Yesterday I went on the hunt…for flowers! I had seen many tulips and daffodils in yards around us. We do not have any bulbs planted (mostly because underground critters and bunnies have eaten them before we could enjoy them)! So, I thought I’d explore the Pennsylvania Military Museum grounds to see if any spring flowers were sprouting. I did find a huge tree that is showing signs of life.
So, I decided to keep exploring. Right in front of my car were the two giant cannons that came from the ship the USS Pennsylvania BB-38. The signs nearby explained the activities of the ship in battle during WWII and how Boalsburg came to acquire the cannons for display.
I decided to continue my tour, with my thoughts focused on all our service members who have served and are now serving away from home on this Easter weekend.
The Museum grounds are an impressive green space, with various memorials to many groups of the 28th Division Infantry. The Museum itself is closed at the moment and hopes to reopen by Fall, 2021 for tours. The grounds serve as a place for visitors to walk and reflect.
Beautiful day; beautiful weather; wonderful time to reflect this Easter weekend.
However, no flowers…anywhere!
Saved by the grocery store! I brought home two pots of daffodils! I should be able to plant the bulbs this fall and we’ll see if we can have them sprout next spring…before they get eaten!
I had a mission today…get more comfortable using the Fraser Street parking garage AND shopping at The Nittany Quill. With only an hour or so this morning before freezing rain was supposed to start, I ventured out. Here’s a map of what I hoped to explore:
I have avoided exploring downtown State College for many years because of the parking choices. Don’t tell the Driver’s Ed. teacher from the 60’s that I still don’t enjoy parallel parking on the street. I have no experience with the routine of parking and paying in a parking garage. Usually Bert handles things like that but I’d like to be comfortable doing it myself.
I also rationalized that I didn’t need anything that I couldn’t get someplace else (Amazon is just too easy!). However, I really wanted to visit The Nittany Quill for a few things so it was time to explore and learn!
I did a trial run last week, which was my first exposure to the challenge of getting a ticket, parking my car, shopping, returning and paying at a machine, locating the car and exiting (without running over a curb). I felt a little more confident today. I also wanted to take some pictures of the surrounding stores on that block of Fraser Street.
First, I got to the parking garage and actually remembered how to get a ticket! Yea!
Looks pretty simple!
Once I left the garage (note to self…always remember where I exited the garage!) I headed down the street to the right to The Nittany Quill. They also have a nice website: https://www.thenittanyquill.com.
This is a very small, cute specialty store, focused on beautiful cards, framed illustrated sayings and supplies to do calligraphy. They also offer services such as creating custom wedding announcements and invitations. I was looking for some beautifully drawn cards with meaningful sayings and a new calligraphy fountain pen.
As I left the store I continued to the right up the block toward College Avenue. The Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop is still there…signs pointing to the upstairs studio. The store on the corner seems to be an eye wear store called Spectacles. I think years ago that corner also used to have one of the few public pay telephone booths in town.
Across the street on the corner is a Dunkin Donuts. Continuing back down Fraser Street is a store awning that says Comic Swap. Sounds interesting.
Next down the hill is the alley (Calder Way). Then the rest of the block up to Beaver Avenue is one three-story structure with H&M on the ground floor and Target on the second and maybe the top floor. You can see behind that complex is a much taller high rise apartment building. This certainly changes the skyline of the downtown area.
After paying my parking fee at the machine on the ground floor of the parking garage and going in the correct entrance, taking the elevator to Level 2, I was able to exit the garage without hitting the curb on the tight turn out. I turned left out of the garage and stopped at the light on Beaver Avenue. (This felt strange because Fraser Street used to be only one-way), Straight ahead was the familiar State College Presbyterian Church! Yea! I recognized something!
I’m sure this adventure sounds rather silly, but I’m pleased I made the effort to do this. Maybe I can learn something new out of my comfort zone! Thanks for coming with me. Next time I’ll go up around the corner from the garage and explore that first block of Beaver Avenue. Stay tuned!
If you’d like to comment on this post, leave a comment on this page or email me at marykisner@comcast.net. Thanks!
When you live in the same county most of your life and when you’ve been isolated from groups of friends for almost a year it’s hard to know what’s happening around town, what’s open and what’s new. Last week, on the one clear but cold sunny day, I stopped by the Centre County-Penn State Visitors Center.
I thought with a niece who will be starting Penn State and Ted’s family hopefully coming to visit this summer I should have at least have an up-to-date map of the area!
What a treasure I found! The Visitors Center is right across the street from the stadium and is easy to find. They are open every day with a very helpful staff person on duty.
There was an open area, used for exhibits:
They had a 124 seat auditorium, not in use at the time, but I imagine it could be a gathering place for tour groups.
They also had a separate room for retail sales, so you can even pick up a Penn State hat or sweatshirt!
And of course, a large brochure/information area:
I found many maps of the area:
Information and maps about various State parks:
Information about specific museums and nature centers:
Of course, brochures about the nearby caves and caverns:
And finally, information about some of the local Bed & Breakfast Inns and winery tours.
I can see many opportunities to explore local sites! This sure beats trying to find information on specific places of interest, one at a time.
You can find more information about this Visitors Center at:
If you are not from this area the Visitors Center is just a phone call away (800-358-5466). If you don’t plan to visit Centre County, find your local or county Visitors Center to see what’s available near you! Keep exploring!
I’ll be posting about the places I visit. Stay tuned! Feel free to email me at marykisner@comcast.net or leave a comment about this post.
