<p>So, Clarimom, are there things for the parents to do even if the kid is tied up with something or other? Or should we hope for better luck year, like keesh17?</p>
<p>Some good news re Yale postal service?
[Yale</a> Station looks to combat early-semester delays | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2013/09/24/yale-station-looks-to-combat-delays/]Yale”>Yale Station looks to combat early-semester delays - Yale Daily News)</p>
<p>There is always a lot to do on campus during Family Weekend. Whether you are interested/comfortable attending some of the events without your student accompanying you depends on your personal sensibilities. I’m a bit hard to embarrass, so I have had an excellent time on campus just about every time I’ve been there. I remember a midnight presentation of Macbeth in the Stiles theater - not sure if it was family weekend tho - I might have been the only parent there but it was terrific! Anyways, YPO concert, Glee Club concert, Yale Rep (professional theater), Yale Dramat (undergrad theater), incessant a capella, lectures, sports (not something I ever looked into, but surely there must be some games scheduled for Family Weekend)…all things you can do without your student. </p>
<p>However, 4 years is a long time, and if it’s not convenient for you to attend Family Weekend this year, you’ll have 3 more chances. And it is true that as your child becomes more enmeshed in friendships and campus organizations, there will be more of that to share with you.</p>
<p>Berkeley17parent, I agree with memake in that there is always lots to do. In addition to what she mentioned, we have taken many of the various tours they offer–the library, the art galleries, Beinecke, Peabody Museum. Two years ago we took the Architecture of Yale tour during a snow blizzard (remember that one, anyone?) that was really fun, and this year we’re going to do the Medical Library tour. We’ve driven up East Rock, gone to football games, attended theater performances (always great). There is so much to do that we’re thinking eight years is too short of a time :)</p>
<p>Thanks, memake and Clarimom, for your thoughtful replies.</p>
<p>Looking for some guidance on transportation during Family Weekend. Son is a junior, and this is the first time we’ve been able to make it to Yale (we’re on the West Coast). We’re flying in to Hartford and staying in Milford. Going back and forth between New Haven and Milford, is it best to rent a car, take the train or just cab it? If renting seems the best option, how is the traffic? I’m a bit nervous about driving in the city (my little town has a grand total of one traffic light). Thanks for any advice!</p>
<p>Renting and driving is probably your best option. I doubt train service will be a practical option. For one thing, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that train service in that area may be affected by a power outage:</p>
<p><a href=“Metro-North Trains May be Crippled For Weeks - WSJ”>Metro-North Trains May be Crippled For Weeks - WSJ;
<p>And you’ll have to get from your hotel to the station and from the New Haven station to Yale, so the trip will take a while.</p>
<p>I-95 is a famously over-burdened road, and bridge construction near the junction with I-91 complicates things east of downtown. But if you’re picturing really big city driving, as in New York or Boston, you can relax a little. It won’t be like that.</p>
<p>Don’t know about cabs. Maybe someone on the list who lives in New Haven can comment on that (or correct anything that I’ve said).</p>
<p>If you rent a car and drive, and don’t mind paying roughly $10 a day for parking, the York Street garage (150 York Street) is very easy to get to off 95, and is convenient to the campus. Street parking (meters) is available, but is likely to be pretty busy that weekend. Just remember that York is one way, so you can’t make a right turn coming out of the garage! (My husband almost did that the first time we were there). In fact almost all the streets in New Haven are one-way, so a GPS is helpful. I agree that trains are going to be unworkable, and the train station isn’t particularly close to campus in any case.</p>
<p>I think it is tricky to get onto I-95 from the Frontage Road. If you are on the wrong lane, you could not get to I-95 (i.e., either get to I-91 or get back to a local road.)</p>
<p>Am I the only person who has the problem? What is the easiest way to get to I-95 South from the downtown or the South Frontage Road? I live in a small city and I am not used to the big city driving.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>As I recall our GPS typically takes us down Temple to the end (of course we are usually parked on Temple, in front of TD), where it turns right. Stay in the left lane, make a left turn to go over the bridge over “the highway”, and an immediate left onto the entrance ramp. You have to stay in the right lane (as I recall) to get/stay on 95 instead of going to 91.</p>
<p>MCAT- From South Frontage road - entrances to 95 via the Rte. 34 connector are from the left. Recently the 34 connector exit closest to York St. on North Frontage (exiting from 91 and 95) was permanently closed. (This info wouldn’t be on your GPS.)i assume the entrance nearest York St. on South Frontage has also closed, but haven’t driven that way, so don’t know. The eventual intention is to get rid of that little stretch of highway between No. and So. Frontage that divides downtown New Haven. There are currently 2 other entrances to the connector from South Frontage, one just past the intersection with College St., and the other just past Church St. Once on, as Donnaleigh said, keep to the far right lane for 95 South. One lane over is for 95 North, and the 2 far left lanes are for 91 North.</p>
<p>2011orbust, how are you getting to Milford from Hartford? There is no train service to New Haven from Hartford airport. I too would recommend renting a car–going by taxi back and forth between Milford and New Haven will cost you more than renting a car usually. Also, the train station in Milford isn’t really close to any hotels, so you’d end up taking a taxi there as well. One thing to mention, although they’re all probably gone already, is that one can rent a car right from the train station in New Haven. I have stayed in Milford quite often in the past, and have always rented a car.</p>
<p>CIEE83- thanks for updated info on the changes there; I admit that <em>going</em> to NH lately we take 91 and get off at Trumbull to get to TD; though as I recall we’ve still gone home the Temple to 95 way recently. But I have not tried to get to York from 95 N in the last year or so. I do recall my GPS trying to tell me to make a left off of S. Frontage onto Church that did not exist so I had to do some looping around! I’m sure the changes will be an improvement though. That seemed to be an area of far more exits and asphalt that should be necessary.</p>
<p>CIEE83 and donnaleighg,</p>
<p>Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>We enjoyed Family Weekend. We drove and stayed at the Fairfield Inn Milford
[Fairfield</a> Inn Milford: Earn Rewards points and stay productive when traveling to Milford.](<a href=“http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hvnfm-fairfield-inn-milford/?pid=corptbta&scid=b661a3c4-9c47-48c8-9e13-75b66089dd79]Fairfield”>http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hvnfm-fairfield-inn-milford/?pid=corptbta&scid=b661a3c4-9c47-48c8-9e13-75b66089dd79)
It was quiet and clean. The complimentary breakfast was good and had a nice variety of food. It was $99 a night for four of us. It is not a bad drive on 95 to campus. Only one time we had a traffic delay, but still got there in under 30 minutes.
We went up to East Rock Park and enjoyed the view. The weather was perfect!
We enjoyed performances and meeting new friends. D is settled in nicely and we are happy she is happy.</p>
<p>Ashamed to say we did not get together with D1 this weekend - taking her and some suitemates out next weekend when there’s a little less competition for restaurants! Musicmerit, glad your D is settling in well.</p>
<p>All summer long, my Sophomore daughter kept hinting that she wanted more space and doesn’t want us “hovering” over her all the time. So hubby and I did not help her move in(at her request) nor attend the pw this year. Then she calls me over the weekend saying all her roommates’s parents are visiting and she is feeling sad and lonely. Hard to find that balance, but I am secretly happy that she is missing us! Looking into tickets to fly there during October break to check out her new dorm.</p>
<p>We had a great time at Family Weekend as well. Ate a couple of brunches in the dining hall, attended several performances, enjoyed the master’s reception, and took a self-tour of the Medical Library (brains, brains and more brains downstairs in the Cushing display). Beautiful weather! Enjoyed every minute.</p>
<p>How is it possible that we are this far into the school year and students are still waiting an hour in line to pick up a package? How is it possible that a school filled with so much brain power and so much money can’t get the mail station operating efficiently? They should be embarrassed by this.</p>
<p>The mail station is operated by the U.S. Postal Service.</p>