central pa


Visiting Punxsutawney Phil

OK, so maybe Groundhog Day has passed, but you can visit Punxsutawney Phil all year long! Love! Ever since I was a little kid I always enjoyed seeing what the groundhog would predict for the season. Is spring around the corner? Do we have more winter? Listening to the groundhog predict the weather was way more fun than reading it in the newspaper, yes I am that old, or waiting for the ten o’clock news to find out. I mean, who doesn’t love a cute little groundhog predicting the weather?

So, we decided to go visit Punxsutawney Phil and see where his weather predicting magic happens! When we arrived in Punxsutawney, we grabbed some coffee at a local coffee shop named Groundhog Grindz Cafe and the coffee was so good, we loved it! For lunch, we grabbed really good pizza at Punxsy Pizza. I highly recommend it if you head out to Punxsutawney to visit Phil!

The town has a lot of sights to see centered around the Groundhog. We checked out a weather center, Phil’s Burrow, and the stage at Gobbler’s Knob where the magic happens.

It was really fun to check out these sights and also spot all of the Groundhog statues and monuments around town. Phil’s Burrow is where the groundhog lives during the year, and it appeared there were four “Phil’s” living in the burrow. Not sure if one groundhog is the official Phil, or if there are multiple groundhogs. It’s a mystery!

Gobbler’s Knob is the location where the main stage is located. This is where the groundhog predicts the weather every year. In addition to a stage, there is a visitor center and hiking trail. It is definitely a great place to visit and also get a touch a nature. Love that!

Hopefully someday I can head out to Punxsutawney for the actual Groundhog Day event. It would be so much fun! Until then, I have the memories of visiting Phil, or shall I say, the four Phil’s, in the burrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Pictured below, dinner at Red Lobster. It was soooooo good!


Treating ourselves with food

wearing: statement earrings / spring knit top / spring nail polish / east/west bag / black wide leg pants / boots (old, similar here) /

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!

XOXO
Cathy


Exploring Boalsburg PA

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!

XOXO

Cathy