Whether you’re already sick of Wilbur dining, looking to escape the Flicks masses or just trying to capture an elusive state of nonconformity, Stanford’s campus offers a variety of activities that can give you a much-needed dose of individuality.

Hey, if Stanford’s admissions committee could find something special about yet another Jack Kerouac admirer, then you owe it to yourself to do something that doesn’t have a Facebook interest group devoted to it. So what are you waiting for? Jump off the bandwagon and onto your high horse faster than you can say “Ohhhh-nine!”

Take in the View

a Where: The Dish A habitat conservation center and home to one of the largest satellite dishes in the Bay Area, the Dish is perfect for recreation and photo-ops. It’s also a mere stone’s throw away from Stanford’s own astronomical observatory, located just north of the Dish on Campus Drive. Enter the Dish at the intersection of Campus Drive West and Junipero Serra, near Enchanted Broccoli Forest, or at the intersection of Junipero Serra and Stanford Avenue.

What to Do There: Walk the Dish’s hilly 3.3-mile loop and take in scenic views of the foothills, the Bay, San Francisco — and cows. At night, go up to the Dish’s observatory and get a closer look at the moon’s craters and mountains and sometimes even the rings of Saturn or cloud-bands of Jupiter.

When to Go: The Dish is open from around sunrise to sunset, which varies by month. For a clear view of San Francisco, it’s best to make the trip a day or two after a rainstorm. The observatory is open to the public for free Friday nights from 9 to 11 p.m.

Why it’s Cool: Walking the Dish “is a really wholesome, California way to not do your work after brunch on Sunday morning,” said sophomore Ruth Levine. Plus, what’s a better way to escape the Friday frat party scene than to remember how insignificant your life is to the greater cosmic universe?

Why it’s Obscure: There tend to be more fit Palo Alto moms than Stanford students on the Dish loop, and you can probably count the number of students who’ve even heard of the observatory — let alone been there — on two hands.

For More Info: Check out the observatory’s Web site at: http://astro.stanford.edu/StudObs/desc.html or the Dish’s hours at http://dish.stanford.edu

Fine-dine it

Where: The Clark Center

What to Do There: Perform some high tech Bio-X research. Or just enjoy a restaurant-quality lunch in the building’s dining center, Linx. Cuisine ranges from Mediterranean and Indian to featured American styles such as Pacific Northwest and Creole and can be purchased with meal points and Cardinal Dollars.

When to Go: Monday through Friday. Hot Meal Service is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grab-and-Go food is available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Why it’s Cool: “The Clark Center has great food at a reasonable price,” said sophomore Koji Gardiner. “You can get a top-class meal there for the same price you’d pay at Wilbur dining.”

Why it’s Obscure: Located at 318 Campus Dr. West across the street from the Gates Computer Science Building and the Mudd Chemistry Building, the Clark Center is a bit of a hike from theQuad.

For More Info: Check out Linx’s Web site at http://www.stanford.edu/dept/hds/dining/special/linx.html

Work Out

Where: Stanford Aerobics and Yoga at Rains Hacienda Commons. The Commons are adjacent to the Rains Office, which is located at 796 Escondido Rd.

What to Do There: Try various athletic classes that range from yoga and pilates to step aerobics and kick boxing. Or, check out the more unconventional NIA, a class which, according to the program’s Web site, “combines elements of traditional fitness, yoga, dance and martial arts — to create a holistic mind-body-spirit fitness class.”

When to Go: Classes are offered seven days a week throughout the day, though most take place after 5 p.m. For those who prefer to jumpstart their day, however, 90 minute conditioning classes are offered some days at an offensive 7 a.m.

Why it’s Cool: “These classes are relatively cheap — about $5 a time — and they’re a great way to exercise in a more fun way than just going to the gym,” said sophomore Shannon Broderick, a die-hard NIA fan. “It’s also nice to have opportunities for aerobics classes in the evening, so if you can’t fit in Stanford athletics classes during the day you can still go.”

Why it’s Obscure: Located at 796 Escondido Rd. near Mirrielees, classes are mainly made up of graduate students and Rains residents.

For More Info: Check out the aerobics Web site at http://www.stanford.edu/group/aerobics/

Drink Quality Wine

Where: Pay $85 per quarter to taste wine in the one-unit Viticulture and Oenology Class at La Maison Francaise. You must be 21 to actually taste or drink the wine, and the age requirement is also a requisite for registering for the class.

What to Do There: Um...

When to Go: The class is offered fall, winter and spring quarters this year. Preliminary sign ups for fall are Thursday, September 28 in Building 30, Room 103 from 1 to 5 p.m. The class meets Thursday nights from 7 to 8 p.m.

Why it’s Cool: Each meeting focuses on a guest speaker and the four to six wines of their choice. In addition, the course usually features a wine tasting trip to Napa or Sonoma. And...if you’re a senior, you can start getting plastered before Pub Night even begins!

Why it’s Obscure: Though the class is pretty well-known around campus, being one of the lucky 65 registered students usually requires a miracle on Axess.

For More Info: Check out the course’s Web site at http://www.stanford.edu/class/frenlang60d/index.htm

Get Cultured

Where: The Cantor Arts Center 328 Lomita Drive and Museum Way (off Palm Drive)

What to Do There: Check out “Revolutionary Tides: The Art of the Political Poster from 1914-1989” — a new exhibit which examines the role of propaganda in historical events ranging from both World Wars to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Also, take your high school art history class to the next level and see the works of Rodin and Georgia O’Keefe first-hand.

When to Go: “Party on the Edge,” part of the museum’s “First Thursdays” program, is on Oct. 6 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Otherwise, just check out the galleries Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Why it’s Cool: “First Thursdays” offer free refreshments, music, art and performances on the first Thursday of every month. Also, admission to the museum is always free.

Why it’s Obscure: There still seems to be a lot of resistance to putting the words art museum and fun in the same sentence.

For More Info: Check out the museum’s Web site at http://ccva.stanford.edu/