Happy Valley: In the Center of it All - State College PA Weekend Getaway

Preview: Maybe the bumper sticker has it right: God must be a Penn State fan, not only for making heaven in the school’s colors—blue and white—but also for creating such spectacular scenery around idyllic small towns. State College, the hub of Happy Valley, is the quintessential “small town with big-city amenities.” The largest borough in the commonwealth is home not only to the main campus of Penn State University, but also to arts and cultural resources (as well as that famous football team) that many cities would envy. Its status as a major research institution has given it a wealth (in quantity, quality, and variety) of accommodations and a sophistication in dining options that you don’t normally associate with a college town. Penn State is but a newcomer to the attractions of the Centre County area, tracing its history only to 1855, when an initial donation of 200 acres created a modest agricultural school. The nearby towns of Bellefonte and Boalsburg were then already thriving, etching their names in American history long before Penn State had its first cow. The former, home to seven governors of three states (Kansas and California besides Pennsylvania), is a Victorian jewel in the mountains alongside its belle fontaine—or so a French visitor called the “beautiful fountain” of Spring Creek. Boalsburg dates even farther back in history, not merely to the eighteenth-century founding of the town but to the discovery of America itself. The detailed itinerary in this chapter is a driving tour that features extensive recommendations for sightseeing attractions, recreational activities, lodging, restaurants, shopping, and more.
© Copyright Michelle Pilecki published by The Globe Pequot Press all rights reserved.


Duration: One night
Best Time to Go: Year-round
This travel guide comes from:
Quick Escapes: Pittsburgh Guide Book