State College event weekends: what to do between sessions
Penn State's Happy Valley in the mountains of central Pennsylvania, famous for the Creamery and Beaver Stadium.
Events we cover in State College
Arriving
State College (SCE) has a few flights; Harrisburg is 1.5 hours.
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Bellefonte and Lewistown | Cheaper rooms 15 to 40 minutes away. |
| Mid-range | Downtown State College | Walk to campus. |
| Splurge | Nittany Lion Inn | On campus. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Hampton Inn State College
- Mid-range: Graduate State College
- Splurge: The Nittany Lion Inn
Tours
Where to eat
With kids
- Penn's Cave and Wildlife Park.
Rainy-day backups
- Palmer Museum of Art.
Free things to do
- Nittany Lion Shrine.
- Arboretum at Penn State.
Getting around
- CATA buses. Hotels for commencement weekend often sell out a year ahead and require two- or three-night minimums. Book as soon as the date is posted.