As a tourist, there’s no better time of year to visit college towns than fall. Game day cheer spills over from stadiums, reverberating throughout town. Fall foliage appears all the more regal on campuses with historic academic buildings in the backdrop. Plus, you have plenty of free time to enjoy beer specials, stroll through free museums, and hit the surrounding trails and waterways without the looming distraction of midterms.
Ready to go back to school (but, this time around, just for fun)? These six college towns make the grade year-round, but especially stand out in the fall.
EQRoy
1. Boulder, Colorado
Free spirited and outdoorsy, Boulder is home to the University of Colorado Buffs. Catch a matchup at Folsom Field. As a pre-game tradition, student-athletes toss on cowboy hats and run Ralphie the Buffalo out onto the field. It’s a performance that requires intense sprint training to keep pace with the agile mascot. As for your own athletic feats in Boulder, rock climbers will find craggy terrain to scale in Eldorado Canyon. Mountain bikers can test their stamina on steep, punishing climbs along the Super-Walker route.
When it’s time to unwind, stroll the Pearl Street pedestrian mall. Here you’ll find locally-owned restaurants and shops, There are also street performers who can perform superhuman stunts. For example, juggling fire while peddling a unicycle or appearing joint-less by folding into a small Plexiglass box.
To get a front-row view of the famous earthy red flatirons that spike the blue skies, make a reservation at Corrida, a Spanish-style restaurant that has the best rooftop in town, plus charcuterie boards loaded with manchego and serrano ham, and a roving gin and tonic cart. Then, tuck yourself into bed at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa, a downtown Boulder hotel where cocktails and seasonal dishes incorporate honey harvested from a rooftop hive and massages come with CBD add-ons.
Daniel J. Macy
2. Ann Arbor, Michigan
No visit to Ann Arbor is complete without witnessing a game in the “Big House,” which can hold 107,601 fans. Unsurprisingly, it’s college football’s biggest stadium. But the University of Michigan campus has more surprises in store like the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, which will school you in the classics with ancient artifacts including palm fiber sandals from the Roman period and an excavated marble head of Augustus, the first emperor of Rome.
For A+ eats, find vegan remakes of banh mi and burritos at the Detroit Filling Station, warm up on a chilly fall evening with duck fat fried chicken ramen at Slurping Turtle, and grab a reuben from the iconic Zingerman’s Deli.
Close to campus, The Graduate Ann Arbor offers a fitting stay. The collegiate-themed hotel nails the whole academic aesthetic with preppy plaid furniture and library-style seating in the lobby. There’s also a chalkboard scrawled with equations that looks like it was ripped from the set of “Good Will Hunting.” Beyond the hotel, the brand chose Ann Arbor for its foray into the short-term rental market. There are bookings available this fall.
Martina Birnbaum
3. Charleston, South Carolina
Trade the pigskin for sailboats in Charleston. The College of Charleston’s sailing squad is among the best. If you’re in town, you can take private lessons with skilled team members on the Charleston Harbor. After you’ve learned the basics of jibing and tacking, retreat to The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina where coastal-themed rooms are outfitted with framed sailing knots and preppy seersucker robes and harbor-facing porches are great for dolphin spotting. When you want to head into downtown Charleston, skip the Uber and take a more scenic water taxi.
Or, stay in Charleston proper at the HarbourView Inn, an indigo cotton warehouse-turned-luxury hotel that’s set on the harbor and has exposed brick walls, a breezy vibe, and a solid wine and cheese hour.
In Charleston, a fall ghost tour is an entertaining way to learn the history of the storied port city. But first, start with the friendly spirits at The Bar in The Spectator Hotel, a sleek 1920s-style bar serving inventive cocktails (think: bacon fat washed-mezcal cocktails) alongside the classics.
Jorge Salcedo
4. Cambridge, Massachusetts
A college town classic, Cambridge is home to Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Consider Harvard Square to be your intro to Cambridge 101. Here’s where you’ll find an eclectic mix of coffee shops, book stores, and music venues. At Alden & Harlow, get your hands on a “secret burger,” which is layered with a sharp and crunchy Cabot cheese crisp and other fixings. Or pop into Whitneys, where, for generations, students have been coming for hot dogs, beer, and rounds of darts.
During the fall, New England’s famous fall foliage blazes along the Charles River. Long-standing autumn traditions in this venerable college town include Oktoberfest and the world’s largest multi-day regatta Head of the Charles. To get around town and take in all the scenery on the river, guests at the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel can borrow custom Public bikes, LL Bean kayaks, paddleboards, and Micro Kickboard scooters.
While visiting Cambridge, take advantage of the number of college museums that are free and open to the public, including some obscure ones like Harvard’s Collection of Scientific Instruments, which has collected more than 20,000 objects dating from 1400 to present.
S.Borisov
5. Santa Barbara, California
Lengthen your summer in coastal California, where you’ll find surf breaks, red tile roofs and architecture reminiscent of Spain. There’s also a noteworthy collection of craft breweries.
In Goleta, the area that surrounds the University of California Santa Barbara, book a tee time at Sandpiper Golf Club, a seaside championship course, and find a range of beers, from sours to IPAs, on tap at Captain Fatty’s. Visitors can also get schooled on the region’s habitats at UCSB North Campus Open Space, a 136-acre coastal wetlands area with grasslands and ocean bluffs and the new Mesa Trail that’s open to hikers.
If your favorite elective was etymology, go for one of the Tarantula Trails hikes and get a peek at the California Ebony tarantulas in their natural habitat. Looking to mate, the normally nocturnal males make cameos in the late afternoons this time of year. If music is more your thing, you’ll enjoy Pianos on State Street. It’s an October tradition in which talented artists paint pianos. In turn, those pianos are set up downtown, inviting locals and visitors to tickle the ivories.
Order literary-themed cocktails at The Manor Bar, which recently relaunched at Rosewood Miramar Beach, or imbibe with drinks and seafood dishes at The Anchor Rose with views overlooking the harbor. An oldie, but a goodie, California’s oldest working wooden wharf Stearns Wharf celebrates its 150th birthday this year.
Kip C Anderson
6. Eugene, Oregon
Pack your running shoes when you visit TrackTown USA. The birthplace of Nike and hometown of the U.S. Olympic Track Trials, there’s lots of places to run in Eugene. There are even Euro-inspired bark chip trails to give your stride a little more spring.
For a post-run beer, head to the Whiteaker neighborhood, which is where you’ll find breweries alongside distilleries and urban wineries. One to put on your list is homegrown Ninkasi Brewing Co. (a nod to the ancient Sumerian Goddess of Fermentation) which is one of the region’s most successful breweries.
A notable newcomer to the hotel scene, let your creativity fly at The Gordon, which has an art bar where you can pick up a paintbrush, write a poem, or snap photos. Afterwards, suss out a password for the speakeasy-style bar called 86’ed that’s accessed through a janitor’s closet.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
Courtesy image
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
