In a recent article for the Washington Post, James F. Lee, originally from Bucknell, wrote about all the activity that goes on at State College aside from football and tailgating.

Lee found the joy in things like going to the creamery, hanging at Webster’s, enjoying free entertainment, ogling at grilled stickies at the Diner, touring the Palmer, and visiting our newest attraction, the arboretum.

He also made note of the Penn State obsession with good ol’ Joe Pa, highlighting Peachy Paterno ice cream, his statue outside Beaver Stadium, murals, Paterno library, T-shirts, bobbleheads, etc…

In a conclusion on State College, Lee left readers a positive note:

Mike and Mary McGinnis of Colorado had been sent to the arboretum by their daughter, a student at the university. “She told us it’s really pretty and we would enjoy it,” Mike said. Joe Plummer, a Penn State horticulturalist, was watering plants nearby. He nodded his head. “It’s a hidden secret,” he said.

He was referring to the arboretum. But I took it to mean the whole town.

If that doesn’t make you feel warm and fuzzy, then I don’t know what will.

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