If you have the winter blues, then a midweek getaway may be just what you need. The little town of Boalsburg is the perfect destination for adventure lovers to get their fix.

Whether you want to ski or snowboard, take a winter hike, or stay inside and try your hand at rock climbing, you can do it all here. Boalsburg is also right next to State College, so you can pop over to the many shops and restaurants there as well.

Day 1 - Climbing & Beer

Learn to Boulder at Climb Nittany

Climb Nittany is a local gym focused on bouldering and rock climbing, but they also offer a Discover Climbing class for complete newbies. This class takes you through bouldering basics and top rope climbing skills, including belaying.

These classes last 45 minutes and if you’re a complete beginner like I was, prepare yourself to be a little sore! If you loved rock walls as a kid, I can’t recommend this enough.

If you’re more experienced, they also offer day passes, but to use the top rope walls, you have to pass proficiency tests.

Grab a Brew at Boal City Brewing

After you’ve learned to climb, head over to Boal City Brewing where you can grab a beer, glass of wine, or one of their cocktails. I tried their Hazy IPA and thought it was delicious.

During the winter months, their patio is enclosed with heaters and string lights, making it a cozy spot for drinks and dinner. You’ll typically find food trucks here in the evenings on Wednesdays through Sundays.

Dubbs Grub was the food truck there when we went, so we tried their philly cheesesteak, cheeseburger, and Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Don’t miss the pretzel & pimiento cheese appetizer!

Day 2 - Fine Art & Mountains

Fill up at Breakfast on Boal

This cute spot offers diner-style breakfast options, and it’s the perfect spot to fill up before a big day. Breakfast on Boal offers a great variety from classics like a platter, sandwich, or burrito to savory options like biscuits & gravy or sweet choices like pancakes or french toast.

You can even get grilled stickies made from the famous dessert by Ye Olde College Diner. I went with the Hash Platter, which came with two toppings on hashbrowns and melted cheese on top, along with eggs and toast.

Admire the Artwork at the Palmer Museum of Art

Take it easy this morning and spend some time exploring the new Palmer Museum of Art and admiring the various curated pieces. The museum recently underwent a large renovation and reopened in June of 2024.

The building is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified and houses the largest collection of art between Pittsburgh and Philidelphia. Admission is free but there is a suggested $7 donation.

You’ll find American and European paintings, African and Asian artifacts along with objects from the Ancient Americas, ceramics, and so much more in the two-story space.

Ice Cream for Lunch at Meyer Dairy

Who doesn’t want ice cream for lunch!? One thing I love about Happy Valley is that there are so many amazing creameries where you can grab ice cream.

The first Meyer farm was purchased in 1887 in State College, so this family has a long history of farming in the area.

They opened the dairy store in 1970, and today you’ll find Meyer Dairy products (including milk in glass bottles), multiple items made in Pennsylvania, and locally-sourced products like fresh pastas, croissants, and honey.

One of the big draws here is the ice cream counter where you can get scoops of ice cream, milkshakes, and even ice cream flights. They have a huge variety of flavors, and each one is creamy and smooth.

Hit the Slopes at Tussey Mountain

After indulging your inner child with ice cream for lunch, head over to Tussey Mountain, where you can ski or snowboard. Visit on the weekend if you would prefer to go tubing at their Snow Tube park, but remember that the season is a little shorter for snow tubing.

Tussey Mountain is a fantastic community mountain and a great place to learn or improve your skills. You’ll also find advanced terrain here if you’re a more experienced skier or boarder.

One of the best things about Tussey Mountain is the variety of lift tickets available. At other mountains, lift tickets can be incredibly expensive, but here there are options for full day, five hour, or two hour tickets depending on how long you plan to stay on the mountain.

If you are brand new to the sport, they even have a Beginner Slope only ticket which is only good for the bunny slope (Little Bear). It's a great way to learn without breaking the bank.

If you get tired and need a break, there is a lodge on-site that offers indoor and outdoor seating, a concession stand, plus a bar and restaurant.

Dinner at Tussey Mountain Lodge

Tussey Bar & Kitchen is a convenient spot to grab dinner and drinks after an afternoon on the slopes. They have multiple Pennsylvania beers on draft, wine, and a full bar for cocktails.

Their dinner menu changes, but while we were there, it was Mexican food: tacos, quesadillas, and nachos. The bar area has been recently renovated, but you can also eat in the adjoining dining room by the cozy fireplace.

Day 3 - Winter Walks

Have Breakfast at the Hotel

Spend the morning relaxing at the hotel and enjoying your coffee without having to rush. Grab breakfast here and take your time packing up.

We stayed at the Wyndham Garden State College, and they had a wonderful hot breakfast buffet along with fruit, bagels, and more.

Take a Winter Walk

Before leaving town, take a peaceful winter walk through the woods. Boalsburg borders Rothrock State Forest, so it gives you easy access to many great trails.

If it has recently snowed, make sure to have a backup plan in case the roads inside the State Forest aren’t cleared and you have to turn around. We visited during a winter storm and made it to the Musser Gap trailhead just fine.

This trail is an out and back and will take you on a walk through the woods with a couple of small, easy creek crossings.

Another great option is the Shingletown Gap trail, which follows a beautiful little creek, Roaring Run. Both of these parking lots are relatively easy to get to, even if there’s snow on the ground.

If you can make it to the Bear Meadows Natural Area, then this is another great spot for a winter walk. Pack some microspikes just in case, but we didn’t need ours with the fresh snow on the ground. However, they would have come in handy on any steep inclines.