Who doesn’t love eating outdoors? Whether you are at home on your back porch or on the patio at your favorite restaurant, nothing beats sitting outside in great weather enjoying a good meal. There are so many great restaurants across Happy Valley, and those bites are even better when you can take in all the sites and sounds of nature.

Elevated on a hill overlooking busy College Avenue, the Centre Furnace Mansion has witnessed a lot. Now serving as the Centre County Historical Society’s (CCHS) headquarters, the mansion offers a glimpse of what life was like when Happy Valley was just beginning to develop.

Philipsburg is distinctive in many ways: the town’s forefather, Hardman Philips, was exiled to “the wilderness town” after taking part in a duel in England. Before that, Hardman’s brothers, Henry and James, both of whom died young, “lured” settlers to the unimproved lands by good old-fashioned false advertising.

Las Cafeteras, known for its protest songs and use of traditional instruments to connect cultures and generations, will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of free community events starting Oct. 9.

You may not think you have a sweet tooth—until you see the amazing desserts available in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania. A rotating menu of fresh baked goods can be found throughout Happy Valley, but look away now if you’re definitely not interested in sampling a variety of sweet somethings.

Fall is my favorite season in Centre County, and I make no apologies for it. Football’s back, with all that comes with it: tailgating, grilling, seismic cheering at Beaver Stadium. Apples and pears and a beautiful array of root vegetables flood our farm markets in a final burst of harvest abundance. Sweaters and vests come out of storage as sweaty Summer slides into frosty Fall.

Whether you are a local resident or an alum visiting for a weekend, everyone has their favorite spots to eat and drink in Happy Valley. Who hasn’t had a great time at Zeno’s, the Phyrst, Otto’s, or the dozens of other great places in State College?

Though Happy Valley offers a magnificent variety of quality brick-and-mortar dining experiences, food trucks and farmer’s markets also have a place in providing quality, locally sourced options. In fact, these options have expanded dramatically over the last few years. With a wide variety of local produce and meats, food trucks and farmers markets provide residents and visitors with outdoor alternatives in Centre County.

What is your party hungry for? These Happy Valley cuisine-art establishments literally cater to their customers’ taste buds—whether that vision is large-scale hoe-down backyard barbecue, a long work lunch or a private sit-down menu tasting.