As the school year begins, many new Concord Academy students may be wondering what fun activities there are in Concord. CA allows students access to extended campus, so students are able to explore the town of Concord when they are not in class. Students have long enjoyed this opportunity, as the extended campus serves as another place to relax and spend time with friends outside of the school’s core campus. I personally enjoy the variety of activities there are to do on extended campus and have spent many of my free blocks exploring Concord Center.

CA’s extended campus is full of different stores, ranging from Walden Street Antiques to Dunkin’ Donuts. The town center boasts several different places to get coffee or grab a quick bite to eat, but my personal favorite has always been Haute Coffee. Tucked away near the parking lot behind the Concord Bookstore, Haute Coffee feels like it is in its own world. While providing a variety of teas, coffees, and delicious baked goods, Haute also serves as a break from the busy world beyond its walls. It has both indoor and outdoor seating, allowing students to enjoy the outdoors while they sip on their favorite beverage, or get in a quality study session while having something nice to eat.

Apart from coffee shops, Concord’s town center has many different places to eat, including two pizzerias only a few minutes away from CA: Sorrento’s Pizzeria and New London Style Pizza. These restaurants are a great place to get something to eat with friends after a long day at school. Both stores serve a variety of dishes. Along with pizza, Sorrento’s offers spicy cauliflower bites, falafel, butternut squash ravioli, and more. New London Style Pizza, Concord’s first pizzeria and one of the oldest businesses in town, also offers Philly Cheesesteaks, pasta, and subs.

However, there are many other fun activities on extended campus that do not involve going to a store. CA is surrounded by beautiful trails that wind through woods and marshlands. Full of birds and other wildlife, these trails are a wonderful place to go for a break from studying or go on a walk with friends. Students can use these paths to explore more of Concord while also connecting with the nature around them.

Overall, CA’s extended campus offers many different places for students to hang out, grab a cup of coffee, or go for a relaxing walk. Concord’s coffee shops, pizzerias, and trails serve as great places to relax and spend time with friends.