*Crunch* The sound of a crispy leaf that you step on in the fall. Or maybe it’s your boot on fresh snow in wintertime, a springtime snack in the forest, a rocky summit in the summer heat. Happy Valley offers year-round enjoyment of nature, with miles of hiking and biking trails across six state parks in Centre County—and plenty of eco-friendly ways to explore!

Starting with accommodations, The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle, located in Bald Eagle State Park, is LEED Gold certified, and one of only 8 LEED buildings in a PA state park. In addition to sustainable materials, the eco-lodge collects rainwater to flush toilets and diverts run-off to beautiful rain gardens around the property. Guests can enjoy views of the park from balconies and easy access to trails in the park.

Bald Eagle State Park is known for having excellent bird-watching opportunities. Another state park in Centre County is Black Moshannon, a park built at the location of the historic town of Antes and later one of the first projects of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Visitors can hike around the bog on the lake or rent kayaks to get out on the water.

The Happy Valley area offers other creative opportunities to connect with nature. In addition to traditional outdoor recreation in state parks and forests, Centred Outdoors offers guided outings and wellness activities such as yoga and nature therapy outdoors.

The Centred Outdoors program, operated by ClearWater Conservancy, works to connect visitors to outdoor opportunities around the county like Rhoneymeade, Rothrock State Forest, and Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. You can find upcoming events on their website centredoutdoors.org/events and register to get outside in a mindful way!

ClearWater Conservancy has worked to conserve thousands of acres of natural spaces in central Pennsylvania. One of their first conservation easements, Rhoneymeade, offers visitors a chance to experience the natural environment through events like plein air painting, plant education programs, exploring the sculpture garden and arboretum, and even experiencing a labyrinth.

Shaver’s Creek is an incredibly fun place to visit that is making huge strides in sustainability in State College, such as their zero-waste initiative, connecting visitors to nature, and a historic, repurposed building. Penn State University, which owns and operates the center, has a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Originally built in the 1930s by the CCC, this environmental center is now a hub for the community to learn about the area’s fauna hands-on. Check it out to learn about raptors and reptiles in central Pennsylvania, enjoy leisurely hikes around the nearby lake and protected forest, or rest on the deck built with wood sourced right in the forest onsite.

The university has many features of sustainability that visitors can experience, such as the newly opened Palmer Art Museum building, LEED silver certified, as well as the 370-acre Arboretum at Penn State next door.

Making a difference throughout your stay

Sustainability is about more than just getting out into nature, though it is an excellent first step. Happy Valley also has plenty of businesses operating with locally sourced materials, reduced waste, energy conservation, and more.

RE Farm Café, for example, is a net-zero energy and water, farm-to-table restaurant on local farm Windswept’s property. The building itself is designed under the guidance of the International Living Future Institute, whose mission is to “cultivate a society that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.” (source living-future.org/about)

Ingredients are sourced directly from the farm or within a 50-mile radius, with the exception of a few spices, oils, and fish. They offer pre-fixe lunch and dinner by reservation, a la carte dining is available for walk-ins, and visitors can even take cooking classes. You can also purchase fresh produce and local products from their website refarmcafe.com.

All Things Kind Market is a refillery in the historic town of Bellefonte, PA. Support this local woman-owned business while reducing your plastic waste by shopping their zero-waste, sustainable goods and refillery bar.

Bring your own reusable jars to fill up on common household items like epsom salts and dishwasher powder, grab plastic-free shampoo or soap bars, and replace single-use items with reusables like cotton rounds, beeswax wraps, and travel cutlery.

There are many more ways to experience a sustainable trip in Happy Valley, such as shopping used items like Webster's Bookstore Cafe, which also happens to serve up a phenomenal vegan brunch on weekends. Eating less meat is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment while traveling.

Are you ready to get out and explore? Be sure to enjoy connecting with nature, support local businesses, and reduce your impact on the environment during your trip. Get started planning your eco-friendly getaway in Happy Valley!