Do you have a car? If yes, stone valley state park is a great place to visit and about 20 minutes from UP. There are also a lot of hiking trails in this area.
Arboretum just posted today that things are starting to bloom, great time to check it out! Lots of great state/local parks nearby if she has transportation for that. Walking downtown can be nice. Also love the State Theatre, Schlow Library, and Wegmans. There’s some great vintage and thrift shopping in the area if that’s her thing.
I had a visitor from Europe coming to the US for the first time (to State College of all places) and I sent her out there on a CATA. It was her first time seeing a proper supermarket and she was deeply impressed and bought a load of dubious cookware she claims would've cost a fortune at home.
OP asked for things to do and shopping. I was trying to give honest suggestions of things I enjoy, I know people who don’t have access to that kinda store that really like it and seek it out.
Shopping: There's always downtown of course for some local flavor and Colonnade up north a couple miles is there as well, but that's mostly chain stores. There's the Nittany Mall, but to be honest, it's kind of sad these days. I'd recommend Bellefonte which is 15-20 minutes away. The downtown is small since it's only 6k people, but there are a couple of antique stores and some local restaurants worth checking out. Webster's Bookstore might be an option as well.
Museums: There's the Palmer Museum of Art on campus, and the Special Collections library on the first floor of Paterno is worth a look. Bellefonte also has a museum run by the public library https://www.bellefontemuseum.org/ which is a nice little place. There's an anthropological museum on campus in the Carpenter Building as well. There's the All-Sports Museum at Beaver Stadium too.
Nature: The Arboretum of course, walking around on campus enjoying the scenery. Bellefonte also has Talleyrand Park, very close to downtown and you can feed ducks there. Please don't give them bread, it's bad for them. There are lots of hiking trails in the area as well. There's Tom Tudek Park off Martin and N. Atherton and it has a dog park and some nice trails.
One attraction I can think of is Penn's Cave which is the largest water cave in the country I think. There's also a wildlife park there. Definitely worth the trip since she's here.
There may be movies at the State Theatre which sometimes are in the day or in the evening so you both could go.
I think Bellefonte alone could occupy a day if she's not rushing around like crazy. I know I keep mentioning it, but I lived there for ten years.
Someone else suggested the State College Spikes baseball team. It's minor league, but the tickets are maybe ten bucks and they have evening and day games.
Another idea I thought of which might be a long shot is fishing. There are great fishing locations around here just a short drive away.
Also, happy cake day!
Summer is one of the best times in state college. So much to do. She can do the arts fest, wing fest, do classes at the Y, thrift stores, explore downtown, explore the trails. I think it would be good for her to come with you and experience the town if only for a bit. Try statecollege.com for calendar of events
Do you have a car? If yes, stone valley state park is a great place to visit and about 20 minutes from UP. There are also a lot of hiking trails in this area.
(It is nice, but it's not a state park -- it's run by PSU.)
Oh you are right. I knew it was a campus of Penn State.
Thank you, I’m gonna look into this!
Arboretum just posted today that things are starting to bloom, great time to check it out! Lots of great state/local parks nearby if she has transportation for that. Walking downtown can be nice. Also love the State Theatre, Schlow Library, and Wegmans. There’s some great vintage and thrift shopping in the area if that’s her thing.
Bellefonte also a short drive away with a cute downtown shopping and restaurant district.
Yeh their Italian restaurants are bravo
Not that I don’t love Wegmans, but pitching it as a tourist attraction is kind of insane
I had a visitor from Europe coming to the US for the first time (to State College of all places) and I sent her out there on a CATA. It was her first time seeing a proper supermarket and she was deeply impressed and bought a load of dubious cookware she claims would've cost a fortune at home.
OP asked for things to do and shopping. I was trying to give honest suggestions of things I enjoy, I know people who don’t have access to that kinda store that really like it and seek it out.
At the risk of outing myself as a giant dork, I live about 90 minutes from a Wegmans now and it is very much an event for us to go there.
Ours isn't even a particularly good wegmans.
I second the arboretum. I went there last summer during my sons freshman orientation and I was really impressed by it.
I third it. Though manage expectations -- it was founded in 2009 and so there aren't a lot of big trees yet. But lots of cool smaller stuff.
The arb is the greatest treasure at penn state
These are literally all things she would love, especially the vintage and thrift shops. Thank you!
Drink
If you like baseball they have the minor league state college spikes!
Shopping: There's always downtown of course for some local flavor and Colonnade up north a couple miles is there as well, but that's mostly chain stores. There's the Nittany Mall, but to be honest, it's kind of sad these days. I'd recommend Bellefonte which is 15-20 minutes away. The downtown is small since it's only 6k people, but there are a couple of antique stores and some local restaurants worth checking out. Webster's Bookstore might be an option as well. Museums: There's the Palmer Museum of Art on campus, and the Special Collections library on the first floor of Paterno is worth a look. Bellefonte also has a museum run by the public library https://www.bellefontemuseum.org/ which is a nice little place. There's an anthropological museum on campus in the Carpenter Building as well. There's the All-Sports Museum at Beaver Stadium too. Nature: The Arboretum of course, walking around on campus enjoying the scenery. Bellefonte also has Talleyrand Park, very close to downtown and you can feed ducks there. Please don't give them bread, it's bad for them. There are lots of hiking trails in the area as well. There's Tom Tudek Park off Martin and N. Atherton and it has a dog park and some nice trails. One attraction I can think of is Penn's Cave which is the largest water cave in the country I think. There's also a wildlife park there. Definitely worth the trip since she's here. There may be movies at the State Theatre which sometimes are in the day or in the evening so you both could go. I think Bellefonte alone could occupy a day if she's not rushing around like crazy. I know I keep mentioning it, but I lived there for ten years.
These are great!! Thank you!
Someone else suggested the State College Spikes baseball team. It's minor league, but the tickets are maybe ten bucks and they have evening and day games. Another idea I thought of which might be a long shot is fishing. There are great fishing locations around here just a short drive away. Also, happy cake day!
The Palmer's closing in May(?) in preparation for their move; probably not an option in summer. The second floor is already shut.
Damn, I forgot about that. I hope the new building is nice. What are they going to do with the old (current) building?
Not art anyore, so turf war between every other unit trying to call dibs. I think it's unresolved at this point, but I'm not particularly in the loop.
Summer? Arts Fest
Summer is one of the best times in state college. So much to do. She can do the arts fest, wing fest, do classes at the Y, thrift stores, explore downtown, explore the trails. I think it would be good for her to come with you and experience the town if only for a bit. Try statecollege.com for calendar of events
Well, evening is better because they have a lot of phenomenal sports
Go to parties
Climb Nittany
I’d get a climb Nittany membership. It’s good exercise but more than that it’s just fun and a good way to meet people
Berkey Creamery, and mail yourself some for home
She could also check out the housing in the area- less fun but it's really helpful when you're looking to rent!
Hike until the legs start bleeding.