- What makes State College a unique destination?
- State College in central Pennsylvania is a charming and vibrant college town that is home to Penn State University’s main campus, an array of buzzing bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, along with plenty of attractions.
- Where can visitors watch live sports in State College?
- Watch Penn State’s football team or the State College Spikes in action at Beaver Stadium.
- What cultural attractions are available in State College?
- Explore collections of ancient ceramics and 20th-century American art at the university's Palmer Museum of Art.
- What family-friendly attractions can visitors enjoy?
- Venture into space at the Discovery Space children’s science museum.
- What outdoor activities are available in and around State College?
- Head into the great outdoors on one of the many hiking or mountain biking trails through the Rothrock State Forest.
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1. Pennsylvania State University
Visit the scenic campus and explore iconic college sights on an easy trip.
Pennsylvania State University is a public education institution with over 40,000 students and a vibrant atmosphere. Founded in 1855, the 7,958-acre campus is also known as Happy Valley and has over 1,000 clubs and organizations, offering plenty of opportunities to get involved in campus life. The University’s football team plays in the Division I Big Ten Conference and is based at the 107,000-seat Beaver Stadium, and the school mascot is the Nittany Lion. The small, bustling town of State College is located opposite the campus and features an array of coffee shops, cafés, restaurants, shops and bars, and the University is surrounded by majestic mountains that offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, and skiing.
State College, PA 16801, Phone: 814-865-4700
2. Arboretum at Penn State
Walk along peaceful paths and admire colorful spring blooms in the gardens.
Located at Penn State University, the Arboretum at Penn State is a botanical garden created by the University as an educational institution and houses the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens. The 395-acre arboretum features several venues, including an education center, a multi-purpose complex, a conservatory, and a planetarium. The Education Center is the core focus of the arboretum’s educational programs, offering in-depth insight into the flora featured in the gardens. The Planetarium, also known as the Digital Visualization Theatre, is a vital multi-disciplinary, multi-purpose resource that provides a range of educational programs.
E Park Ave & Bigler Rd, State College, PA 16803, Phone: 814-865-9118
3. Beaver Stadium
See game-day action and enjoy exciting sports energy with the family.
Located on the campus of Penn State University, Beaver Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium that is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference. Built in 1909, the stadium is named after the former governor of Pennsylvania (1887–91), James A. Beaver, and boasts a seating capacity of 107,282 seats, making it the third-largest stadium in the world. The stadium also features a 10,000-seat upper deck, 60 luxury suites, 4,000 club seats, a new video scoreboard, modern restrooms, and several concessions. Every Saturday during the Fall, the stadium comes alive when the Penn State Nittany Lions play at home, drawing tens of thousands of fans to cheer them on.
1 Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA 16802
4. Pegula Ice Arena
Go skating or watch hockey and enjoy cool attractions for the kids.
The Pegula Ice Arena is a multi-purpose arena with over 6,000 seats on the campus of Penn State University that hosts the National Hockey League and American Hockey League games, ice shows, and other on-ice events. Located on the corner of Curtin Road and University Drive near the Bryce Jordan Center, the arena replaced the Penn State Ice Pavilion and is named Kim and Terry Pegula for their generous donations towards the new stadium. The main ice arena features a central competition ice arena with a seating capacity of 6,000, along with a practice rink, locker rooms, player areas, and offices.
250 University Drive, University Park, PA 16802
5. Bryce Jordan Center
See concerts and explore major attractions during a fun weekend outing.
The Bryce Jordan Center is a multi-purpose arena with 15,261 seats on the University Park campus of Pennsylvania State University and is home to the Nittany Lions men's and women's basketball teams, and the Pride of the Lions Pep Band. Opened in 1995, the arena is named after former Penn State University president Bryce Jordan, and in addition to hosting league basketball games, the stadium also hosts a variety of other events such as music concerts and commencement ceremonies within the university. The Bryce Jordan Center is the largest such venue between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
University Park, PA 16802, Phone: 814-865-5555
6. Palmer Museum of Art
Admire classic and modern works during an affordable retirement visit.
The Palmer Museum of Art is a free-admission art museum at the Pennsylvania State University. Based in a dramatic building designed by Charles W. Moore and Arbonies King Vlock, the prominent visual arts facility houses a collection of more than 9,000 works spanning centuries and representing a variety of cultures. The museum’s collection includes American and European paintings, prints, sculpture and photographs, Asian ceramics, paintings, jades and prints, contemporary European, American, and Japanese studio ceramics; and ancient African, European, Near Eastern, and American cultural pieces. The museum hosts nine exhibitions every year in eleven galleries, along with with a 150-seat auditorium, and a beautiful outdoor sculpture garden.
Curtin Rd, University Park, PA 16802, Phone: 814-865-7672
7. Millbrook Marsh Nature Center
Walk along wooden boardwalks and discover quiet sights during a fall trip.
The Millbrook Marsh Nature Center features is a 62-acre property with a 12-acre farmstead area, and 50 acres of protected wetlands and unique marsh ecosystems with boardwalks and hiking trails. Located less than two miles from Penn State University, the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center was established by the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority to educate and inspire people about the natural world. The nature center has a LEED Silver Certified classroom building, called the Spring Creek Education Building, a wetland laboratory, a restored bank barn, a picnic pavilion, a boardwalk with interpretive signs, and walking trails. The nature center offers educational programs for all ages, and visitors can enjoy a range of recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, dog-walking, and birdwatching from one of the observation decks overlooking the marsh.
548 Puddintown Rd, State College, PA 16801, Phone: 814-235-7819
8. Medlar Field at Lubrano Prak
Catch a game and enjoy cheap baseball fun on a summer afternoon.
Situated on the northeastern edge of the Penn State’s athletic complex, Medlar Field at Lubrano Prak is a 5,570-seat baseball stadium that is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions college baseball team and the New York-Penn League’s State College Spikes. Designed to boast unfettered views of Mount Nittany over the outfield wall, the stadium has three levels, namely a Field Level with a clubhouse, a Concourse Level, and a Luxury Suite Level with 20 deluxe suites, and boasts a seating capacity of 5,570. Lubrano Park features a spacious clubhouse with roomy wooden lockers, an expanded training room, an indoor batting cage, a weight room, and a comfortable team lounge. On a clear day, spectators can peer down the Nittany Valley for miles and see the Tussey Mountain Ski Resort.
701 Porter Road, State College, PA 16802
9. State College Spikes
Visit the ballpark and enjoy easygoing family fun with local flair.
The State College Spikes are a minor league baseball team in State College that play in the New York–Penn League. Founded in 1958, the team plays at their home ground of the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on the campus of Pennsylvania State University and is the Class A Short Season affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The team’s home stadium, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park is a 5,570-seat baseball stadium has three levels, Field (clubhouse) Level, Concourse Level, and 20 luxury suites, as well as a spacious clubhouse with roomy wooden lockers, an expanded training room, an indoor batting cage, a weight room, and comfortable team lounge.
701 Porter Rd, State College, PA 16801, Phone: 814-272-1711
10. Rec Hall, State College, PA
See athletic events and enjoy quick access to exciting college sports.
Rec Hall, which is short for Recreation Building, is Penn State university's busiest and most versatile athletics venue. Located on the University Park campus of the Pennsylvania State University, the historic structure hosts events for five varsity teams throughout all three collegiate seasons, including the Nittany Lion men's and women's volleyball teams, men's and women's gymnastics, and wrestling. Designed by architect Charles Z. Klauder, the venue boasts a Colonial Georgian design with a steel truss roof and a seating capacity of 6,500.
Burrowes Rd, University Park, PA 16802
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