Throughout the country, university towns like State College, home to Pennsylvania State University, welcome groups with the enthusiasm of a mascot energizing a crowd at a collegiate sporting event.
State College, where the local mascot is Penn State’s Nittany Lion, is a popular university locale that matches the amenities of a big city, including ample accommodations and meeting space, nationally televised sporting events, attractions galore, an eclectic mix of dining opportunities and other intriguing diversions.
“We sell Central Pennsylvania as the home of Penn State; it’s a good partnership,” says Shirley Smith, director of sales at the Central Pennsylvania CVB. “Attendees will definitely know they’re in a college town. You can feel it.”
With its vibrant ambience, State College is a destination that is sure to drive attendance for planners tasked with facilitating a meeting in the Northeast.
Diversion Central
Situated within driving distance of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City and Washington, D.C., State College is first and foremost the setting for Penn State.
Founded in 1855, the university has evolved into a premier research institution from which planners can tap speakers on a wide range of topics.
One good way to get acquainted with Penn State is via the Blue/White Campus Tour, which is facilitated by local outfitter Happy Valley Tours. The three-hour outing includes stops at Beaver Stadium and Millennium Science Center, among other places.
According to the Central Pennsylvania CVB, other points of interest on campus include the Center for the Performing Arts, the Palmer Museum of Art and Eisenhower Auditorium, which all double as attractions and off-site spaces for group receptions and other gatherings.
The CVB’s Smith says planners will get a lot of assistance from the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and Nittany Lion Inn, which are both official university properties. Staff at the dynamic duo can help with tailgate parties like those happening with fans on Penn State’s game days, as well as tickets to sporting and other on-campus events.
Of course, there are also major area attractions away from campus that groups will enjoy, including Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park, the Pennsylvania Military Museum, Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum, and the American Philatelic Society. PageBreak
The CVB notes Penn’s Cave is unique in that it’s the only all-water cavern in the nation toured entirely by boat, and the American Philatelic Society, which has 5,000 square feet of meeting space, is the world’s largest nonprofit organization for stamp collectors.
Other activities include July’s Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, which annually welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors; Stone Valley Vertical Adventures, a challenge course that’s perfect for group team building; and running and biking trails, skiing and fly fishing opportunities, depending on the season.
Smith adds that the CVB works with planners to arrange activities for attendees traveling with children or spouses, which often occurs during the summer months when attendees add a family vacation to their business itineraries.
One very popular spousal tour is a shopping excursion, either downtown or in neighboring Bellefonte or Boalsburg, where Smith says there are “quaint shops and mom-and-pops for things you won’t find at Wal-Mart.
“We have no taxes on clothing here so we’ll see international groups especially buying extra suitcases to bring things home,” she adds. “Items like shoes and jeans are more expensive overseas.”
And, like most college locales, State College boasts a diverse community that just might be best represented by its food and beverage offerings, including an eclectic array of restaurants ranging from American and Thai to French, Austrian and Korean, as well as local breweries and wineries.
“People who have been here may find a favorite restaurant or bar and they’ll go back when they return,” Smith says.
Among the standbys are downtown’s The Tavern and Allen Street Grill, which has views of the gates to Penn State and is therefore a great place to people-watch, and Duffy’s Tavern in nearby Boalsburg.
Winery tours including stops at Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery and Seven Mountains Wine Cellar are also popular with groups. PageBreak
Meeting Points
The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and Nittany Lion Inn are favored standbys with groups and tourists alike, and there are other area meetings-friendly properties available for planners to consider.
For planners seeking a property to accommodate larger groups, top choices include the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, which boasts 38 meeting rooms and 300 guest rooms; Nittany Lion Inn, with 223 guest rooms and 19,500 square feet of meeting space; Ramada Conference Center State College, with more than 20,000 square feet of function space; and Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center, which is located in Bellefonte with more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space and a PGA-rated golf course.
The LEED-certified Nature Inn at Bald Eagle, a state park overlooking Bald Eagle Lake, is part of the Penn State family, yet removed. Smith says smaller groups and Fortune 500 companies that don’t want to be in the city and wish to meet privately in a remote wooded environment find the Nature Inn a beautiful alternative.
Another notable small venue is the State College-based Carnegie Inn & Spa, which consistently wins the AAA Four Diamond Award.
The Days Inn State College and the Atherton Hotel provide meeting space and more than 150 guest rooms each. Both are located in downtown State College within a short walk of both the campus and dozens of eateries, making them convenient options for event planners who want attendees to experience the community of State College and Penn State.
For off-site gathering spots, the Arboretum at Penn State is a wonderful option. Here, planners will find the Overlook Pavilion, an event lawn and the Oasis Garden area.
Additionally, the University Club, located adjacent to campus, is full of Penn State history. The venue features recently renovated meeting rooms and elegant banquet facilities that are well-suited for cocktail receptions, meal functions and other special events.
Contributing writer Carolyn Blackburn has been watching college football, including Penn State, since she was a kid.
