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F&M Stories

Visiting Campus? See Top Winter Spots

Touring Franklin & Marshall this winter? Whether it’s your first time on campus or you’re back for a return trip, make the most of your visit and browse the list below for ideas to fill a one-day voyage to Lancaster (or longer). 

Before you go: Please note that campus tours are by appointment only. They are currently offered Monday through Friday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m, and select Saturdays. Note: There is no 11 a.m. tour on Thursday. On-campus info sessions are held Mondays and Fridays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. .

For virtual tours and info sessions, see our  

Diplomatic Cafe in snow

1. Find a Cozy Cafe

Downtown Lancaster is home to dozens of coffee shops and unique cafes. 

  • See the most cozy spots on campus.
  • Browse the full to find your new favorite java spot. Our very own Diplomatic Cafe (pictured above) is a great place to start. 
  • The county is also home to many farmers markets and farm-to-table restaurants. Students and their families love venturing to the oldest continuously operated farmers market in the country. For the best farm-to-table cuisine,

mens-basketball-practice

2. Cheer on the Dips

Catch the . In-season winter varsity sports include basketball, squash, swimming, track and field and wrestling. F&M is home to 28 varsity sports teams and eight club sports teams.

Theater production

3. Catch a Concert or Show

Warm up indoors with local theater and music – in the city or beyond. For a full list of performance venues, see

  • The , a national landmark, is the nation's oldest continuously operating theater.
  • , directed by F&M Conductor of Instrumental Ensembles Brian Norcross, makes music accessible to the Lancaster community in modern and playful ways. 
  • bridges contemporary music with musical theater. 
  • Enjoy a beverage and bite to eat with live music at one of Lancaster’s many venues. 

 

Gallery Row Lancaster

4. Explore Lancaster on Foot or by Car
  • Get to know Lancaster with a . Or, take a stroll down historic to meet established and emerging artists and a bite to eat.
  • The offers a sweeping view of the Susquehanna River – a particularly awe-inspiring view when the river is coated in ice.
  • The annual snow geese migration at attracts flocks of tourists between mid-February and mid-March. Stop by the visitors center for maps and viewing advice from the staff.

 

Jazz Night at the Phillips Museum of Art

5. Catch an Event on Campus

The semester is back in full swing on Jan. 16 – find the full schedule of campus events here

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