Carolyne Meehan

Back to school for my family this year brought a bunch of “firsts” and “lasts” to our nostalgic hearts.

As soon as I eased my car off of route 322 and onto the gravel road leading into Rothrock State Forest, my body began to shift into calm.

My family’s favorite part of the Central Pennsylvania Festival for the Arts is the Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale (happening this year July 10).

State College is stacked with gifted bodyworkers, energy medicine practitioners, holistic healers, guides, therapists, coaches, yogis, artists, teachers and people in the business of helping humans feel whole and well.

While it’s fun to see bigger acts come to The State Theatre, Eisenhower Auditorium, and the Bryce Jordan Center, I enjoy the more intimate experiences where I get to be just feet away from the performer — or to be the performer myself.

A few weekends ago my nine-year-old daughter, Rose, declared it to be a girls’ weekend. Her two teenage older brothers were at a soccer tournament with the Celtic Soccer Club and her soccer coaching dad was with them.

State College is a place where you can find your people and make your own communities. When you go out and do the activities you love and find places that make you happy, you will find your people there.

Skiers here like to say that if you can ski Tussey Mountain, you can ski anywhere. Here's how one local family makes the most of our local gem of a mountain.