When it comes to outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania, there’s no better place than Happy Valley. State College is nestled against the Appalachian Mountains and home to Penn State University, picturesque landscapes and abundant state parks.

Nestled in what is practically the geographic center of Pennsylvania, you’ll find a region that abounds in outdoor recreation, education and employment opportunities as well as the arts, entertainment and some of the country’s best local eats and drinks.

From award-winning hotels and conference centers to the largest adventure-based team-building course on the East Coast, State College, Pennsylvania, is ready to host your group at a destination that is affordable and filled with great hospitality.

Cycling has also been enthusiastically embraced in State College and the surrounding Centre Region of Pennsylvania, making the area ripe for exploring on two wheels.

Situated in Central Pennsylvania between the big cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, State College is a charming college town that’s a world unto itself. It’s nestled against the Appalachian Mountains in an area known as Happy Valley, and is home to Penn State University, more than 42,000 students, and outdoor adventures galore.

State College, Pennsylvania, may be best known as a college town, but that’s not the only reason that people decide to spend time there. Located in central Pennsylvania and surrounded by protected forest, State College is filled with outdoor experiences to enjoy that have nothing to do with a football field. Locals have long known what more and more people are discovering—that State College is a great place to spend time outside. Here are some of their favorite spots to explore.

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.

Central Pennsylvania’s State College is a truly happy place for avid anglers. It’s recognized as one of the Keystone State’s best trout fishing destinations with more than 216 miles of trout fishing waters. But trout is not all you can catch in the areas waterways, perch, catfish, and bass are also abundant. Whether you fly fish or cast a line from the shore, here are the places to drop a line in Centre County.