While descriptive, the name of the town has always been a problem. Even more confounding, Penn State long ago commandeered a separate postal address, University Park, for the campus, which is enveloped by State College. The main campus sprawls over 5,548 acres and includes classroom buildings, laboratories, recreational facilities, concert halls, auditoriums, dormitories, barns, fields and, of course, Beaver Stadium, where the Nittany Lions reign. Built in 1960 with a seating capacity of 46,000, it is being enlarged this summer for the seventh time to accommodate more than 100,000 fans. Getting to State College is the tough part.
Residents joke that it is equally inaccessible by all modes of transportation.
It includes an interactive exhibit highlighting the area's attractions, a cybercafe where visitors can catch up on e-mail and a gift shop stocked with Penn State memorabilia. Her answer is plenty, and she and her staff are happy to steer visitors toward their areas of interest, but you should also look through the multiple racks crammed with free maps and brochures. There's a brochure that can help. Where to Begin To check out the campus, begin at the Creamery on Curtin Road, best visited with an empty stomach. You can also stock up on Creamery brand cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, milk, yogurt and other dairy products, many of which are made from milk supplied by the 175 cows in Penn State's research herd.