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Help: Things to do / places to eat in State College with Family

Beaver-Stadium

Well-Known Member
Sep 17, 2017
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I am going to B/W Weekend with my wife, and kids (3 and 5). We are getting into town on Thursday. Any suggestions for things to do or places to eat.
Thank you.
 
I am going to B/W Weekend with my wife, and kids (3 and 5). We are getting into town on Thursday. Any suggestions for things to do or places to eat.
Thank you.
The children would love a half day at Shavers Creek which is located at Stone Valley.

 
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Food is mostly average in State College but a few places stand out better. All are kid friendly.

Burgers, fries and beer: The Field
Steaks: American Ale House or Carnegie(pricey)
Snacks, apps, beer: Happy Valley Brewery, Federal Tap House, few other places downtown that have one or two decent items but overall not great.

If you eat or drink at Federal Tap House you can walk to all the shops and bars downtown for a nice afternoon stroll. Will be a good atmosphere that weekend.
 
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Forgot a couple:

Faccia Luna has decent wood fired pizza and pasta dishes

If you want a more lively experience: Pman's or Champs downtown

My wife and kids love Roots but I don't share the same love of it as they do
 
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I thought I recalled that Otto's made their own root beer--and they do (Mrs KG really liked it). Also have birch beer. Kids might like that. I'd say it's family friendly. It's out on North Atherton.

Not sure how the revamped Tavern is. The old version was a go to place for us back in the day, but we've not been in Happy Valley in a few years. Do have breakfast at the Waffle Shop on North Atherton. Faccia Luna is pretty good too.
 
I'm partial to Olde New York. Really good sandwiches and the best fries around.
 
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A few of my favorite dining places. All are casual attire.

Original Waffle House West (best for breakfast)
1610 W College Ave
https://www.originalwaffleshop.net/

Gigi's Southern Table
2080 Cato Ave
https://www.gigisdining.com/

Facia Luna (Excellent for Brick Oven baked Pizza)
1221 S Atherton street
https://faccialunastatecollege.com/

American Ale House
821 Cricklewood Drive
http://americanalehouse.net/

Meyers Dairy (ice cream)
2390 S Atherton St.
https://meyerdairy.weebly.com/

The Field Burger and Tap (Located in the Toftrees Golf Resort)
1 Country Club Lane
https://www.thefieldburgerandtap.com/

As for things to do and places to see while in State College:
https://happyvalley.com/play/attractions/
 
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Obviously, get them ice cream at the Creamery. With kids that age, check out Discovery Space on North Atherton for something for them to do. Take a picnic lunch to one of the parks like Holmes Foster park that has lots of playground equipment for them to burn off some energy. There are some good places to eat in Bellefonte. You can take your kids to Tallyrand park and feed the fish. Take the kids to see the Deer pens of off Fox Hollow Road on campus grounds.
 
Obviously, get them ice cream at the Creamery. With kids that age, check out Discovery Space on North Atherton for something for them to do. Take a picnic lunch to one of the parks like Holmes Foster park that has lots of playground equipment for them to burn off some energy. There are some good places to eat in Bellefonte. You can take your kids to Tallyrand park and feed the fish. Take the kids to see the Deer pens of off Fox Hollow Road on campus grounds.
I would definitely hit some of the parks/playgrounds with kids. The restaurants are all going to be too busy and packed to have an enjoyable experience with kids that age.

We are blessed living in State College with some great parks. As the parent of a 3 and 5 year old also, I would recommend Tudek Park just off North Atherton or Orchard Park just off Blue Course Drive. Tudek is very spacious and has multiple play structures. It’s by far the best in town in our opinion. There’s also a cool park with an airport theme called Bernal Park located out near the airport, but there is no shade FYI

The Arboretum suggestion is also a good one.

If the weather isn’t great, there is an indoor trampoline park called Get Air that is very nice and spacious and a great way to burn off some energy.
 
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For restaurants, I would recommend not being picky. The food in State College has always been mediocre (and that's being generous). On a busy weekend, you can end up waiting in line to eat lousy food at some of the downtown favorites. So just go anywhere that doesn't have a line.
I would agree with your sentiment that State College has a number of mediocre restaurants. The Ale House could be so great because of its really cool setting, but I’ve never understood what they are trying to do with their menu. Champs is way overrated and the service has always been poor. Also, it’s a shame that there isn’t a true authentic Italian restaurant.
 
Bernel Road Park (close to the airport) has been a favorite park of our kids. It’s out in the country, but only a 5 minute drive (right bast the Beav) from town. Watch flights come and go, great equipment on a rubber surface, disc golf, trails, pavilions, etc.
 
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