Most Penn State students are nowhere to be found as State College townspeople stroll down quiet sidewalks, finishing up their last-minute holiday shopping.

This deserted scene can only describe one of the few peaceful times during the school year: winter break.

"It's like a ghost town," Meredith Morris (sophomore-hotel and restaurant management), a State College resident, said. "You can get anywhere in a matter of minutes."

During winter break, Penn State students from across the country return home for three weeks, and State College loses thousands of its student residents.

"Cops pull over townies just to have something to do while students are out of town," Morris said.

When students go home for winter break, State College "townies" come downtown to do holiday shopping and enjoy their vacant town, Toby Grove, manager of The Family Clothesline, 352 E. College Ave., said.

"Most of the shoppers are townspeople. Townies come out to shop because parking spots are available and they don't need to worry about hitting students," Grove said jokingly. "It's definitely easier to get around town without the students being here."

Morris said it is relieving to drive downtown and not have to worry about student traffic or people walking around.

"For people with cars, there are way too many people during the year," Morris said. "You're like, 'Get out of my town!'"

Grace Mehalick, manager of McLanahan's Student Store, 414 E. College Ave., said during winter break she sees a drastic change in her business and the number of cashiers she needs on duty.

"You see more local people, and you see where the hours change for businesses," Mehalick said. "On a normal day we have 12 cashiers. During breaks it drops to two or three cashiers."

As everyone leaves town, Penn State students who are also residents reunite with high school friends and enjoy their short winter break by going to movies and spending time with family, senior Andrew Walls (senior-kinesiology), another State College resident, said.

"It's quiet in State College, and it feels strange because it's always wild and crazy here," Walls said.

"I enjoy these breaks though; it's peaceful and relaxing," he added.

Despite the serene and quiet holiday season, Morris said she usually misses the fun she and her friends have during the year.

"I miss my friends," she said. "My friends are always here, but then during break they're three hours away at their houses in other places."

Mehalick said even though she appreciates a few days of calmness and relaxation, she prefers State College when school is in session.

"I really do miss the students. You get used to seeing them all the time and you like seeing them all the time," she said.