First up. If you are driving or flying into Pitt, Philly, or Harrisburg enjoy the drive in through the bucolic countryside . Get there early Sat to have all day to explore. Friday is better to join in pregame activities.
State College is a small town that wouldn’t exist without the university, only about 40,000. The rest is beautiful mountains, valleys, and farms. The town and campus is divided by College Ave......walk along the street as that is the gateway to both. It will be very crowded all day. Lots of bars, restaurants, pizza shops, t-shirt stores, and more. McClanahans is probably the best for all sorts of memorabilia and souvenirs.
Game Day will be there, most likely set up in front of Old Main, the main administration building. You can walk from town up the mall which will take you through the center of campus and up to the Pattee Library, one the of biggest in the country. It’s a beautiful campus even for its size. Then walk west to find the giant Nittany Lion statue by Rec Hall.
If you are driving up and love old architecture visit Bellefonte about twelve miles north. Beautifully restored buildings and a good pancake house for breakfast. Or take a Uber/Lyft. Several microbreweries in the area too. Stone Valley to the south is great lake to visit.
But the best is the tailgating. The stadium will be surrounded by 400 acres of cars and RVs with over 150,000 people. If you can, bring a bicycle and ride around to take it all in as it is massive. Best way to visit it all. Bring earplugs...it will be that loud!
Should be a great time for all. Enjoy and report back.
Edit....as others said, the creamery is a must visit!
