SNEAK PEEK ALERT!
We are so excited to finally introduce (one small part of) the brand new Rediscover State College Get Outside Guide! This week, we’re publishing a teaser of the May section of the guide and can’t wait to release additional months soon.
We don’t want to give away too many secrets about the full guide just yet! But we hope you’ll use this preview to start dreaming about some of the ways you can get into the outdoors more in May.
More to come!
The Rediscover State College Team
The Rediscover State College
Get Outside Guide: May
By: Andrea Murrell and Laura Mustio
From simply stepping out for a breath of fresh air to tackling the Thousand Steps, if you’d like to find yourself outside in State College more often, this guide is for you.
This month, you’ll notice:
• Wildflowers Return Find them along the highway or along a trail.
• Trees of Green Everyone’s wearing their brightest shades right now
• New Smells Don’t forget to take a few intentional deep breaths of warm, sweet spring air!
• Downtown Slow Down With the students gone for the summer, town becomes a great place for a relaxed, lunchtime stroll.
• Outdoor Farmers Markets Return From Downtown to Boalsburg, we’re bumping into neighbors and catching up with our favorite farmers once again.
• Local Produce Asparagus, baby lettuces and greens, snap peas, snow peas, rhubarb, radishes, and herbs are back on the grocery list!
• Spring Foraging Those in the know will be out treasure hunting for morels, while others will be seen foraging for dandelions, fiddlehead ferns, violets, and other spring delights.
Outdoor Highlights: May
Vibrant display of tulips at The Arboretum at Penn State
Peaceful – Spacious – Leisurely Stroll Friendly
Tulips (thousands of them!) at the Arboretum
Visiting The Arboretum at Penn State while the tulips are blooming in late spring is an unforgettable explosion of color. Last year’s stunning display featured over 9,500 tulips, 2,600 daffodils, and 2,000 annuals of varying colors and shades! The massive display will stop you in your tracks, but if you go, be sure to factor in time to see as many of the 10 acres of themed gardens, many with beautiful water features, as possible.
How to see the tulips: For peak viewing, visit the Arboretum in mid-May, right around Penn State graduation.
Nearby and not-to-be-missed: There’s a mesmerizing kaleidoscope located in the Childhood’s Gate area that changes seasonally and the Marilyn Quigley Gerhold Wildflower Trail connects to the Arboretum and leads you through a remnant old growth forest with beautiful springtime wildflowers. The nearby Palmer Art Museum also offers plenty of floor to ceiling windows to view the Arboretum while wandering through the galleries. (A great outdoor-adjacent option for those who may suffer from seasonal allergies!)
Enjoyability recommendations: Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, water, and a blanket or chair to relax on the lawn for an extended visit.
Other things to note: This location is ADA accessible, stroller-friendly, and there are bathrooms and a water fountain onsite. An abundance of paid parking is available in the lot across the street. Set aside anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to enjoy this experience.
A group watching a fly fishing demonstration alongside Penn’s Creek at Poe Paddy State Park
Choose your Own Adventure – Easy Biking/Hiking – Fly Fishing
Fly Fishing – or Forest Fun – at Penn’s Creek
Fly fishing season is in full swing by May and Centre County is home to some of the most ideal streams in the country! This includes Penn’s Creek, which can be accessed through Poe Paddy and Poe Valley State Parks. Whether you’re in the stream casting a line or on a streamside hiking trail, the surrounding forest is nothing short of enchanting. You don’t need to be an angler to easily spend a whole day or weekend unplugging and unwinding here.
How to get there: Penn’s Creek can be accessed from Poe Paddy and Poe Valley State Parks which are just a few miles apart. If you set your GPS for Poe Paddy State Park you’ll drive through Poe Valley State Park on your way. It takes about an hour to get to the parks from State College, but the drive is incredibly peaceful and scenic.
Nearby and not-to-be-missed: Be sure to walk through the famously fun Poe Paddy Tunnel via Poe Paddy State Park. Once you cross through you’ll be within steps of a popular flyfishing spot, stunning views of Penns Creek, and a very walkable and bikeable section of the Mid State Trail. Search “Poe Paddy Railroad Tunnel Parking” on Google maps to ensure a short walk to the tunnel from the car.
Enjoyability recommendations: Note your driving directions before leaving as you could lose signal on the way, pack plenty of water and snacks for this adventure, and be on the lookout for ticks in this location.
Other things to note: There are restrooms available at both Poe Paddy and Poe Valley State Parks. Poe Valley has a large beach and swimming area with modern restrooms and ample parking.
FUN FACT: There are over 1,800 miles of streams in Centre County. Many of these streams are able to support healthy populations of wild trout and other aquatic life because they are groundwater-fed which results in cooler, more habitable waterways.
Other Happenings to Look Out For in May
Farmers Markets
Local farmers markets begin to really buzz in May so you can treat yourself to all things locally produced and beautifully handmade. From fresh produce, meats, and cheeses to baked goods, flowers, and soaps, you’ll find it all and more at the Boalsburg Farmers Market (Tuesdays from 2-6 p.m. at the Military Museum), the Downtown State College Farmers Market (Fridays from 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.on Locust Lane), and the North Atherton Farmers Market (Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Home Depot parking lot).
Centred Outdoors’ Summer Event Calendar is Published
Centred Outdoors hosts free guided group outings and wellness experiences for everyone interested in spending more time outside – no pressure to be “outdoorsy” or experienced. Their summer/fall event lineup is published around this time of year and we highly recommend browsing and saving some dates!
Morels & Other Spring Foraging
The State College area is well-known among the foraging community as a prime destination for foraging edible mushrooms such as morels, a highly coveted but hard to find variety. You can learn more about how to responsibly find and harvest this flavorful fungi at a weekly class taught by beloved local mushroom expert Bill Russell, author of the popular Field Guide to Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic. Join Bill and others on Mondays from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Webster’s Bookstore and Cafe in downtown State College.
Beyond mushrooms, dandelions, violets, garlic mustard, fiddlehead ferns, and many other plants are on the spring forager’s To Pick list. Local leaders in the herbalism community like Briel Beaty and Jennifer Tucker offer opportunities to learn how to find, sustainably harvest, and utilize the plants in our backyards.
Plus!
• Native Plant Sales: Millbrook Marsh and Centre Furnace host popular yearly sales. Visit and follow the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society for upcoming events and activities on their website.
• Memorial Day in Boalsburg: A weekend-long celebration and outdoor gathering in the historic village with food and craft vendors, live music, and more Learn more
• Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic: Offering 3-day and 5-day events Learn more
• Black Moshannon 5k and 10k Run/Walk: Hosted by the YMCA of Centre County. Check out their Event Calendar for more.
• Rooted Farmstead Spring Market: Welcome warmer weather with garden-focused fun, music, and local artisan and food vendors Learn more
• Burning Ma’aM Music Festival: Held yearly on Memorial Day weekend in Woodward, PA with the mission of enriching the cultural landscape of Central Pennsylvania, celebrating local musicians and artists, and supporting community nonprofits Learn more
Lots more to come!
We’ll release the next sneak peek of the Get Outside Guide soon. In the meantime, let us know if there are other May highlights we should include and…
we’ll see you outside!
Andrea Murrell’s writing is inspired by nature and all the people she’s lucky to know and love. She especially enjoys exploring how connections between the natural world and local creatives shape the character of the region she’s so fortunate to call home.
Laura Mustio made her way to State College via Pittsburgh in 2015. Her writing celebrates our area’s hidden gems, treasured locals, and not-to-be-missed experiences.
