Friday Night Hikes

The other day someone asked me how I manage to hike all the time(Thanks Cammy ). Well the answer is simple. I cheat. Now, if you're asking yourself, "How on earth do you cheat at hiking?" Well just like this. Today's "Hike" is around The Arboretum at Penn State. The arboretum at Penn State is a lovely and wonderful place to walk around and enjoy beautiful weather. Covering over 7 acres the arboretum has something for everyone. Offering a place for children to enjoy and play, a place to sit and enjoy nature, or just a place to toss around a flying disk. The arboretum has it all.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best, but as long as the sun is shining, walking around the arboretum is a great way to spend your day! The arboretum is full of tons of beautiful flowers and is a great place for nature lovers and photographers to come and admire the beauty that the arboretum has to offer. The arboretum is a very popular place to take childr...

Normally, I wouldn't post about the same hike multiple times. However, last night's hike was the best hike I ever had! When it comes to hiking, I've always preferred to go in the afternoon when the sun is shining and you the views are as far as the eyes can see. Last night my friend Nate and I decided to hike Mount Nittany around sunset and it was the most amazing hike I have ever gone on.  As the sun was going down behind the clouds and over the mountain as we began our hike, I was rushing to get to the top because I was slightly afraid to hike in the dark . Unsure of the wildlife at night and unsure if we would be able to see the trail it was a rush against time. The higher up we got, the more I started to realize I was missing a whole different hiking experience. The way the sun shined down between the trees as it was setting, the way the wind blew ever so gently to keep you cool, but not cold, just the overall beauty of nature in the evening.  Once we finally ...

I felt like it wouldn't be right to blog about hiking without sharing my first hiking experience! Interesting fact, I didn't go on my first hike until after I graduated from high school. It was June 2017 and a friend of mine at the time decided we should go hike Mount Nittany.  I had no idea where Mount Nittany was, how long it would be to hike, or even what to wear. My first time hiking I went hiking in a pair of jeans, beat up shoes, and a t-shirt! Needless to say, it did not go well! After finding our way to the beginning of the trail, it was time to begin our hike. At this time I was beginning to get into photography, so I had brought my newly purchased camera to snap some photos. I'm sure you can guess how well that went. New at hiking and new at photography, great combination! A few minutes into our hike I quickly discovered that hiking in jeans may not be the best pants to wear while hiking. It was a struggle to get to the top but I powered through a...

Chances are if you're from central Pennsylvania you've heard of the Millbrook Marsh . For everyone else, you're probably asking,"What's so interesting about a marsh?" The Millbrook Marsh is a nature center located on Puddintown Road, in State College, PA. This nature center is a beautiful place to enjoy walking along the boardwalk to enjoy plants, a tiny creek, and all sorts of wildlife critters. The Marsh isn't necessarily a hike, however, if you're looking for a nice and relaxing day out with the family. The Millbrook Marsh is the perfect place to go. After enjoying the nature and wildlife around the Millbrook Marsh be sure to stop and have a picnic before you leave. With plenty of benches and pavilions around it's hard to find a reason to ever leave! The Millbrook Marsh is open 7 days a week from dawn until dusk, so there's always time in the day to stop by for a visit. Overall The Millbrook Marsh is a 62 acre park   so there...

Today's Hike was a sunny 3.5 mile hike through mud, rocks, and leaves at  Shingletown Gap , and along the Bald Knob Ridge Trail.  Unlike Mount Nittany, Shingletown Gap is a rough terrain trail. Alongside the main trail is a stream running through the Rothrock State Forest. The trail is very rocky and at times can be very muddy depending on the weather. However, along the trail is plenty of small wildlife such as squirrels, chipmunks, butterflies, and birds.   With an elevation of 597ft, Shingletown Gap, is slightly smaller than Mount Nittany when it comes to a vertical incline, but the view at the top is just as wonderful and there are plenty of different trails available for those who don't like the elevated hikes.  So if you're a fan of quiet hikes with your dog , Shingletown Gap is one of the best hiking trails in the area. When hiking this trail the chance of running into someone other than a mountain biker is very small. So be sure to wea...

Over the weekend I decided to hike Mount Nittany with some of my friends. With large amounts of people, plenty of pets, and different wildlife, hiking Mount Nittany is one of my favorite things to do when the sun is shining and there's nothing else to do.  Mount Nittany has several different routes and trails that lead to different outlooks or just guide you through the mountain. From bottom to top Mount Nittany has a vertical incline of 600 feet. However, hiking top to bottom takes no more than slightly over an hour, assuming you'll stop to admire the view of Happy Valley from The Mike Lynch Overlook at the top of the mountain. The trails are very well marked off and maintained so you'll always know if you're going in the right direction. With trees marked blue and white along and station markers along the way to identify what trail you're on hiking. Mount Nittany is a must for anyone staying in Centre County , or just passing by Mount Nittany. So throw o...