Visiting Penn State for the first time (or the fifth) can be one of the most exciting experiences for an aspiring PSU student and their family, long-time football fans, or just lovers of a little adventure. You could spend well over a week exploring all that Happy Valley has to offer.

From the French pique-nique, picnic originally referred to a meal in which everyone contributed something, but evolved to mean dining outdoors or al fresco, especially in scenic surroundings. Picnicking options in Happy Valley come with beautiful views and options for extra fun or a little extra pizzazz. Here are our top picnicking picks in Happy Valley:

At first glance the inaugural Rothrock GRIT Gravel Grinder looked and felt like your typical gravel event. It had all the usual trappings: the giant bright red inflatable start/finish arch; riders whizzing by, buzzing with nervous energy, and strains of hype music floating through the air.

A guide to roads, paths and trails

Happy Valley is well-positioned to offer bicyclists both recreation and transportation with low-traffic roads and an abundance of public lands that allow riders to get out into nature.

Happy Valley is full of breath-taking views, picturesque places and adventures waiting to be discovered. Why not combine them all into one scenic drive? Well that’s just what we did! Pick a nice sunny day or an evening where the sunset is glowing across the horizon and hop in your car, roll down the windows and take a drive through the scenic Raystown Lake Region and Happy Valley.

On the edge of State College, Rothrock State Forest offers over 200,000 acres of forested ridges and rhododendron-lined streams, as well as over a hundred miles of trails. This swath of public land has long been a favorite haunt for hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers, but in recent years, a new user group has been flocking to the forest to enjoy its 200-plus miles of gravel roads and snowmobile trails.

Yes, Happy Valley offers some awesome restaurants with fantastic menus and enjoyable settings. However, the county also offers some equally amazing outdoor settings perfect for a picnic.

Emblematic of the ruggedly spectacular Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains, central Pennsylvania’s 96,250 acre Rothrock State Forest treats adventure lovers to a medley of panoramic ridgelines, rhododendron-sprinkled valleys, spruce-fringed wetlands, and vast swaths of mixed-oak forest.