Penn State professor Bing Pan is on a mission to expand people’s horizons through the power of travel, and he’s doing it right here in the heart of Pennsylvania. Ask why and he’ll give you both left brained and right brained reasons for living, working and playing in Happy Valley. Short answer: it’s one of the smartest places in the US, and it’s full of energy, creativity and fun.

Enjoy Happy Valley like the locals do with a midweek adventure!

Happy Valley isn’t just for weekends. In fact, there’s something magical about workday Happy Valley — it’s less crowded, more local, and just as jam-packed with culture, arts and events.

Looking for a destination for a couples weekend escape (or a dudes weekend or girls getaway)? The Gamble Mill in Bellefonte is what you’ve been looking for. The historic landmark has been beautifully renovated and turned into a one-stop destination for your next adventure. The Gamble Mill has four must-see spots in Bellefonte, all together in one place: the Inn and Suites, The Republic bar, Speakeasy and Creekside at the Gamble Mill.

What do you get when you combine a successful career in meteorology, a love of Happy Valley and a You Only Live Once mindset? If you ask Todd Miner, you get to turn life into a carnival ride. Meet Vamos!, Happy Valley’s premier Transportainment experience.

It’s one thing to be able to teach a perfectly willing person how to fish at Fisherman’s Paradise, the oldest and most famous catch-and-release waters in the country. But it takes quite the expert to drag a completely unwilling, hangry and slightly belligerent person to those beautiful waters and teach them the subtle art of fly fishing.

Congratulations to the Mountain View Country Club, located at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Boalsburg! The country club has just been ranked as the best public golf course in Pennsylvania by the prestigious GolfPass by GolfNow.

Lee Anne Jeffries is deeply rooted in Happy Valley. She grew up in the area, went to Penn State and now heads the Downtown State College Improvement, a live, work, and play neighborhood that sparks the creative, the eclectic, and the local. “Happy Valley is home and I care deeply about this town, it’s a special place,” she says.

Find your next adventure here in Happy Valley with the Happy Valley PA GeoTour. It’s a fun way to explore the area, from Downtown State College to off-the-beaten-path destinations you’ve never visited before.

Zach Barton has spent his entire career as a servant leader, mentoring the next generation. After graduating from Penn State, he became a case manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern New Jersey for three years, then joined the Centre County Youth Service Bureau. During six years at the YSB, he was the program director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre, Mifflin, and Juniata Counties and then the organization’s development director. In 2020, he became executive director of Leadership Centre County, guiding the organization through the pandemic while keeping true to their mission of educating participants about the needs, available services and opportunities, and issues in our community.