In honor of my last post, I decided there is no better place to end than in Happy Valley:) Welcome to State College!
While our time here has been short, I have already sought out some of my favorite spots! First up is obviously Old Main. While this may seem mainstream, I found it to be the perfect place to get some fresh air and sunlight — especially during COVID.
When the weather was warmer, I enjoyed bringing a blanket out and laying on the lawn in the evening. It was extremely peaceful considering the chaos and new-ness in the beginning of the semester.
My absolute favorite spot to grab breakfast on Saturday mornings is the Bagel Crust. While Pennsylvania bagels just don’t compare to Jersey bagels, the Bagel Crust holds up a pretty good bargain. Personally, my go-to-order is from their lunch specials: Baja California. The blend of chipotle sauce, pepper jack cheese, and avocado is SO perfect; it adds a caramelized taste to your sandwich. Okay, I’m done being a food critic now but I absolutely love it<3
Next up is my favorite place to go shopping. If you’re looking for a cute, hip boutique to shop at, People’s Nation on College Ave is the place to be. However, while I love their collection, it can be pricey at times.
A little road trip off-campus helped me find Uptown Cheapskate. This trendy thrift-store sells up-cycled clothing for cheap. It’s a steal! Unfortunately, you can’t walk here from campus but it’s about a 7 minute car ride away! My favorite part is the discounted Penn State merch — they have an entire aisle dedicated to it:)
Aside from the creamery, my favorite spot to grab dessert is Duck Donuts. Their warm, freshly-made donuts are to die for… literally. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating but I HIGHLY recommend them. You can customize what you want on your donut PLUS you get to watch them make it!
Although I’ve had a great time going out and exploring this new town, I’ve also really enjoyed experiencing fall in State College. All of the trees and fall colors make it truly beautiful. My favorite part is having leaves fall all around me, when the breeze blows. I think it’s safe to say I’ll miss it.
You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ with me in State College! I hope you enjoyed:)
State College certainly is an interesting place. I don’t know if I would say that I like it yet. I don’t think I’ve actually experienced enough of it to know. It’s crazy that the time on campus this semester is coming to a close. It simultaneously feels like the longest and shortest past few months.
This post was so fun to read! Being in State College and exploring has been such fun for me too! Additionally, I love the food spots you mentioned. Bagel Crust is definitely one of the best for breakfast (or any meal). Although they don’t live up to an NYC bagel, they hit the spot every time. If I had more blog posts to do, I would probably have it along with Duck Donuts. There are just too many great places in State College!
This was such a cute blog post to end with! I love how you incorporated your favorite spots here, which I definitely need to check out during my time here. But yes, I agree with the stargazing at Old Main and the season change in State College. I am from Philly, so I really don’t get to see the stars or experience nature in this way.