Most people who visit State College hit the same handful of spots: Mount Nittany, the Creamery, a walk down College Avenue, maybe a game at Beaver Stadium. Those are all worth doing. But the best parts of this area — the places that stick with you — tend to be the ones that don't show up in the first page of search results.
These are eight places that reward a little curiosity. Some are five minutes from campus. Others require a short drive into the surrounding valley. None of them are hard to get to. They're just easy to overlook if nobody tells you about them.
The New Palmer Museum + Arboretum
Penn State's art museum moved into a new building at The Arboretum, 650 Bigler Road, which opened June 1, 2024 (architects: Allied Works). The galleries and the gardens now sit side by side, so one parking spot gets you an art museum and Penn State's botanic gardens, including the Childhood's Gate Children's Garden.
Plan a Palmer + Arboretum half dayBest For
Couples, families, rainy-day backup plans and anyone who wants a slower half day on campus
Know Before You Go
Museum: free admission ($7 suggested donation); open Wed–Sat 11am–5pm (Thursdays until 8pm), Sun noon–5pm; closed Mon, Tue and University holidays. Arboretum: free, open dawn to dusk. Park in the Orange A / Katz lot across Bigler Road ($1/hour, 24/7, paid via HonkMobile).
Millheim Farmers Market
A small Saturday-morning market in Millheim, in Penns Valley, about 25 minutes east of State College via Route 45. The drive through farm country is half the reason to go.
Best For
Food lovers and anyone who wants a morning out of town
Know Before You Go
Check the market's website for the current season before you drive out.
Stone Valley Recreation Area
A Penn State–run recreation area about 20 minutes south of town, with a lake and wooded trails. A quieter alternative when Mount Nittany is busy.
Best For
Hikers, families and paddlers
Know Before You Go
Check Stone Valley's website for the boat rental season. Cell service can be weak; download maps before you go.
Café Lemont
A daytime café in the village of Lemont, just east of State College, that roasts its own organic coffee on-site in small batches. Lemont is also where the Mount Nittany trailhead is, so it's the natural stop after a hike.
Best For
Coffee lovers and hikers coming down from Mount Nittany
Know Before You Go
It's a breakfast-and-lunch spot, so plan a morning hike and come down for coffee. Check its website for current hours.
The Columbus Chapel in Boalsburg
Inside the Boal Mansion Museum is a chapel holding artifacts connected to Christopher Columbus's family. It's an unexpected collection to find in a small Pennsylvania village that also calls itself the birthplace of Memorial Day.
Best For
History fans and families with older kids
Know Before You Go
Check the Boal Mansion Museum website for its season and hours before you go.
Rothrock State Forest's Mid State Trail
The Mid State Trail runs through Rothrock State Forest and feels far more remote than its distance from town suggests. The section near Bear Meadows Natural Area passes a boggy wetland that is unlike anything else nearby.
Best For
Experienced hikers, trail runners and nature photographers
Know Before You Go
Wear proper boots and carry a downloaded map; trails can be muddy and cell service is unreliable. Tell someone where you're going.
Webster's Bookstore Café
A used bookstore with a café inside, built for lingering. The selection is eclectic and nobody rushes you.
Best For
Solo travelers, readers and anyone who needs a quiet hour
Know Before You Go
At 133 E Beaver Ave downtown. It's busier during the school year, so mid-morning is calmer.
Mount Nittany's Blue Trail Loop
Most visitors hike only to the Mike Lynch Overlook (about 0.6 miles each way). The Blue Trail loop, about 4.6 miles with about 650 feet of climbing, takes you past more overlooks and through quieter woods. The White Trail loop is a shorter option at about 3.5 miles.
Read our Mount Nittany hiking guideBest For
Hikers who want more than the quick overlook
Know Before You Go
Allow 3–3.5 hours for a full loop. The trailhead is at the end of Mount Nittany Road in Lemont. Figures are from the Mount Nittany Conservancy.
Want More Recommendations?
These hidden gems are just the start. Our full guides cover restaurants, cafés, trails and things to do in State College with addresses and practical details.