Sometimes an active vacation needs a slow day! Despite it being spring break, my daughter had a zoom meeting she needed to take mid-afternoon. It also happened I had a meeting around the same time I needed to take, so we decided to take it slow and relax in the hotel room during the mid-afternoon for our meetings.
We explored in the morning by walking around downtown State College and then enjoyed a delicious sushi lunch at Tokyo Sushi and Hibatchi. They have really fresh sushi and good tea, so it has turned into my favorite sushi spot in State College, PA. We took a leisurely sushi lunch and then did some shopping in the shops downtown.
After shopping, we headed back to the hotel to take our meetings and relax. Then, we went back out for a long dinner at The Tavern. I enjoyed their mushroom ravioli, and my daughter enjoyed a chicken dish. The food there is always delicious. I highly recommend it if you are in the State College area!
To wrap up the day, we walked onto the Penn State campus to check out some construction and see the progress. It’s amazing how large schools are constantly under construction! When I was in college, our buildings were old, and while there was talk of new construction, I didn’t actually witness it. Now, there is a ton of new construction on my old college campus! haha
Well, that’s about it! These are two of my favorite State College restaurants, so definitely check them out if you are in the area!
This was out fifth day of our vacation, and we had a slow start. We decided to grab brunch instead of having breakfast and then lunch. We enjoyed a hearty brunch at The Original Waffle Shop where there is always a line to get in, but somehow, we got lucky and arrived slightly after the rush. Loved it!
After brunch, we took off in our rental car and headed over to Boalsburg. It is a historic village known as the birthplace of Memorial Day. This is an important holiday where we remember everyone who paid the ultimate price for our country. So, it was nice to be able to see the birthplace in person and get a little history lesson at the same time.
This statue commemorates the birth of Memorial Day as it memorializes the three women who started the holiday. The statue is located at the Boalsburg cemetery and offers a historical marker explaining the meaning of the statue and how Memorial Day got started. It is a must-see in Centre County!
Another must-see in Boalsburg is the museum! It has two main parts which include the mansion and also the Columbus Chapel. Apparently, the Boal family is descendant from Christopher Columbus! Isn’t that amazing?! They have a small museum on-site with the history and artifacts related to Christopher Columbus. In the off season, it is by appointment only, so definitely call before you go! That being said, you must go!
Do you like to hike? Mt Nittany is a fabulous hiking spot. Just make sure you have actual hiking boots, my sneakers were not right so we ended up not hiking. The trail is rocky so boots are a must. I’ll pack them in my suitcase for next time!
Lastly, be sure to enjoy dinner at Duffy’s Tavern. It was built in 1819 and has been in business for about two hundred years. It feels like you’ve been transported back in time when you dine there. Loved it! Be sure to check it out!
What I wore to Boalsburg:
Well, that’s it! Be sure to visit Boalsburg next time you are in Central Pennsylvania!
Pictured above: Thomas T Taber museum. Example of what a parlour room would have looked like during the Victorian era in Williamsport, PA.
Williamsport is a small city in central Pennsylvania known as the birthplace of Little League, the “Lumber Capitol of the World” at one time, and also the city with most millionaires during the Victorian Era. There is a long “Millionaire’s Row” in downtown Williamsport which features mansion after mansion from the Victorian era. It’s quite amazing.
Once a thriving lumber town filled with the lumber industry, Williamsport has many treasures. You can view the history and learn more about the city at the Thomas T. Taber Museum which features the history of the area dating back to the ancient Native Americans. The museum includes the history of the lumber industry, life from the Victorian era, military history, art treasures and also an incredible train museum. We really enjoyed learning about the area and seeing works of art from artists such as Severin Roesen on display. One painting on display is pictured at the bottom of this post.
In addition to the once-thriving lumber industry, Williamsport is the birth of Little League Baseball! So, if you are a baseball fan, be sure to check it out!
Now, you might be wondering why there is a photo of macaroni and cheese below. Well, let me fill you in.
People in Pennsylvania love to argue about which convenience store is better, Sheetz or Wawa. Yes, you heard that right, convenience store. Sheetz and Wawa are both really nice convenience stores often attached to gas stations in Pennsylvania. Here in California, we have similar stores in places like on highway 5 where trucks and drivers need to stop, but in Pennsylvania, these are right there in town. My daughter hears arguments all the time at school about which is better, Sheetz or Wawa? So, we decided it would be fun to taste both places and make our own, unbiased decisions. After all, a lot of times there is geographical bias over whether Sheetz or Wawa is better.
Oftentimes, an area will only have Sheetz or Wawa since Sheetz is usually located on the Pittsburgh side of the state while Wawa is located on the Philadelphia side of the state. But, we found a place where they are one block from each other! Williamsport, PA.
We decided to order from both Sheetz and Wawa so we could compare and contrast the food. This helped us determine which one we liked better. Unfortunately, the Williamsport Wawa location didn’t have hot dogs, so we compared the Macaroni and Cheese and also the chicken sandwiches.
When it came to the chicken sandwiches, we both agreed the Sheetz sandwich had more flavor. But, when it came to the macaroni and cheese, we were split. I preferred the Wawa Mac and Cheese because the pasta was cooked properly, and the cheese was tasty. My daughter preferred the Sheetz Mac and Cheese because it much creamier. So, while we were split on the Mac and Cheese, we both agreed they were both good, but we preferred Sheetz.
So, there you have it. The opinion of two California girls. Both places are good, and I would be happy eating at either one, but overall, we chose Sheetz as the winner.
What I wore to Williamsport:
Next time you visit Pennsylvania, be sure to check one out and see which one you prefer!
Thanks for stopping by,
XOXO
Cathy
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