. It’s easy to scoot to the Hop, or the Hopkins Center for the Arts, and the Hood Museum of Art, for live performances and global art. It’s just across from the college green, a campus-centric quad.

Want to see lots of stars? (No, not celebrities—the bright, sparkly things that light up the skies on a clear night.)

There’s no place like Flagstaff, a.k.a. Flag, home to Northern Arizona University. In this northern Arizona mountain town, the air is clear; the nights are chilly, and the skies are spectacular. You’ve got arts (like a First Friday get-together every month), Movies on the Square, concerts, and the famous Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered.

You’re just an hour and a half from the Grand Canyon. But it doesn’t quite feel like it when you’re there because it happens to be surrounded by the biggest ponderosa pine forest in the world.

The landscape and climate is one-of-a-kind. You get four seasons, so expect both sunshine and snow. Flag has 700 acres of parkland and a 50-mile urban trail system. You’re super-close to the red rock of Sedona. And you’re a few hours from both Las Vegas and Phoenix. (Spring break, anyone?)

You may be drawn to this small town nestled into red rocks for Southern Utah University’s liberal arts offerings and bucolic, tree-lined campus

But stepping off campus is equally compelling. The air is clean, the skies are clear, and there’s nature aplenty.

Want to blow off steam snowboarding, mountain biking, or canyoneering? “Our little educational patch of ground is a five-hour (or less) drive from 20 national parks, monuments and recreation areas,” says Lexi Carter, who works for Southern Utah University. Bonus: Cedar City has a partnership with the National Park Service, so if you’re looking for a cool, outdoorsy internship, hey, this may be your place.

Itching to don a pair of cowboy boots? Wear ‘em to any of its country-town festivals, like the Great American Stampede, Frontier Folk Festival and Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival. It has cultural festivals, too, like the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Neil Simon Festival. The food and dining scene includes a weekly food truck roundup, farmers’ market, and local wine grower.

With the University of Oregon nearby the downtown area, easy access to outdoor adventures, and tons of culinary treasures from the bountiful Willamette Valley,

Eugene is one fantastic place,” says Stephen Hoshaw, who works for the county's tourism office.

If you like to explore, you’ll be happy to see a bunch of places within a half hour of campus, like gorgeous waterfalls and a fun arts scene. Eugene is also known for being alternative lifestyle-friendly, green and politically active. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, political activist or art lover, you’ll find your people and places in this sweet college town.

If Texas A&M beckons, you’re in good shape. College Station, a small town in central Texas, about an hour and a half from Houston, was tailor -made for students.

Locals enjoy being a part of “Aggieland” and are known to display school colors on game days. To boot, business owners often give students discounts. For “The Big Event,” a student-run service project, students give back to the community by cleaning up and building and painting houses.

College Station also has what makes a college town totally livable, like parks, trails, hiking, and swimming. There’s a lake, a greenway, and outdoor art. You have a variety of options for eating out, from food trucks to pizza places, burger joints and family barbecue. Your nights are also taken care of—with live music, dance clubs, and bars. Think of it as a cultural hub with a cowboy spin: It’s perfectly normal here to hit the rodeo one day and the symphony the next.

It’s hard to believe this town is the capital of Rhode Island. It feels way less government-y than collegiate.

With Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design just off the downtown area, students have breathed life into the entire zone—with funky shops and cafes, street-art exhibits and clear signs of political activism.

The college energy starts pulsing on College Hill, a part of town that’s dotted with historic homes and landmarks. It continues to reverberate as you head to nearby Thayer Street, Wickenden Street and Wayland Square. The downtown center is just a short walk down the hill from campus and has everything you may need—from chain stores to a gigantic mall with jam-packed restaurants.

Perhaps the mix of government and college inspires the town’s community action vibe. Students like to be active in town and often dive into community service and other cooperative events.

Music junkies love Denton. Its artsy, funky vibe is a natural habitat for music of all kinds, with rehearsal studios, live music clubs, concert halls and festival stages.

Speaking of festivals, the home of the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University is loaded with them all year long. The town puts on music fests, natch--like the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival and Denton Blues Fest--as well as a holiday lighting festival, film festival, redbud festival and storytelling festival.

The food in here in horse country is also pretty darn good. You can get all types of ethnic foods, farm-fresh pickins at the farmers’ market and tried-and-true staples like waffles and barbecue. If you have a hankering for a specialty candy or coffee, an old-school used book or brand-new comic book, you’ll love Downtown Square.

There’s no end to exploration in Denton—whether you’re looking for a new activity, store or friend. In fact, locals call it #Dentoning and they consider it a way of life.

Thinking about being a Georgia Dawg? You’ll be in good company. Athens isn’t just home to the University of Georgia;

it’s also a slice of heaven for hipsters, artists and musicians. The downtown music scene has got serious cred and claims R.E.M’s Michael Stipe, a former University of Georgia art student, as one of its success stories. You can catch live shows at a handful of venues, like the 40 Watt Club and Georgia Theatre.

In Athens, you’ll feel the Dawg spirit floating off the Georgia campus and throughout town. You’ll also find a few fab ingredients for a rockin’ four years, like a few dozen bars, a handful of restaurants that serve up fried chicken and biscuits, and a dreamy climate with an average temperature of 62 degrees.

It’s Michigan, so yes, it gets chilly here. But that’s no reason to boycott the home of the University of Michigan.

This fun college town got plenty of things many students desire, like pubs, bars, and late-night eats—not to mention an exuberant enthusiasm for college football.

Beyond the campus borders, this city is a charmer. It’s super pedestrian-friendly and connected well via public transportation, so you’re good to go even if without a car. South Main Street is an idyllic place to stroll and is loaded with galleries, shops, brewpubs, and cafes. On the culture front, you’ve got live music at hot spots like the Ark, Blind Pig, and the Hill Auditorium. There’s good food here, too, whether you’re stepping into Zingerman’s Roadhouse or stepping out to the Kerrytown farmer’s market.

Don’t miss the Arb, a huge conservatory of grass, trees, and fields where sporty and outdoorsy students go to kick back.

If your idea of college includes a down-to-earth, hippie vibe and a vibrant music scene, you’ll feel like you’ve hit the jackpot in Burlington, home of the University of Vermont.

You and your college pals will have an unlimited number of places to wander and shoot the breeze, from coffee shops to breweries to bike paths.

You can also gaze out at Lake Champlain, try kayaking, paddleboarding and cliff jumping, or go hiking and biking around nearby mountains and paths.

Are you into the food scene? You’ll be happy to know Burlington is stocked with farm-to-table restaurants, local breweries and Sunday brunch spots. And what’s life without ice cream? You’ll find creameries aplenty. Ever hear of Ben & Jerry? This is their turf. Be sure to make time for the other local scoop shops, like Creemees, which are less famous but no less divine.

If you’re a culture lover, philosophizer or analyzer, you may find yourself at home in Amherst, home to Amherst University, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Smith College and Mount Holyoke Colleges are nearby. This small but bustling New England town calls itself a Five Colleges community—if you’re enrolled at one of the colleges just mentioned, you can take courses at any of the other four.

Amherst is a thinking-person’s town. Here’s evidence: Forty-three percent of locals have a graduate degree. (Hello!) So if you’re in the mood to while away long afternoons pontificating with your fellow Amherstians, you’ll be in good company. And you’ll have plenty of venues, like coffee shops, bookstores, pizza places (a slice at Antonio’s is a must) and pubs.

You may find even more offerings in town than you do on campus. You’ll find an assortment of lectures, conferences, festivals, and exhibitions of all kinds. Love a good museum? You have a whole bunch at your disposal, like the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the University Museum of Contemporary Art, Emily Dickinson Museum, Beneski Museum of Natural History and, well, the list goes on.

Are you more of a cinephile? Catch new and classic indies and international films at the state-of-the-art Amherst Cinema. Take in a concert at a small-town music house or one of two major concert halls. (The town attracts plenty of high-profile musicians—like Macklemore, for example.) Prefer the great outdoors? Go for a hike, boat along the Connecticut River, fish in a nearby stream, or roam around Amherst College’s 500-acre wildlife sanctuary.

In the mood for intelligent conversation? It’s not hard to find in this cozy town just across the Charles River from downtown Boston.

With two seriously top-level schools (Harvard University and M.I.T.) nestled into a relatively small area, it’s no surprise Cambridge is an intellectual and creative paradise. Imagine small neighborhoods with street art, coffee vendors and eclectic museums. Picture yourself ducking into a funky coffee shop with your college pals to talk politics or philosophize about life.

It can get shivery in the winter, but that doesn’t keep students from roaming around Cambridge’s collection of squares, like Harvard Square (a bustling plaza with shops, newsstands and transportation stop), Kendall Square (a techie haven), Central Square (good for nightlife, brunch and poetry readings) and Inman Square (a culturally-diverse area with shops and restaurants). You’ll also find a mix of green space and urban funk in this undeniably collegiate town.

Cambridge has plenty of nightlife of its own, but with Boston just across the river, you won’t have to stick around town all the time. Just jump onto public transportation for a 12-minute ride to big-city concerts, clubs and restaurants.