Here are things to do and around State College to help you get to know the town during your first few weeks, as well as some shopping and services tips to help you get settled in. These are mostly tailored for the first few months of the semester, so ask around to see what else is going on the rest of the year! State College and Penn State bring in a number of festivals, concerts, and acts throughout the year that aren’t listed here.
Things to Do Around Town
- Hike Mount Nittany: This is the most popular hike in the area, with a few vistas overlooking campus and the rest of town. A few more loops up top that can extend the hike a few more hours with vistas looking at the the other two valleys surrounding the mountain.
- The Centre County Grange Fair runs around the time of orientation and the first week of classes. It’s your typical county fair, has a claim to fame as the last one in the country to still have an active campground within the fair for the week. It’s about a 20 minute drive outside of town in Centre Hall.
- The LION Bash is held early in the semester on Allen St downtown. This festival represents a number of local businesses, community groups, and campus groups to foster a community relationship between the town and students. There are food vendors, music, and games.
- Tussey Mountain is the local ski area and also hosts warm season events. The mountain has a driving range, mini-golf, and go karts during the summer. For a few weeks in the late summer and early fall, every Thursday is Wingfest, a wing competition between many of the restaurants in the area. On Fridays, a screen is put up at the bottom of the mountain for a free movie night (“Movies on the Mountain”).
- State College is surrounded by state forests and parks. Rothrock State Forest covers over 96,000 acres of the the mountains to the south of town, with other state forests a short drive away. A few popular state parks within an hour drive include Bald Eagle State Park, Raymond Winter State Park, Poe Paddy State Park, Poe Valley State Park, Greenwood Furnace State Park, Whipple Dam State Park, Canoe Creek State Park, and Black Moshannon State Park. Purple Lizard Maps are the most popular for the area and are actually researched and created by a Geography alumni!
- The area hosts some of the best fly fishing creeks in the northeast. Hunting is also very popular (primary schools even get the day off for the first day of deer season). Be careful of hunters and fisherman while participating in outdoor activities during their seasons and dress to be seen (orange vests recommended during hunting season).
- The Outdoor Adventures office on campus rents equipment for hiking, camping, fishing, and water sports.
- Explore the local geology at Penns Cave. This limestone cave is located about a half hour outside of town and includes a boat ride through the cave, flowing outside into the wildlife park and farm.
- There are also a number of group and/or date night activities in town. This includes pottery painting at 2000 Degrees, multiple escape rooms, a mini golf course on S Atherton, indoor laser tag, karaoke, two movie theaters, a bowling alley, and the overall bar and restaurant scene.
Things to do Around Campus
- Sports and Fitness
- Attend a PSU Football tailgate and game: Football is a huge tradition at Penn State. Beaver Stadium is the 3rd largest stadium by capacity in the world, and games average over 100,000 fans per game. On top of that, many more people come into town just to tailgate (making State College the third largest city in PA), filing the town and its roads for most of the weekend. Whether you are a football fan or not, it is an experience worth attending at least once. A few students in the department organize a tailgate or two during the semester. Parking lots open at 7:30am, with tailgates lasting until kickoff (anywhere from noon to 8pm). Graduate students are eligible to get individual game student tickets from the ticket exchange when they are available. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster, StubHub, etc. for general public seating.
- The State College Spikes minor league baseball team plays on campus throughout the summer and into the early fall. They tend to win the New York-Penn League Championship every few years, and most games have giveaways or some other event (Cowboy Monkey Rodeo and the Human Cannon nights are always popular). Free tickets are available in the HUB for students using your PSU ID, though the times and days tickets are available can vary.
- As a student at Penn State, you have a free membership to the campus gyms, fitness classes, pools, and recreation centers. Each facility has its own specialties and hours, so check out the Campus Recreation website
- Art, Music, & Academic
- The Center for Performing Arts and the Bryce Jordan Center host a number of concerts, plays, musicals, and talks throughout the year. Most events have student discounts with your PSU ID.
- The Student Programming Association (SPA) plans a number of concerts, talks, exhibits, etc. throughout the year. These events are generally free to all students with a student ID. The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) also hosts several graduate student oriented events.
- The Palmer Museum of Art is open on campus Tuesday-Sunday (hours vary). The museum is free and features rotating exhibits throughout the year.
- The Center for Arts and Crafts hosts numerous art classes throughout the semester. Many of the programs are popular, so keep and eye out for the schedule and registration date (they typically send out an email a few weeks before the semester). Costs vary from free up to about $60, depending on materials.
- There are over 1000 student organizations on campus, so you’re bound to find at least one club that matches you’re interests. The full list can be searched here.
Shopping & Services
- Groceries: Local grocery chain stores include Wegmans, Giant, and Weis. Each has a free rewards program for discounts. Downtown, there is McLanahan’s, a small grocery section in Target, and a number of ethnic food stores.
- There are several Farmers Markets that are open between May and November throughout town. These include [but are not limited to] the Downtown State College Farmers Market on Fridays (Locust Ln, 11:30am-5:30pm), the Boalsburg Farmers Market on Tuesdays (Military Museum, 2pm-6pm), and the North Atherton Farmers Market on Saturday (Home Depot, 10am-2pm)
- Shopping Areas: There are three distinct areas of town with your typical chain stores and restaurants. Downtown State College has recently allowed in some of the chains, with an H&M and small Target opening recently near Walker, however, much of downtown is local businesses. N Atherton St has a variety of choices like Target, Walmart, Dick’s, Old Navy, and grocery stores. Out on Benner Pike, you will find the Nittany Mall (with a few big stores still left), another Walmart, and Sam’s Club.
- Pets: If you’re bringing pets to town, Petco, Wiscoy for Animals, The Pet Pub, and Pet Supplies Plus are the pet stores in town. Petco and Pet Supplies Plus are your typical national chain with everything you need for most animals. Wiscoy and the Pet Pub are local stores which feature more specialty food and toy brands, geared towards cats and dogs only.
- There are a number of vets in town. Ask around for recommendations. Metzger Animal Hospital has a 24/7 emergency room and is one of the few places locally that offers surgery and rehab for pets, but they do tend to be a bit more expensive for regular services.
- Dogs – Pennsylvania requires that you get a dog license. You can do this through the mail via the county treasurer, or stop by Wiscoy (cash only). There is also a leash law in Centre County, so be sure to keep control of your pets. If your complex doesn’t have a private dog park, the Tudek Dog Park is the local public off-leash, fenced in area. Wiscoy hosts several dog events throughout the year (Easter treat hunt, summertime dog ice cream socials, Halloween costume contest).
- Furniture: Many people get their furniture from Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. There is a Goodwill and a few other used furniture stores around town. The closest IKEA is Pittsburgh; the 2.5 hour drive each way is worth it compared to their $200+ delivery fee if you really want their furniture. Many people order furniture you can build online or grab a cheap set from Walmart. Levin, Caperella, and the other furniture stores in town tend to be high-end and expensive.
- Vehicles: There are a number of places to service your vehicle around town, including national chains and dealerships for almost every car brand. It is worth asking around the department for recommendations.
- License: If you plan to register your vehicle in state, you will need to get a PA drivers license. Requirements vary for domestic and international students, so you should check out the PennDOT website for more information. The closest driver license center is called “Rockview” on W College Ave near Pleasant Gap.
- Mopeds / Motorcycles: Motorized cycles <50cc can be registered as mopeds and parked as bike racks on campus (be sure to get a bicycle permit sticker too), but still require a divers license. Any motorized cycle over 50cc counts as a motorcycle and will require a motorcycle license / endorsement. Pennsylvania strongly advocates rider safety – you can get your motorcycle drivers permit for only $10 and take a free weekend class where you earn your license (this is hundreds of dollars in other states).
- Registration: Car registration is handled by private companies (AAA, dealerships, title and tag businesses, etc.) in PA, and both a car inspection and emissions inspection are required in Centre County.
- Gas: Sheetz is the popular regional gas station / convenience store chain in this area of the state. Sign up for their free rewards program, as you get 3 cents off per gallon every time you fill up. They also a popular place to eat, with made to order food you order on touch screens. All purchases in the store give you rewards points to redeem for free food and other perks. Through the app, there are sometimes offers for free meals and convenience store items as well.
- License: If you plan to register your vehicle in state, you will need to get a PA drivers license. Requirements vary for domestic and international students, so you should check out the PennDOT website for more information. The closest driver license center is called “Rockview” on W College Ave near Pleasant Gap.
- Childcare: State College has a competitive childcare environment. Many daycares and preschools have waitlists and can have conflicting pick up and drop off hours with graduate school schedules. It is recommended you research early in your move to find a childcare service that meets your particular needs and budget.
- Voting: You do not need to be a state resident to vote in Pennsylvania elections (US residents only). You will need the last four digits of your social security number and an approved form of ID to vote the first time. More information can be found on the Campus Vote Project website. Note that you must be enrolled as a Democrat or Republican to vote in primaries, but any registered voter can vote in the general election. Voter registration does not effect your residency, but you will not be allowed to vote in your home election. The registration deadline for general elections is early October, so it’s best to handle this early in the semester if you wish to vote.