Fall is in the air! Penn State football is back at Beaver Stadium, students are back on campus and in school, the nights are getting cooler, and pumpkin spice season is in full swing across Happy Valley.

Up on the south slope of Mount Nittany, back a single-lane road into the woods, I found a leafy oasis: Mount Nittany Vineyard and Winery, one of the first wineries in Centre County.

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” That sentiment can certainly be felt in Happy Valley when the arrival of Penn State students, thousands of football fans, and the refreshingly cool weather brings a renewed energy and reasons to get out and explore! Here are some of our favorite family adventures coming up in the next few months.

Following the incidents of Sept. 11, 2001, a creative type with nothing to lose moved to Happy Valley to start over, find peace and explore her passion of the theater.

Visitors who travel to Happy Valley know that hotels and lodging fill up quickly during football season and special event weekends. It’s important to plan ahead, but it also helps to know all of the options that are available in State College and the surrounding areas. Centre County offers plenty of traditional hotels, bed and breakfasts, and lodges. Some of the lesser-known establishments offer breathtaking views and serene farm or forest settings.

Who doesn’t love eating outdoors? Whether you are at home on your back porch or on the patio at your favorite restaurant, nothing beats sitting outside in great weather enjoying a good meal. There are so many great restaurants across Happy Valley, and those bites are even better when you can take in all the sites and sounds of nature.

A local favorite since 1827, the Hublersburg Inn serves spirited American cuisine in a unique, historic atmosphere. Sourcing many ingredients locally, the Inn offers seasonal menus, creative cocktails, and local craft beer and was voted Best Sunday Brunch and Best Bloody Mary.

You may not think you have a sweet tooth—until you see the amazing desserts available in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania. A rotating menu of fresh baked goods can be found throughout Happy Valley, but look away now if you’re definitely not interested in sampling a variety of sweet somethings.

Fall is my favorite season in Centre County, and I make no apologies for it. Football’s back, with all that comes with it: tailgating, grilling, seismic cheering at Beaver Stadium. Apples and pears and a beautiful array of root vegetables flood our farm markets in a final burst of harvest abundance. Sweaters and vests come out of storage as sweaty Summer slides into frosty Fall.