Free Time, Weekends, and Breaks Oh My!

 What To Do On The Weekends

   By: Team B

What to do on the Weekends – On Campus Edition!

Want to stay close for the weekend? No problem, there are lots of fun things to do on campus for the weekends. Whether it’s football games, food, physical activity, the Penn State’s campus houses many fun activities that are right around the corner.

Starting in the fall, PENN STATE FOOTBALL IS BACK!! Head on over to Beaver Stadium to catch a football game every Saturday starting September 4. Beaver Stadium is about a 15 minute walk from the East Halls. 

After the game, or anytime at all, you can go to the Berkey Creamery, located across from the East Halls, which has some of the best ice cream ever. There are so many choices to pick from and you can even pick up pints to take back to your dorm and eat later. Personally, my favorite is the cookies and cream or the grilled stickies ice cream! Outside the Creamery, there are tables where you can sit and chat with friends or you can head across the street to the Arboretum. 

The Arboretum is a great place to have a picnic or go for a nature walk. Make sure to stop by the Arboretum in October to pick up a pumpkin during their pumpkin festival and also check out the other events that they have, including the winter celebration. Just outside the Arboretum there is a large lawn area where you can play spikeball, soccer, or picnic. Additionally, East Halls has basketball and sand volleyball courts and areas to hammock.

If you want to stay in, the craft center, located in the Ritenour Building near South Halls, has take and make crafts, or they offer classes with a variety of options to choose from.

In the mood for working out, Penn State offers 3 areas for working out, the Hepper Fitness Center in Rec Hall (located by West Halls), the White Building (located near South Halls), and the IM Building (located near East Halls).

There are lots of things to do on campus, and these are just a few ideas, but make sure to explore them for yourselves and make some new memories!!

Ava Zoba – Envoy, Team B

 

What to do on the Weekends – Downtown Edition!

            Here in State College, there are countless ways to spend your weekend. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite to eat, some coffee with friends, or shopping, downtown has it all!

    First, let’s talk about everyone’s favorite – food. Some personal favorites of mine include SNAP Pizza, The Corner Room, and DP Dough. There are also tons of places to get coffee. You can opt for the chains, like Starbucks, Dunkin, or Panera, or go local and try out Saint’s Café, Crust and Crumb, or Webster’s Bookstore and Café. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. Popular breakfast spots include The Waffle Shop, Irving’s, and Bagel Crust. If you’re in the mood for dessert, hit up Coldstone Creamery for some amazing ice cream (a close second to Berkey Creamery!).

            Now that we’ve covered food, let’s explore shopping. A place I frequently go to is Target. When I lived in West Halls, Target was an easy walking distance for me and had all of the groceries and essentials I needed for a dorm. They also have a small selection of clothes and housewares. If Target doesn’t have the clothes you’re looking for, you can go right downstairs to H&M. This is the perfect place to buy cute clothes on a budget. They also have a ton of business professional clothes which come in handy for career week.  Another place to get clothing is Urban Outfitters, which is located near Yallah Taco. A personal favorite of mine is Appalachian Outdoors, which hosts a variety of outdoor clothing, shoes, and gear. Last but not least, Uncle Eli’s Artist Marketplace and Frame Shop is an eclectic shop where you can find art supplies, knick knacks, and gifts. There are tons of other places I didn’t get to mention, but I’ll leave it up to you to do some exploring! Don’t forget to have fun – you’re about to start the best journey of your life!

Emily Webber - Mentor, Team B

 

What to do on the Weekends – Off Campus Edition!

Hiking

There are a lot of great trails for hiking surrounding the State College area. I highly recommend downloading the All Trails app. If you set State College as your location, you can not only see a list of all these trails, but also their length, estimated time, a map of the trail, and difficulty. To highlight a few:

●   Bear Meadows Natural Area is great for beginners as the 3.7 mile trail remains pretty flat. It can get muddy in some spots, so try to wear some water-proof shoes!

●    Mount Nittany is a short drive from campus and a popular destination for students. There are seven overlooks along a five mile trail, one of which has an amazing view of Beaver Stadium!

 

Tussey Mountain

Whether you love to ski, snowboard, or snow tube, Tussey Mountain is the perfect destination for winter activities! When the weather is warmer, there are other activities like mini-golfing, go-karting, and a skate park.

Parks

Parks are a great place to walk to with a group of friends and enjoy a nice day outside! There are a few parks in neighborhoods surrounding campus.

●       Holmes-Foster Park: This park has great swings - you are never too old to enjoy them! :)

●       Sunset Park: This park is located in a neighborhood behind the North side of campus. Not only are there pavilions for a picnic, but also there are some nice trails next to it!

Marissa Beighley - Mentor, Team B