State College Hotels Blog

Flavors of Happy Valley

Carnegie Inn & Spa The 4th of July is always a great reason to visit Happy Valley, thanks in large part to the Central PA 4thFest. Home to the “third largest and best fireworks show in the United States” according to international fireworks website Fireworks Guide, it’s a fantastic way to celebrate our nation’s independence.

Happy Valley Culinary Week June 17-23

Celebrate local food and local restaurants with the first annual Happy Valley Culinary Week June 17-23.

There will be events and demonstrations throughout the week and participating restaurants will offer a discounted three-course fixed price menu during their hours of operation. Click here to see the full list of participating restaurants.

Culinary week provides a great opportunity for visitors to sample foods at different restaurants around State College for an affordable price.

Our very own Carnegie Inn & Spa will be participating in Culinary Week. Click here to see the menu being served at the Carnegie House Restaurant.

Located inside the Hilton Garden Inn, Harrison's Wine Grill and Catering will also be a participant in Culinary Week. Click here to see Harrison's menu.

Click here to get the full schedule of events.

Visit Lion Country Lodging - Website to make a reservation

Visit Happy Valley for a Golf and Spa Getaway

Carnegie Inn & Spa This summer, treat yourself to a relaxing weekend getaway filled with fantastic golf, dining and spa treatments in Happy Valley.

The Best Bars in Happy Valley

PSU Football Any trip to State College is not complete without a visit to one of its many bars and nightspots. A drink with some friends at one of the watering holes in the downtown area is a perfect way to close out your day, or stop for an afternoon break in the midst of your travels around town.

Spring Trout Fishing

Trout Mild temperatures, lengthening days, blossoming trees and plants, the smell of fresh cut grass and the emergence of aquatic insects: Spring is truly here!

All but the last are signs noted by most people but anyone not familiar with the peculiar world of fly fishing may find our fascination with aquatic insects odd.

For fly fishers, spring in the eastern United States is a special season in which the greatest abundance of aquatic insect emergences occurs. In turn, trout gorge themselves upon this abundance and, at the height of this activity, rise to the surface of the area streams to intercept the insects as they float on the surface, temporarily stuck in the transitory phase between aquatic and air-born flying insect.

Fly fishers attempt to imitate these insects with artificial hand-tied flies in order to catch the feeding trout. The final component of this special spring mix is the beautiful wild trout found in the best of our central Pennsylvania streams, such as Penns Creek, Spring Creek, Big Fishing Creek and the Little Juniata River.

The May “hatches,” our common name for these insect emergences, have begun in earnest, with March Browns, Gray Foxes (both now listed by entomologists as the same species but still noted separately by many fly fishers based on size and coloration), Sulphurs and little Blue-winged Olives leading the ranks of Mayflies.

A variety of Caddisflies, Stoneflies, Craneflies and Midges can be important as well. When attempting to understand and navigate the proverbial bug blizzards of May, a resource such as the Pocket Guide to Pennsylvania Hatches by noted authorities Charles Meck and Paul Weamer can be extremely helpful. Charlie and Paul are both residents of central Pennsylvania and Paul manages the TCO State College fly shop.

If you are visiting the area for the first time or are new to fly fishing, the best piece of advice I can offer is to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and expertise found here. One of the best ways to do this is by working with a licensed fly fishing guide service, such as Lance Wilt’s Outcast Anglers.

http://www.outcast-anglers.com/

A recent day on the water with Lance netted this for the happy client:
PIC: Cheryl White with Spring Creek Brown Trout

Additionally, our area is home to three excellent fly fishing specialty stores:

The Feathered Hook – located in the town of Coburn on the banks of Penns Creek. http://www.thefeatheredhook.com/ TCO State College http://www.tcoflyfishing.com/

Flyfisher’s Paradise – State College http://www.flyfishersparadise.com/

If you are an experienced fly fisher but have not yet visited the area, these resources will be helpful in planning a trip. Additionally, if I can be of help, please feel free to contact me directly at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The spring is a wonderful season. Whether new to the sport or an experienced angler, why not consider a visit to central Pennsylvania?

State College Spikes Baseball - Fun For the Whole Family

PSU Football Do you love America’s pastime but don’t want to pay high prices to attend a Major League Baseball game?

Cycling in Happy Valley

Cycling Its spring again in Happy Valley, the air is crisp and the skies are clear. State College has been famous for Sports on the gridiron and off, and this year is no different. However, what many people may not know is that Happy Valley also has one of the better sites for Cycling.

Top Five Things to Do in Happy Valley

State Theatre When you visit Happy Valley, fun is all around you. But if you’re unfamiliar with the area, you might not be sure what you want to explore first.