Going to Whipple Dam State Park is something "you gotta do before you graduate," said Park Manager Don Coine.
With its beach, picnic tables, pavilions and kayak and canoe rentals, the dam provides students a different experience on the typical poolside summer afternoon.
Visitors can also fish for trout and hike the trails that surround the lake, Coine said.
A beach volleyball court is also very popular among the Penn State students who frequent the park, Coine said.
Amber Reardon (senior-mathematics) said she has been to Whipple Dam at least 10 times.
"I like it a lot because it's very removed from downtown State College. It's very quiet, very calm and relaxing," Reardon said.
Reardon suggests students who visit Whipple Dam take advantage of the hiking trails and said she occasionally likes to bring hamburgers and hotdogs to have a cookout.
For history buffs, Boalsburg is the place to be. Accessible by bus, Boalsburg is the home to the Pennsylvania Military Museum, the Boal Mansion Museum and Columbus Chapel and the Boalsburg Heritage Museum, said Amy Farkas, Harris Township manager.
The Pennsylvania Military Museum is a tribute to Pennsylvania's military history, Farkas said.
The Columbus Chapel contains artifacts that once belonged to Christopher Columbus, and the Boal Mansion Museum "is a very cool old house" that contains many historical artifacts from the Boal family, Farkas said.
The Boalsburg Heritage Museum is geared toward the history of Harris Township and the town of Boalsburg, Farkas said.
Boalsburg is one of several U.S. towns that claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day and holds a Memorial Day Festival annually. This year, an antique auto show and a tribute to veterans are set to help mark the holiday.
For campers, Hemlock Acres Campground is a place to sleep under the stars.
Tent sites, trailer sites and cabins are available for rental, said Rudy Schock, campground owner.
"It's a very quiet and peaceful campground," Schock said. "We're off the beaten path, and that's the nice thing."
The campsite features an in-ground pool, a recreation hall, a fishing area and a hiking trail, Schock said.
Mt. Nittany offers the Blue and White trails for hikers looking for a classic Penn State experience. According to its Web site, mtnittany.org, outlooks at the top of the mountain offer views of campus, Boalsburg, Tussey Mountain and Penns Valley, depending on the hiker's location.
Reardon said she's also been to Mt. Nittany and enjoyed the experience.
"It's a pretty good workout," Reardon said. "Climbing up it was pretty hard work, but once you got to the top, it was pretty awesome to be up there."
