On Wednesday, March 29, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau teamed up with 3 Dots Downtown and the Downtown State College Improvement District (DSCID) to host “Wonder Women of Hospitality,” an event that highlighted women who live and breathe Happy Valley Hospitality in the downtown State College community.

One of the best ways to enjoy the outdoor adventure that Happy Valley has to offer is to take to the water. Local streams and lakes are the perfect place to paddle, float, fish, and swim. Here are some of our top picks, from Bellefonte to Sayers Lake, and everywhere in between.

The Harvest Fields Community Trails (HFCT) made a big splash when it opened in 2020 at Harvest Fields Calvary Church in Boalsburg. Since then, organizers and volunteers have worked to design and build a mountain bike skills park, which opened in October 2022.

Once you make plans to visit Happy Valley, the next step is finding out where you'll stay. If you're more comfortable with a traditional hotel, motel or inn our comprehensive list of lodging should satisfy your needs.

If you visit Philipsburg and make your way to the new Moshannon Valley Heritage Center (we highly recommend that you do!), you’ll inevitably run into Tom Laird. He is, after all, a lifelong Philipsburg resident, original member of The Cold Stream Beach Bums, and can regale you with stories of old dams, forgotten ruins, hollows and hills of the area. “It sings to me,” he says.

Sometimes the little things make the biggest difference. Whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, Bellefonte’s bed and breakfasts offer a personal experience that’s full of charm and rich history, providing a perfect backdrop for relaxation and productivity.

Lifelong Surfer Matt Grube lived in Hawaii before moving to Happy Valley and yes, he’s well aware that there are no waves. Matt has embraced the outdoor recreation that Central Pennsylvania has to offer.

Happy Valley residents and visitors can join in the fun and energy that IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley will be bringing to town this July.

Competitive athletes Maure Irwin-Furmanek and Bob Furmanek have raced across the country. Here’s why training for a triathlon in their own backyard — and finishing on the 50-yard line of Beaver Stadium — is especially meaningful to them.