One of the great things about the fall is a trip to State College and the Penn State University. My wife Janet is an enthusiastic alumna and her love for Penn State has no bounds. Her best friends in the world are her PSU friends, and she loves to make the trip to Happy Valley especially in the fall when the leaves are at their peak- like this past week. I go along, but I am not an alumnus, however I do enjoy State College. We spent many a weekend there back in the day going to the football games. Mike Smith and I would ride mountain bikes at Rothrock State Forest and come to the tailgates famished.

As is our typical fashion, Janet and I like to pack in as much as we can and check all the Penn State boxes. Stay at the Nittany Lion Inn, hike Mt. Nittany, shop downtown, eat a Tuna hoagie at Troy’s, ice cream at the Creamery, and now a new box to check- ride some rails to trails on the bicycles. We found a great rail to trail- The Bellefonte Central Rail Trail which starts right in State College. We rode it to the end in Toftrees, and continued on a beautiful gravel trail for several more miles. This part of the trail is not officially part of the Central Rail Trail, but it is easily navigated on mountain bikes for several miles. We actually had to turn around because of time, but we both said next time- we would ride that trail to the end and see where it finished. In any event, Janet likes rail to trail rides, and Happy Valley provided a great option complete with fabulous leaf peeping.

Aside from the cycling, hiking Mt. Nittany is always special. Janet remarked that it seemed harder this year going straight up with all the rocks. I laughed and said- “maybe it gets harder every year?” But she made it to the top and we had that awesome view of Happy Valley with the Bryce Jordan Center and Beaver Stadium standing at attention.

We like to eat at the Cafe LeMont, which is just below Mt. Nittany. Great baked goods, coffee and lunch specials. You can sit outside and enjoy the fall weather. Nice place to eat as fuel for the hike, or a place to relax afterwards. Either way, the Cafe LeMont is a good place to visit when in Happy Valley.

We walked all around town and the campus. Janet was showing me where she took some classes and she was amazed at all the building and construction that has taken place over the years since she has graduated. It is good to stay active in State College because you can easily eat your way through the place. Lunch at the Corner Room was great and it gave Janet a lot of good memories of her times there in the past with her pals, Kathy, Judy, Valerie, Beth, Dunz and Copes. Lots of good stories were told sitting at the Corner Room and I had a good laugh at some of them- which I had not heard before. Nothing like memories of your old college days.

Penn State is huge, and the enrollment there has always been robust. Much different from my college days at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. The small school experience has its plusses and minuses, but there is no dispute that the time spent as a student at PSU has to be great. So much to do, a wonderful education no matter what the field of study, and the absolute beauty of State College and the surrounding central mountains of Pennsylvania make it the experience of a lifetime. I am happy Janet got to experience that and that she still values her time there. We love the fall and there is no place nicer than Happy Valley this time of year. I am “Happy” she brings me along. Thanks for reading. Please follow the blog on http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me.

“Be true to your school- just like you would to your girl now, be true to your school, and let your colors fly………..

-The Beach Boys.