Sometimes we all get a little tired of the crowded suburb of Waltham, whether we love it here or not. The lack of greenery, the same old bars-sometimes we need something different. Next time you're feeling you need fresh air and a change of scenery, check out Vermont: It's only a three-hour drive to pastoral views, the gently rolling Green Mountains and a lively youth culture. Getting to the heart of Vermont is easy with a car. From Brandeis, take I-95 to I-93. As you follow 93 through New Hampshire, the landscape quickly changes to taller mountains and smaller towns. After about 50 miles, merge onto I-89, which will take you to White River Junction, Vermont's easternmost city. But there's nothing to see here; the real beauty lies off the interstate.

Take the Route 107 exit to Bethel, and follow this road to Route 100. This winding two-lane highway crosses and recrossses the White River, passing idyllic scenes of red wooden barns and fields dotted with Holsteins. At the quaint non-town of Hancock, make a left onto Scenic VT-125 and follow it as it switchbacks over the mountains past Middlebury College's Breadloaf Writers Community and Ripton's "iec" Machine (for some reason "ice" has been spelled wrong for years) until it finally drops you into East Middlebury.



11:00 a.m. Bookworm

Upon arriving in the little college town of Middlebury, you'll be greeted by an abundance of shops. Peek your head into the sporting-goods shops, the various arts-and-crafts stores and the hippie clothing stores specializing in hemp and tie-dye. You'll be sure to notice numerous great small bookshops, the best of which is the In the Alley Bookshop (802-388-2743, 8 Mill St.) Here you'll find a wonderful collection of books, records and CDs. Make sure you thumb through the collection of lefty bumper stickers and pins. When you're ready to check out, ask the owner-who is always behind the counter- for a good place to take a short hike. Chances are he'll direct you to Snake Mountain (see "A Hiking We Will Go").



11:30 a.m Hiker's Lunch!

Before summiting one of Vermont's peaks, you'll need some sustenance. Stop by the Otter Creek Bakery at the intersection of Routes 30 and 125 in the heart of Middlebury (802-388-3371, 14 College St.). The bakery was awarded the "Best Pastry Shop and Artisan Bread" in Vermont by the American Institute of Food and Wine, and when you bite into one of its sandwiches, you'll understand why. Try the Vermonter: honey mustard, tomato, cucumber, watercress and local goat cheese, piled high on one of the bakery's signature breads-sourdough, rye, honey oat, whole wheat or French. For the hungrier hiker, try the Otter Creek Sub, with ham, salami, smoked turkey, provolone, onions, tomato, hot pepper, lettuce, pickles and Italian oil. Your best bet is to take the food to go, so you can enjoy it on the hike.



12:45 p.m. A-hiking We Will Go

To get to Snake Mountain, leave Middlebury on Route 125 West. Follow this road and take a right on East Street The trailhead is about two miles down the road. The Snake Mountain summit hike is perfect for both an experienced hiker looking for an easy stroll or a weaker walker itching for a challenge. Either way, the entire excursion should take somewhere between one and three hours. The hike up, a combination of mild inclines and flat trail, opens up to a beautiful panoramic view of Lake Champlain and New York's Adirondack Mountains. Enjoy a picnic and rest hour at the site of a former hotel, before moseying on down the mountain.



4:00 p.m. The Factory

After you've worked up another appetite, there's nothing better than a little (or a lot of) ice cream. If you've got the time, hop on Route 7, follow it to I-89 South, and head over to the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory (802-846-1543, Route 100). There, you'll be bombarded by ice cream options-from American Pie to Vermonty Python. Also, for $3 take the half-hour tour, on which you can see where the real magic takes place. Plus, no tour is complete without a free sample at the end.



5:30 p.m. Food into Gold

After the ice cream has whetted your appetite, it's time to eat some real food. Just down the way, in the center of town, is a pub featuring great food and home-brewed beer called The Alchemist (802-244-4120, 23 South Main St.). It's nearly impossible to choose just one dish from the extensive menu, but one thing's for sure: Get the sweet potato French fries with their delicious herb sour cream. The personal pizzas and pulled pork burritos will fill up even the biggest Vermont appetite. Try washing it all down with a sweet brew called The Heady Topper, or, for something a little darker, get the Bolton Brown.



8:00 p.m. On the Town

For those of you still not ready to return to Waltham, it's time to check out the nightlife of Burlington. This college town, located on the eastern bank of Lake Champlain, is filled with all the late-night action you could ask for. Church Street, the hub of the city, is lined with dozens of bars, many of which feature live music. If you've made it this far, chances are you're not making it back to Brandeis tonight. This is fine, for if you can't find someone to let you crash in their University of Vermont or Champlain College dorm, there are a number of budget motels that will be happy to take you.