Things to do

We have so many memories here and are excited to share this special place with you.

Where to Eat

The Waffle Shop

1610 West College Avenue and
1229 North Atherton Street
A beloved local favorite, The Original Waffle Shop is the go to spot for hearty breakfasts. Sarah’s go-to order is the S4, sunny side up, and Carter usually gets a Western Omelette. They like to split a blueberry muffin sliced and grilled off the secret menu.
Walkable from hotels

The Corner Room

100 W College Ave
Located in the heart of downtown State College, The Corner Room is a local landmark whose iconic building often appears in photos of the town. This casual dining spot serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is also the only restaurant that serves Grilled Stickies, a beloved State College specialty.
Walkable from hotels

Irving's

110 E College Ave
Walkable for anyone staying downtown in one of our hotels. A local favorite for bagels, smoothies and sandwiches.
Walkable from hotels

Bagel Crust

332 E Calder Way
225 W Beaver Ave
Both downtown locations are walkable from one of our hotels.  A casual grab and go  restaurant that some believe serve the best bagels in State College. Breakfast and deli sandwiches, coffee, tea and smoothies are available.
Walkable from hotels

Elixir Coffee Roasters

123 W Beaver Avenue
Cozy coffee shop serving favorite coffee drinks, tea and pastries. 
Walkable from hotels

Cozy Thai Bistro

232 S Allen Street
A favorite Thai eatery located in downtown State College.  A comfortable ambiance makes this one of the most popular restaurants in town.  Favorite dishes include Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, Royal Stir Fry  and Curry.  Be sure to grab a side salad with their tasty peanut dressing. 
Walkable from hotels

The Tavern

220 E College Avenue 
This upscale historic restaurant in the heart of downtown has been serving State College since 1948. The menu specializes in steak, seafood and pasta. The atmosphere is homey, with two floors of dining and indoor and outdoor space on both levels. Be sure to enjoy their signature cocktail, the Original Sin.
Walkable from hotels

The Allen Street Grill

100 W College Avenue
Located on the second floor above the Corner Room, choose a table by the windows for a view of College Avenue and the entrance to the Penn State Campus. Serving a menu of seafood, meats and vegetarian options, the relaxed atmosphere is an excellent option for casual dining.
Walkable from hotels

Federal Taphouse

130 S Fraser Street Suite 200
Relaxed bar and grill located above Target and connected to the Hyatt Place. A go to spot for delicious and one-of-a-kind pizzas selections, along with elevated pub fare. As the name implies, they have over one hundred unique beers on tap. The location provides a nice view of downtown State College.

Otto’s Pub and Brewery

2235 N. Atherton Street
Casual dining with a vast selection of local and in-house beers as well as burgers, wood fired pizza and American fare. Outdoor seating is available and there are plenty of TVs for watching your favorite sporting event.

Happy Valley Brewery

137 Elmwood Street
Relaxed microbrewery and eatery in a converted barn offering craft beers and eclectic comfort food. Two levels of dining provides an atmosphere for all tastes with an intimate second floor space as well as a more casual first floor bar with live music. 

Faccia Luna

1229 S Atherton Street
Casual Italian restaurant that’s been a favorite of the State College area since 1991.  This cozy restaurant provides some of the best Wood-fired pizza in town, along with handmade pasta dishes, seafood and fabulous desserts.  Parking can be a little tight, but feel free to use the lot adjacent to the restaurant on a busy evening.
Walkable from hotels

Penn State Berkey Creamery

on the corner of curtin road and bigler road
A Penn State staple since 1865 and part of the PSU Food Sciences that played a significant role in the founding of Ben & Jerry’s. Some favorite flavors are Peachy Paterno, Death by Chocolate, Bittersweet Mint and Grilled Stickies. 

Meyer Dairy

2390 S Atherton St
While the Creamery gets a lot of buzz, just down the road is Meyer’s Dairy, a local gem and in Carter’s opinion, the best ice cream in State College. Sarah and Carter both agree that chocolate marshmallow is the best flavor here.

Activities

Walkable from hotels

Penn State Campus

Take a walk around Penn State’s campus. Key stops include Old Main Lawn, the Nittany Lion Shrine located across the street from the Nittany Lion Inn, HUB lawn, Hintz Family Alumni Center and Beaver Stadium.
Walkable from hotels

The Arboretum

East Park Avenue and Bigler Road
The H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens are the jewel of the Arboretum, featuring over 10 acres of garden space and another 14 acres of rolling meadows and walking paths. Admission is free and the Arboretum is open daily from dawn to dusk.  Once you’re done exploring the grounds, cool off at the Palmer Museum of Art located next door
Walkable from hotels

Palmer Museum of Art

650 Bigler Road
Affectionately known to locals as The Palmer, the museum moved into its new building adjacent to the Arboretum in June 2024.  Voted one of the ten best new museums in 2025 by USA Today, the Palmer showcases a diverse art collection and thought-provoking exhibits,  Admission is free and the museum is open daily.  Please check their website for specific hours.

Mount Nittany Overook

500 Mount Nittany Road - Lemont, PA
Just a short drive from State College, Mount Nittany offers a scenic hike. The trail to the Mike Lynch Overlook is under a mile with a 600-foot elevation gain, leading to stunning views of Happy Valley.

Travel & Stay

FAQs

Registry

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Schedule

Wedding Party