Looking for Suggestions for Places to Visit a Short(ish) Drive from State College, PA

[Buzz Rules]

Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown in NY are about 4 hours away in Westchester County if your into history and good food. And you may even see this guy (he really does haunt the area):

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Well, as is par for the course with DH's job, everything has changed, since I posted this thread. We're now heading for Wisconsin this weekend, but will be back to State College sometime soon. I'm still looking into all of these locations, because things could change again at any time.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I went to college in Lancaster and TBH if it's a far drive for you, I wouldn't visit. The downtown area is fine, but nothing particularly special. Not sure I would describe it as a quant small town. The downtown area and the area around the college is a standard college town. I do remember there being a nice farmer's market where local Amish farmers would come and sell their produce, if that's something you're interested in. Outside of that is Amish country. There are tours you can do to visit the Amish communities but those always rubbed me the wrong way. You don't need to do those tours to see them - I saw them all the time at the nearby mall, Walmart and Costco.

I agree with the other posters about Hershey. Hershey park is a lot of fun and even if you don't go to the park, you can visit the factory and go to Chocolate World.

Even though I mentioned Lancaster, Bird in Hand was where I actually wanted to go to. (I didn't think most people would recognize Bird in Hand.) That was my Dad's favorite place, so I wanted to show it to DH. I couldn't find any availability this weekend, but will check again, when we return to the area.

Besides Hershey, I’d recommend Knoebels, an old-fashioned amusement park in Elysburg. It’s about an hour and a half drive, slightly closer than Hershey.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check out their websites.

Somerset is fairly close. The 9/11 memorial is near there.

Johnstown has the flood museum and inclined plane.

Thanks. I'd love to see the memorial sometime.

How long will you be in State College?

The Bloomsburg Fair is in late September. That is at least a day's worth of entertainment.

You can come to Scranton. We have the Steamtown Museum and Historic site and Steam Trolley ride. Scranton is named The Electric City because it was the first city to have electric trolleys running on its streets. It also has several sites that you'd know from The Office. There is a really interesting Coal Mine Tour at McDade Park. You go down into the mine on a tram and are escorted by a guide through it with tales of the way that the mines were run in the early 20th century. Lots of beautiful architecture here, too.

The Poconos are just not far from Scranton. You can spend time meandering about in some small towns or at a casino.

The Little League World Series kicks off toward the end of this month in Williamsport. My BIL and his kids and my parents go to that each year. They say its a lot of fun. I'm just not that into baseball to make the drive.

You can also take the drive to Philadelphia. You don't have to stay in the city, but there is SO much to do there. You can also go to Valley Forge. It's not far from Philadelphia... maybe 20 minutes if there is no traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway.

We don't expect to be here in late September, but things could change. DH is now going to attempt to oversee three parks in three different states at the same time, so we're not sure when this job will be completed. Scranton sounds like a nice town that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Well, as is par for the course with DH's job, everything has changed, since I posted this thread. We're now heading for Wisconsin this weekend, but will be back to State College sometime soon. I'm still looking into all of these locations, because things could change again at any time.

https://www.travelwisconsin.com/

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We were just in Gettysburg last weekend. I had forgotten how much I like it. Bedford is nice, and the Flight 93 Memorial is close. Maybe a weekend trip to Philly.

DH suggested Gettysburg, before we knew we were heading in a different direction. He wants to go & take a ghost tour.

It's about a 4 hour drive, but you could do Niagara Falls one weekend.

Niagara Falls is definitely on our list of places to visit.

Ephrata or Lititz

I've never heard of either of these places. I'm curious to look into them.

I second knoebels. They have cabins to rent. It’s such a nice park to just walk around and great cheap eats! We live a few minutes from there and like to drive down just to walk around and grab a quick bite.

I don’t think anyone has mentioned Altoona (Horseshoe curve and Boyer chocolate factory…DH loves mallow cups so we always stop)
Bedford a little further south could be an option as well.

Driving north on Route 15 is also nice. Wellsboro (PA Grand Canyon) and Corning, NY are two possible stops on the way.

Knoebels does sound like a nice option. We passed Altoona traveling to/from Pittsburgh. Now, I wish we'd taken a detour by there. We will, if we pass it again.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Maybe head north to Corning?
And the Finger Lakes.

The Finger Lakes is an interesting suggestion. We've never visited that area.

Grove City for the outlets and Volant Mills

Erie (North East has wineries)

Falling water/Ohiopyle

Deep Creek Lake (Maryland)

And there is enough to do in Pittsburgh (Kennywood, the Strip, the Zoo, Science Center) that you could spend multiple weekends exploring.

We definitely didn't have enough time in Pittsburgh last weekend to see everything we wanted to. We could have spent a week there. Falling Water was on my list of things to do, before I realized how far out of the way we would have had to drive to see it. Hopefully, someday soon we'll get there.

Hotels in State College are tough to comeby and very expensive for weekends unless you book way out in advance. Students are probably all out of dorms but still paying year round so you might find some willing to quietly rent per night through Facebook.

Bethlehem, PA has Musikfest now through next weekend & that's fun, lots of good concerts but tons of free music and entertainment everywhere so you can be very happy paying for a beer mug with free refills and food cart food, love the Aww Shucks Corn. Most of the regional hotels can help you sort of busses and all and there is also Dorney Park in the area which has rides and a water park, this used to be a tiny one street festival but is an extravaganza now that draws from all over.

Knobels and Hershey are really nice too and closer to you, Hershey offers upscale accommodations & Knobels can be much cheaper but a very nice day.

I'm curious about Bethlehem. That was my first thought. I actually looked into it, before posting this thread. I was hoping it would be kind of "Christmassy" year round. That didn't appear to be the case. Did I miss something, or do they only play up the town's name during the Christmas season?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

If you are outdoor people, what about the Grand Canyon of PA ? Lots of hiking trails...

since you are in State College, have you hiked Mount Nittany? It really is a great view.

Have you visited the Arboretum on campus? Spectacular sunsets.

Unfortunately, my health prevents us from doing much hiking. We're definitely going to the Arboretum though. Thanks for mentioning it. Do you have any suggestions for other things to do in State College in the evening that someone with limited mobility can do? I can walk on flat land for a mile or so, but hills are difficult for me. Steps are pretty much impossible, unless I want to pay the price for several days after.

You can visit Harrisburg. There is a park that has art installations along a walking trail for a few more weeks. Minor league baseball if you’re into that. There may be something interesting at the Farm Show complex.

Raystown Lake near Huntington. Not many hotels that way, though. Juniata college students will also be returning to school soon, so that is worth remembering.

Thanks for the suggestions. We do love baseball.

Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown in NY are about 4 hours away in Westchester County if your into history and good food. And you may even see this guy (he really does haunt the area):

Leave it to Buzz to come up with a Disney related suggestions.

https://www.travelwisconsin.com/

Thanks

 

[Buzz Rules]

Unfortunately, my health prevents us from doing much hiking. We're definitely going to the Arboretum though. Thanks for mentioning it. Do you have any suggestions for other things to do in State College in the evening that someone with limited mobility can do? I can walk on flat land for a mile or so, but hills are difficult for me. Steps are pretty much impossible, unless I want to pay the price for several days after.

Thanks for the suggestions. We do love baseball.

Leave it to Buzz to come up with a Disney related suggestions.

Thanks

I have family in the Hudson Valley. We love all it’s historical areas. The places from the story actually exist and you can see them. Most of the characters in the story were inspired by real people. The Headless Horseman does haunt Sleepy Hollow (for those who believe the supernatural exists). Here is his real story:

He died in the Battle of White Plains in real life. His head was never found (it most likely disintegrated when the cannon ball hit him). He was an honorable hessian who fought on the wrong side.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I have family in the Hudson Valley. We love all it’s historical areas. The places from the story actually exist and you can see them. Most of the characters in the story were inspired by real people. The Headless Horseman does haunt Sleepy Hollow (for those who believe the supernatural exists). Here is his real story:

He died in the Battle of White Plains in real life. His head was never found (it most likely disintegrated when the cannon ball hit him). He was an honorable hessian who fought on the wrong side.

Interesting. I love history & DH is into the idea of ghosts. Me, not so much, but I humor him occasionally. This sounds like our kind of place.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Interesting. I love history & DH is into the idea of ghosts. Me, not so much, but I humor him occasionally. This sounds like our kind of place.

I have a distant family connection to the story. Which is why my family doesn’t go there on Halloween. Many famous people haunt that place including John Andre (British officer who helped Benedict Arnold, but was caught and hung near by). It has several historic sites and is a great place to visit year round.

 

[Buzz Rules]

https://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/

https://visitsleepyhollow.com/

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I have a distant family connection to the story. Which is why my family doesn’t go there on Halloween. Many famous people haunt that place including John Andre (British officer who helped Benedict Arnold, but was caught and hung near by). It has several historic sites and is a great place to visit year round.

I'll have to share these posts with DH. I'm sure he'll want to add it to his places to visit list.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I'll have to share these posts with DH. I'm sure he'll want to add it to his places to visit list.

We have a lot to see and do in the Hudson Valley. Some things unfortunately are not happening due to Covid risks but I’m hoping everything will comeback next year. We have theme parks, historical places, art and music festivals, and outdoor activities all around. The best things usually happen around any holiday.

 

[georgina]

Well, as is par for the course with DH's job, everything has changed, since I posted this thread. We're now heading for Wisconsin this weekend, but will be back to State College sometime soon. I'm still looking into all of these locations, because things could change again at any time.

My curiosity is piqued - where in Wisconsin?

I was going to suggest the Finger Lakes region also. The Corning glass museum is interesting and there is a cute museum in Hammondsport about Glenn Hammond Curtis, who I had never heard of.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I'll have to share these posts with DH. I'm sure he'll want to add it to his places to visit list.

This guy is a local vlogger from the area.

 

[LuvOrlando]

The Finger Lakes is an interesting suggestion. We've never visited that area.

We definitely didn't have enough time in Pittsburgh last weekend to see everything we wanted to. We could have spent a week there. Falling Water was on my list of things to do, before I realized how far out of the way we would have had to drive to see it. Hopefully, someday soon we'll get there.

I'm curious about Bethlehem. That was my first thought. I actually looked into it, before posting this thread. I was hoping it would be kind of "Christmassy" year round. That didn't appear to be the case. Did I miss something, or do they only play up the town's name during the Christmas season?

It's not Christmas all year, it's just regular people living life in a normal sort of place but it is lovely during Christmas, there is a nice casino and although I don't much care for gambling lots of people love it for ongoing concert options & nightlife plus the area around the casino has lots of restaurants. Musikfest is a lot of fun in August while the larger Lehigh Valley also has Dorney Park as a nice all summer amusement park with the water park side, it changes in the fall, if you are in town in the fall that version of Dorney Park does an excellent job of separating the adult Halloween park stuff from the very kid friendly Camp Snoopy non scary section. Overall, the area can keep you entertained

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Harrisburg? The Lehigh Valley?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

My curiosity is piqued - where in Wisconsin?

I was going to suggest the Finger Lakes region also. The Corning glass museum is interesting and there is a cute museum in Hammondsport about Glenn Hammond Curtis, who I had never heard of.

The RV park he's working at is in Galesville. I still need to book a hotel. We found out about the schedule change last night.

This guy is a local vlogger from the area.

Thanks

It's not Christmas all year, it's just regular people living life in a normal sort of place but it is lovely during Christmas, there is a nice casino and although I don't much care for gambling lots of people love it for ongoing concert options & nightlife plus the area around the casino has lots of restaurants. Musikfest is a lot of fun in August while the larger Lehigh Valley also has Dorney Park as a nice all summer amusement park with the water park side, it changes in the fall, if you are in town in the fall that version of Dorney Park does an excellent job of separating the adult Halloween park stuff from the very kid friendly Camp Snoopy non scary section. Overall, the area can keep you entertained

Sounds like a nice town. It's definitely on my short list for a Christmas getaway.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Harrisburg? The Lehigh Valley?

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[georgina]

The RV park he's working at is in Galesville. I still need to book a hotel. We found out about the schedule change last night.

Nothing like a last minute move

I have family in Sturgeon Bay/Door Cty and have spent a lot of time there but that is the opposite side of WI.