Visitors and transplants alike often note that they’re both surprised by and delighted with Happy Valley’s robust food scene. The area offers an abundant number of local restaurants, serving up a wide range of cuisines.

Arriving at Penn State for the first time can be overwhelming. There is so much to do and see in State College! Here are a few basics to get started exploring Penn State. From football to ice cream—here are some essentials to get started as a Nittany Lion!

When Tanya Campbell was a little girl, her grandmother walked her dogs on Charcoal Flats, a trail in Shingletown. Tanya, her mother, and her daughter also enjoyed hiking along this same trail. The trail, just past Pine Grove Mills near the small town of Shingletown, is known for its series of four charcoal flats — large, circular flat areas where logs would be piled and allowed to smolder to create and one that was used to make iron ore. Or, in the words of little girl Tanya, it’s a place that is “rocky and awesome.”

Join ClearWater Conservancy at 3 Dots Downtown on February 17 from 4-8 p.m. for cocktails, sweet treats, and gallery show for everyone. You can reserve your own box of treats by purchasing a Super Sweet ticket online!

We Are Inn
Owner and Chef Pat Romano is a long-time Penn State super fan who built his Philipsburg inn and restaurant with his family around the theme of the university. His love for his family, career, Penn State, visitors and patrons is evident in all his work, and is one reason he received the inaugural Peter Walker Spirit of Hospitality Award by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau in fall 2022.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and Downtown State College has over 300 businesses to check out for a perfect day. And with so many options throughout Happy Valley, where does one start? Luckily for you, we have your day planned for every type of couple.

Come on out to The Queen this February and March! Tune in for nights of mystery and excitement as well as a romantic two-night weekend stay during the month of February.

Resting at the base of Mount Nittany, the beautiful Apple Pony Inn offers guests breathtaking views, farmhouse details and equine-inspired style in a beautiful country
setting.

Take a trip that’s filled with world-class festivals, record-breaking sporting events, outdoor adventure and meals made from food harvested in nearby fields. Welcome to Happy Valley, where there is something for everyone!