If Hogwarts was real it would look like Kenyon College

On Sunday, April 26, 2015, Dean and I took a road trip to Gambier, Ohio. Gambier is tiny village set atop a large hill and it is the home to Kenyon College.

Dean has wanted to go to Kenyon ever since the day he read The Fault In Our Start (TFIOS) by John Green. John Green is a Kenyon alum and huge supporter of this private liberal arts college.

The drive was just over 5 hours but it was mainly on major highways through NY State, the tip of Pennsylvania and then about two hours south of Cleveland Ohio. (I90 to I71 to I271)

Dean booked a tour of the campus at 1:00pm and we made it to Gambier by 11:30am so we had time to peruse through the bookstore and buy some books and a magnet and a t-shirt and more time to wander down middle path and around the campus. Then we had a little pre-packed lunch on a quiet bench set on middle path. (Middle Path is the main drag - a 10-foot wide footpath that stretches through the campus).

Here is quick shot of middle path:

First, let me start by saying, if Hogwarts was real, it would look like Kenyon College. Sergei Rostovsky who teaches 17th century poetry at Kenyon says the colleges "is a small place to think big thoughts." This campus was voted one of the most beautiful campuses in the world by Forbes magazine and it is easy to see why.

Next, let me say, the school is a budding writer's dream. In March 2015, 6 of 10 NY Times young adult best sellers were written by Kenyon authors.

The campus itself is quite small. You can easily reach all buildings by foot so there is no need for any transportation. There is a regular shuttle into Mount Vernon (about a 5 minute drive) where you can go to the movies or hit the McDonalds.

During our wanderings around the campus I was able to take a bunch of amazing pics with my little pocket size cannon camera. I am sure Ron would have a heyday with his SLR in this place.

As you'll see in the pictures, we stumbled upon some people setting up a petting zoo! It turns out they brought in some goats and llamas for the students to enjoy as a little break while they study for their final exams. Brilliant!

Petting Zoo!

After Dean's tour we packed up and hit the highway for home. For most of the drive I heard stories from Dean's tour through the campus (he didn't want his mom with him - sniff, sniff).

Dean's hoping to get accepted here to start in the fall. He is currently on the waiting list so cross your fingers that this trip to Kenyon won't be our last.

Enjoy the pics!