A few reasons why people have recently made the move …
Kids bike to school here.
Learn more about schools and how State College puts “family friendly” center stage.
The woods (and streams) are only minutes away.
Whether you’re into forest bathing or mountain biking you’ll want to read more.
You can walk from coffee
to coworking to date night.
Picture yourself living near an energetic downtown that’s charming foodies and entrepreneurs, families and neighbors.
Since you’ve been gone
State College may be small, but it’s definitely not sleepy. Here’s some of the cool stuff that’s been happening in recent years.
Save the date for Friday, May 16 from 4-7pm! With the students gone, the lines will be nonexistent and we’ll take over Champs to hang out and enjoy some food and drink specials, meet new people, and cheers to the chill vibes of State College summer that we love so much.
The energy and vibrancy that Penn State students bring to our town during the school year is undeniable – and a welcome feature of living in a college town! But summer? That’s for the locals.
This year, for the first time, Rediscover State College is teaming up with student hotspot Champs Downtown to host an event that’ll both kick off summer (a season which, lucky us, starts post-graduation in May!) and provide a fun meet-and-greet opportunity for anyone who’s new to town or looking to plug into the community in a deeper way.
🍹🍽 Stay tuned for food and drink specials.
#rediscoverstatecollege #downtownstatecollege #downtownstatecollegepa #statecollege #statecollegepa #statecollegesummer #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #happyhour #summer #summerisforthelocals #townietakeover #champsdowntown
Fifteen years ago, Christian Baum made the move to State College after graduating in a market that was scarce on jobs.
Joining some friends who were already in town, he spent the first few years staying on sofas and in basements while he worked on getting his first startup off the ground, an experience which ultimately led him to discover his niche for using business as a force for good. (Like his company Giv Local, a payment platform that donates 20% of all processing revenue to the nonprofits of your choosing!)
We asked Christian to fill us in on his State College favorites and hope you’ll enjoy learning about his local experience.
HOW TO READ MORE: Look for this link in the blog highlight @rediscoverstatecollege
#rediscoverstatecollege #downtownstatecollege #statecollegepa #statecollege #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #entreprenuer #givlocal
Spring is here and it’s the perfect time to hit the trails and check out the views before the trees start to pop!
Do you have a favorite vista? A favorite trail?
Tell us in the comments. 🥾🏞️
#rediscoverstatecollege #statecollege #downtownstatecollege #statecollegepa #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #outdoors #hiking #pahikes #thegreatoutdoors
Save the date for a Friday May 16th downtown happy hour. 🗓️
Our @rediscoverstatecollege team is planning some fun and you are invited! 🥳🍻
Meet your neighbors! Enjoy food & drink! Post up at a popular spot in the heart of downtown State College. ❤️
Stay tuned for more details.
#rediscoverstatecollege #downtownstatecollege #statecollege #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #statecollegepa #townietakeover
Meet Pearl, the newest sea creature resident @mydiscoveryspace. Pearl is a baby California Round Ray and has lots of personality.
Penn State entrepreneurship students got to sneak a peek at Pearl and take part in a prototyping workshop with the @therivetds. Here they are making molds of small trays from jesmonite.
It’s neat to see our community engaging young entrepreneurs in this way.
#rediscoverstatecollege #downtownstatecollege #downtownstatecollegepa #statecollege #statecollegepa #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurship #babystingray
"I love any opportunity to sing or speak into a microphone, so when I was asked to be the storyteller for the March “No Filter” show at Pine Grove Hall, I said yes before I had any idea what story I might tell.
Each monthly “No Filter” show features two singer songwriters and a storyteller, a concept created (and hosted) by Judson Mantz and Ed Kenepp. Both are singer-songwriters themselves and have been involved in the local music scene for many years. They open the show with some friendly banter, and then they each play one of their songs.
For the March show they wanted to make it an all-women lineup for International Women’s Month, featuring @lauraboswell and @annapearlbelindamusic as the musical guests."
Local writer, meditation guide and storyteller @carolyne.rose.m writes about her "No Filter" experience at @pinegrovehall.
HOW TO READ MORE: Look for this link in the Blog Highlight @rediscoverstatecollege
Photo: Carolyne, Laura, Jud, Anna Pearl and Ed.
#rediscoverstatecollege #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #statecollege #downtownstatecollege #statecollegepa #eatdrinklisten #nofilter #sots
We love catching bottling day at Meyer Dairy. It’s pretty amazing we can get our milk from the cows right here on the farm @meyerdairy.
#milk #dairy #local #localfarms #statecollegepa #rediscoverstatecollege #downtownstatecollege #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #localdairy #localfarms
An evening with Centre Social Dance (CSD) is a no-cost way to try something new! It`s something you can try out on your own, with a group of friends, or with a dancing partner - and is a unique and active way to meet new people.
In collaboration with @psusocialdanceclub CSD offers dance events almost every night of the week in varied locations downtown and on the PSU campus.
Photo: Center Social Dance at @3dotsdowntown
#rediscoverstatecollege #statecollege #statecollegepa #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #downtownstatecollege #downtownstatecollegepa #dance #socialdance
How fun is it that our neighbor town Bellefonte has a speakeasy you can book for private parties?
John from our @rediscoverstatecollege team let the good times roll with a Mardis Gras themed birthday party for his husband with the help of some friends @gamblemill.speakeasyandsuites
Can you tell it was a blast?
Check out the stunning cake from @thecakeshopbytati 💚💛💜
And the mask decorations from local artist Steve Artz! 🎭🎭
#rediscoverstatecollege #happyvalleypa #happyvalley #statecollege #statecollegepa #downtownstatecollegepa #downtownstatecollege #speakeasy #bellefonte #laissezlesbontempsrouler
Our @rediscoverstatecollege apparel traveled to Taiwan over spring break!
Here`s Brad in front of Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world.
Check out our State College Tee in 3 different colors. Get yours on our website or at the @themakerypamarket downtown.
Then, when you travel somewhere cool (or when you`re out and about in Central PA) snap a pic and share it with us. We love seeing people repping State College in the wild!
HOW TO GET YOUR TEE: Look for this link in the Merch Highlight @rediscoverstatecollege
#rediscoverstatecollege #statecollege #statecollegepa #downtownstatecollege #downtownstatecollegepa #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #teeshirt #taipei
When @cirquedusoleil comes to State College it’s a big deal! Our @rediscoverstatecollege team was totally dazzled. The @ovo.cirquedusoleil show runs through the weekend at the @jordancenter and is a family friendly production.
The set, lights, music, acrobatics and artistry were stunning. And, we saw some new moves to try out just in time for trampoline season!
#rediscoverstatecollege #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #statecollege #statecollegepa #downtownstatecollege #brycejordancenter #familyfun #cirquedusoleil #ovo
"Mention Penn State to anyone anywhere, and the first thing that’s likely to come up is football. Yes, we are a perennial powerhouse in the football world. Fans pour in from all over the state (and beyond) to tailgate and cheer inside Beaver Stadium. But Penn State is also home to a myriad of other competitive sports. From wrestling to track and field to lacrosse, the “We Are” chants ring out all over campus. How, then, does a sports-crazed family like ours decide which events to attend? As children we played baseball, soccer, basketball and competed in dance competitions. Though we no longer play organized sports, we tune in regularly for our favorite teams (Go Phillies and Eagles!). It just so happens that, locally, we latched on—from a very early age—to Penn State men’s basketball."
Local writer and teacher David Rockower writes about his family`s love of Penn State Basketball through the years.
HOW TO READ MORE: Look for this link in the Blog Highlight @rediscoverstatecollege
Photo: David and his family at a PSU basketball game.
#rediscoverstatecollege #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #statecollege #statecollegepa #downtownstatecollege #pennstatebasketball #sportsfamily #basketballfamily
Local music artist @lauraboswell organized a benefit concert for Hurricane Helene at @elkcreekcafe this past Saturday night which raised over 2K.
Laura opened the show with @quickdraw_harmonicas and Vinny Searfoss. @hannah_bingman and JK played next. @thepsychicbeat played a set and then Eric Ian Farmer closed out the show with @elizabethw_music and ensemble.
After living in Asheville NC for 6 years, Laura has returned to her hometown, State College. The community showed up to support her fundraising effort. Proceeds go to @belovedasheville, an organization that has been on the front lines of disaster relief since the hurricane.
#rediscoverstatecollege #statecollege #statecollegepa #statecollegemusic #localartists #hurricanerelief #downtownstatecollege #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #folkmusic #artistssupportingartists
Our team has really been enjoying getting to connect with new residents. Everyone we`ve talked with has their own journey of how they`ve made State College their home.
Stephanie describes our State College community as "warm and inviting" and she has made an impressive effort to plug in and explore! Some of her favorite ways to get connected have been through volunteering with @downtownbellefonte, working out @orangetheorystatecollege, making things at @therivetds and finding all the best places to eat. (We`ve added @passthedutchiepa to our list of newish places to check out.)
Moving from Philadelphia, Stephanie says that relocating here has given her energy to find new hobbies and explore new interests - like birding, belly dancing and social dance. She sees State College as an amazing place to "tap into things that bring you joy".
Thanks for the conversation @sssss_lauren!
We discovered we are both fans of the lavender fog lattes at @good_day_cafe_
What`s your favorite way to tap into joy in State College? Tell us in the comments.
#rediscoverstatecollege #statecollegepa #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #downtownstatecollege #downtownstatecollegepa #coffeedates #teadates #community #joy
Like so many others, Centre County Commissioner Amber Concepcion grew up in State College, went to Penn State, and then moved to a city.
But in 2007, she and her husband moved back because they wanted their kids to grow up in a town with a real sense of community, and our vibrant downtown and great public schools sealed the deal.
We asked Amber to fill us in on her State College favorites and hope you’ll enjoy learning about her local experience.
Photo: Amber and her son at @statecollegesd High School graduation. “This was the last year that I was Board President for graduation, and getting to speak to his class and give him his diploma was such a highlight!”
HOW TO READ MORE: Look for this link in the blog highlight @rediscoverstatecollege
#rediscoverstatecollege #statecollege #downtownstatecollege #downtownstatecollegepa #statecollegepa #happyvalley #happyvalleypa #localleaders #localschools
Don’t just take
our word for it.
State College is popping up on people’s radar — and for good reason.
State College Ranks No. 8 on Forbes’ 2021 List of the 50 Best College Towns In America
Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com List State College as One of the Hottest Emerging Housing Markets
We know what you’re thinking —
we thought it, too.
But behind those initial assumptions is a more nuanced reality about life in State College.
Tap a “perception” card to reveal how things really are here!
PERCEPTION:
State College is only for students.REALITY:
State College is a town full of creative individuals who care deeply about building community from the ground up.
PERCEPTION:
State College is too small.REALITY:
State College is small enough to make your own mark — and big enough for it to have real impact.
PERCEPTION:
State College is just about Penn State.REALITY:
Not everyone in town has a connection to the university, but everyone who lives here benefits by being so close to a world-class institution that attracts international visitors and first-rate entertainment.
PERCEPTION:
State College has too many high rises.REALITY:
State College is building up so students don’t have to rent houses that should be owned by families who want to walk to shops and restaurants downtown.
PERCEPTION:
State College doesn’t have any high-paying jobs.REALITY:
State College is home to a number of big companies and is growing all the time, but lots of people create their own lucrative and meaningful careers while living here.
PERCEPTION:
There’s nothing to do in State College.REALITY:
Just one block of downtown State College has enough to keep anyone busy for a day, with independent shops, eclectic bars and restaurants, yoga studios, art galleries, local theaters, and one of the best small town libraries ever (just our opinion).
PERCEPTION:
Housing in State College isn’t affordable.REALITY:
State College is expanding, and living options with it. Whether you’re looking to buy or rent, the range in the market works for lots of budgets.
PERCEPTION:
There’s no diversity in State College.REALITY:
Our little valley is big enough for all kinds of people to find a home here, and we’re proud to lift up all kinds of voices to represent our town.
Life in State College is an invitation to…
Become a member of a small-town community, where roots have a chance to sink deep.
Downshift into a routine that feels meaningful and settled.
Redefine the life you really want—in an environment that offers the time, space, and support to go out and build it.
