If you’ve been on World Cup Twitter over the last two weeks, you’ve probably heard of Freddy, a German soccer fan who’s traveled to the U.S. for the World Cup and is making it a mission to explore all the wonders of America while following around his favorite team.

On his journey so far, he’s visited multiple professional sports arenas, been invited to an Ella Langley concert, toured NASA’s Houston headquarters, explored American cuisine, and so much more.

As Germany’s advancement into the knockout stage likely sends them to Boston for the Round of 32, he posted his plans to tour the Northeast on the way to Gillette Boston Stadium, and his route through Pennsylvania looks familiar.

This is our plan for the coming days. The next game we’ll attend is Germany’s Round of 32 match in Boston on the 29th. Since we have 7 days to get there, we decided not to take the direct route and instead make a huge detour through Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and a few other… pic.twitter.com/8zT3bG8wwg

— Freddy (@FreddyLA7) June 22, 2026

That curve through central Pennsylvania looks a whole lot like I-99, which connects Altoona to State College. While the highway will take him through Toftrees more than campus itself, we here at Onward State highly encourage him to take a pit stop in Happy Valley to take in one of the best college towns America has to offer.

So, Freddy, if you happen to be reading this article somehow, here’s our pitch.

Even though school’s out for the summer, there are still plenty of things that make Penn State a place to stop on your journey across America.

For one, you’d be surprised to know that one of the most photographed places in the entire state lies not in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, but here in State College. The Nittany Lion Shrine has been around for 84 years, has been vandalized a half dozen times, and still sits as glorious as ever right in the middle of campus.

Go a bit further down Curtin Road, and you’ll find the best ice cream in the country. Ask anyone who’s been there, and they’ll tell you that the Berkey Creamery exceeds its own reputation as Penn State’s local ice cream shop. We’ve seen you stop by local establishments and American food staples around the country, so why not get a taste of the single best ice cream this country has to offer?

Lastly, we know you’ve seen some jaw-dropping stadiums, but you’ve seen none as grand and majestic as Beaver Stadium. It’s held over 110,000 during some big-time football games, and even though it’s under construction for $700 million, your team can probably find a way to get a look inside and bask in all its glory. While you’re over there, you can admire the view of Mount Nittany over nearby Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Penn State is an experience above all else, so we wish there was better timing, but if you want to see what this place looks like when everyone’s in town, you can stop by in two weeks for Art’s Fest, an annual festival that brings tens of thousands of students and alumni back to State College during early July.

If any of this interests you, please consider taking Exit 73 on I-99 and spend an afternoon in Happy Valley. You won’t regret it.