"Stroll the Downtown Area" Top 5 Page for this destination State College Things to Do Tip by starship

"Downtown" State College is a nice area and very walkable which makes for a nice afternoon activity on a Spring, Summer or Autumn day.

The old downtown is a rectangular area of about 9 blocks by 2 blocks being bordered on one side by the Penn State Campus and College Avenue and Beaver Avenue on its long side and South Atherton Street and Sowers Streets on the short sides. This area is very popular with tourists as well as students because of the many shops, nightclubs, restaurants and other traditional conveniences you look for in a downtown such as banks, the Post Office and the Information Kiosk (S. Allen St. & College Avenue).

One afternoon when we had free time from the tournament we were able to do some walking around and found the downtown was buzzing with activity. We did a little shopping at "Rapid Transit Sports" and "The Clothesline" for our daughter, and then stopped at Bill Pickle's Tap Room for a little lunch where we could also take in some sports on one of their several wide-screen plasma TV's. Mr. Pickle's and several other restaurant/bars, nightclubs and coffeehouses offer evening entertainment---The Phyrst, an Irish Pub, is one such venue.

From June through November, on Friday's from 11:30 to 5:30, on Locust Lane and on Saturday's from 11:00 to 3:00 on the 200 block of South Allen Street you can visit the Farmer's Markets where you will enjoy all types of fresh local produce and homemade goodies for sale.

Downtown State College also hosts many events throughout the year such as the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, a Summer Concert Series, the Fall Festival, the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, and the Polar Express. (downtownstatecollege.com)

If you like theater, check out the new Pennsylvania Center Stage at Penn State Downtown Theatre Centre for professional stage productions!! This is also the ticket outlet for other Penn State events such as concerts, and intercollegiate athletics (except football)!! (pacentrestage.psu.edu.)

Directions: The general area bound by College Avenue and Beaver Avenue; and South Atherton St., and Sowers St.