Handmade crafts and vintage treasures, Penn State gear and the best souvenirs. Not to mention local flavors to take home and enjoy. Whether you’re in town for a game weekend, a college visit or one of the area’s top events, make time to shop in one of all of the small towns around Happy Valley, including Downtown State College, Bellefonte, Philipsburg, and more.

Autumn in Happy Valley is bursting with vibrant experiences! From exploring colorful state parks and sampling local brews to attending festivals and apple picking, there’s no shortage of fall fun. Cheer on the Nittany Lions, take a scenic drive, or enjoy a cozy hayride—Happy Valley has it all. Grab your sweater and dive into this season’s ultimate bucket list!

Happy Valley is packed with so many things to do and see, it can be overwhelming to know where to go and what to do next. Once you’ve made your way through the list of the most popular outdoor adventures, like hiking up Mount Nittany, biking on a gravel road in Rothrock State Forest, and exploring Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park, searching out less well-known adventures is a great next step. Let us help guide you to some new and exciting experiences in underrated spots and unique places for every interest.

You can see a display of Kevin Reilly's amazing photograph illustrations at The Happy Valley Store, 204 West Beaver Avenue, State College, Pennsylvania. Now on display through December 31, 2024.

What are the best birding areas in Happy Valley? This would have been a tough question to definitively answer a decade ago, but with the advent of Cornell University’s eBird, the process is simple. EBird keeps track of all submitted checklists and compiles the results by state, county, and local hotspots.

One thing that I love about Pennsylvania is its wealth of public hunting grounds. Happy Valley and the surrounding area have more than their fair share of the public land pie. Public land open to hunting includes state game lands that are managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and state forest lands, which are operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). DCNR also handles state parks, many of which are also open to hunting.

The streams in Happy Valley are legendary for their pristine water, and it doesn’t happen by accident. Clearwater Conservancy is dedicated to conserving and restoring our natural resources through land conservation, water resources stewardship, and environmental outreach across central Pennsylvania.

Happy Valley has many beautiful vistas, with the Allegheny Front to the north and several ridges running through the area. Several can be found with an easy drive to a parking lot, whereas some require some rubbernecking while driving, and still others can only be viewed after a challenging hike. What follows is not a complete list, but rather a taste of what is available.

Embark on underground adventures with three local cave tours at Woodward Cave, Lincoln Caverns and Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park. Each provides its own unique experience, amenities, and onsite activities the entire family can enjoy.