Friday, July 30, 2010

MegaBus Review - Philadelphia to State College

For our trip to State College, we decided to use the new bus service, MegaBus. The total round trip ticket for 2 people came out to only $4.50. That's a price you really can't beat. Driving there by yourself would cost you significantly more than that in gas alone!

We were able to conveniently pick up the bus at 30th Street Station in Philly, which is the main transportation hub of the city for those who aren't familiar with it. Because we did this on a Sunday, we were able to easily find on-street parking with no cost to us at all. There are plenty of lots available around the area to park your car in if you'd prefer, but those would cost about $20 per day at least. The other option is to take the train in to Philly if you live in the suburbs. Since all trains end up at 30th street station, this can be a good option as well.

The trip itself was pleasant, and everything was on time. If you're someone who gets cold easily though, be prepared for the A/C on the bus to be on full blast and bring a blanket.

One thing Megabus did only a few days before our departure was to change the drop-off location in State College to a Walmart that was about 2 miles away from the Penn State campus. Unfortunately, for anyone who would then only be walking after getting off the bus, this is quite inconvenient. When we first booked the trip, the stop was supposed to be in the downtown portion of State College. By switching this, it made it quite inconvenient to get back to the bus stop after a long day of walking around.

There is a local bus system called CATA you can use, but their service can be very limited at times, so make sure you are fully aware of their schedule when making plans.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Downtown State College

State College is a town solely built around one thing...Penn State University.  There is no doubt about that as when you walk around off-campus, you'll see references to the school basically everywhere you go.  Outside the campus, one main portion sticks out as the place to go...the Downtown area.  While this is a far cry from what a traditional "city downtown" area looks like (it really is just one long block on College Avenue that runs parallel to the school), it is quite charming with plenty of restaurants to check out.


During our trip, we had a delightful breakfast buffet at The Corner Room.  For only $9.99, you get all you can eat of top-notch breakfast food.  You'll also find plenty of other local culinary options such as coffee shops, italian, chinese, etc.  There are a few chain-restaurant type places along this strip as well, but you'd be much better off trying the local fare first.

The shops along the strip are loaded with Penn State memorabilia.  For any one who needs some of the college's shirts, hats, etc., this is the area to buy it in.  For a nightlife, many bars are around here, which really come to life during the school year.  One cannot be found bored in this area during the night if bar-hopping is your thing.  You can also find live entertainment at local theaters here.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Berkey Creamery


The Berkey Creamery has been featured on the Food Network several times.  It is located on Penn State's campus and all the students there should consider themselves very lucky to have such a delicious ice cream parlour within walking distance of their residences.

This ice cream shop boasts a large number of delicious flavors and has a very courteous staff to go along with that.  If you're on campus, and have a sweet tooth, this is a MUST-STOP location!




Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Nittany Lion Shrine

When one thinks of Penn State, the most common image associated with it is the Lion's Paw print that you see on the backs of various alumni's cars.  The pride that the students and alumni of this school show in their Nittany Lion mascot is second to none.  When visiting the college, the biggest draw for all cameras is the Nittany Lion, located in a central portion of the campus.  This statue is impressive and, as you can see below, photographs very well.  Whether you're a Penn State fan or not, if you're ever in the State College area, you should grab a quick snapshot with the pride of the town, the Nittany Lion.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Palmer Museum of Art

Located in the heart of Penn State's main campus in State College, PA is the Palmer Museum of Art.  The entrance to the building is impressive, as it features two stone "Lion's Paws" on the entryway, symbolic of the college's Nittany Lion mascot.


Inside, you'll find a quaint museum, featuring works of various genres of art ranging from American contemporary to African and Asian sculptures.  The museum is about two floors and, unless you are a true art enthusiast that spends lots of time studying paintings, you will spend about an hour in here to explore all the various galleries.

If you're on campus at any point in time, it's definitely worth checking out for a little bit, especially as the admission price is free (although donations are always appreciated by the museum).