Location and Accommodations
The 2009 Engineering Technology Leadership Institute will be held at The Nittany Lion Inn, a Penn State landmark featuring handsome accommodations, flexible meeting space, and fine dining. The Inn, a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has been named a Historic Hotel of America and is renowned for its premier leisure, meeting, and conference facilities.
The 223 beautifully appointed rooms and suites feature complimentary high-speed Internet access. You can enjoy casual dining at Whiskers or choose from a more sophisticated menu in the Dining Room. The Inn is a pleasant ten-minute walk from the heart of downtown State College; a complimentary shuttle service is also available to take you to and from the downtown area.
To reserve your room or for additional information
The Nittany Lion Inn
Reservation ID: COLJ09B
Phone: 800-233-7505 or 814-865-8500
Fax: 814-865-8501
General Information
Meeting room: The academic component of this institute will take place in Ballroom C on the first floor of The Nittany Lion Inn. Click here to see the floor plan (PDF).
Parking: Complimentary parking for ETLI participants is available in The Nittany Parking Deck adjacent to The Nittany Lion Inn. The front desk will validate your ticket.
Break services: Break service will be available from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. inside Ballroom C.
Lunch: Lunch is included in the registration fee for Saturday, October 24.
Evening activities: A welcome reception will be held in the Atrium from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening. On Saturday evening, a reception will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Alumni Lobby, followed by dinner in the Alumni Lounge. Dress is business casual.
Phone calls: Out of courtesy to all, please turn off your cell phone or set it to “meeting” so it does not disturb our presenters or those seated around you.
Personal belongings: Meeting rooms will be refreshed during breaks and lunches. We ask that you keep your personal belongings with you at all times. Penn State and The Nittany Lion Inn are not responsible for lost items.
Evaluations: Your feedback is valuable to us! Please take a few minutes to complete the online evaluation form that will be e-mailed to you from Penn State about one week after the institute.
Medical information: University Health Center (814-865-6556) is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Mount Nittany Medical Center (814-231-7000) is adjacent to the University and has 24-hour service.
Contact: Please contact Kathy Karchner or Jenifer O’Connor by phone at 814-863-5100 or e-mail at ConferenceInfo1@outreach.psu.edu with questions.
Travel Guide
The Penn State University Park campus is located at the geographical center of Pennsylvania. Access to the campus is available by car, bus, and air.
By air: The State College/University Park Airport is located near the conference site. Call 814-865-5511 or visit www.UniversityParkAirport.com for information on flights.
By car: The University Park campus is located within driving distance of many major cities, including Harrisburg (1.5 hrs., 90 mi.), Pittsburgh (3 hrs., 137 mi.), Philadelphia (3.5 hrs., 194 mi.), Baltimore (3.5 hrs., 155 mi.), Washington, D.C. (4 hrs., 190 mi.), New York City (5 hrs., 250 mi.), and Toronto (6.5 hrs., 304 mi.).
See www.psu.edu/ur/visitors.html for detailed visitor information, including maps.
Weather
Penn State Weather
The Weather
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Area Attractions
While you’re attending the conference, take time to enjoy the many attractions and recreational opportunities that central Pennsylvania offers.
The State College area, known affectionately as Happy Valley, provides all the benefits of a university town — great food, a lively night life, museums, and world-class entertainment at the Bryce Jordan Center and Eisenhower Auditorium. Outdoor recreation areas for boating, fishing, hiking, and rock climbing are only minutes away.
If you wish to extend your visit to the area and spend time enjoying central Pennsylvania’s beautiful wilderness areas, rental cabins are available just a short drive from State College. The region also offers a large number of other accommodations, including historic bed and breakfast inns in State College, nearby Bellefonte, or Boalsburg.
Central Pennsylvania has a rich agricultural history, and the valleys around Penn State are dotted with working farms, some of which provide produce and artisan breads and cheese for the many local farmers’ markets. Many restaurants in the area now feature regionally grown items on their menus. The University is also located in the northwest corner of Pennsylvania wine country, and there are several wineries within easy driving distance of State College. Be sure to visit the largest university creamery in the country — Berkey Creamery on Penn State’s campus — where you can savor freshly made ice cream and other delicious dairy products.
A variety of community festivals and celebrations take place throughout the year in central Pennsylvania, including First Night State College, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and the Central PA 4th Fest (featuring one of the world’s ten best fireworks displays). With so many things to do and see, State College is a great place to visit in any season.
Other reference sites for local attractions:
Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau
Bryce Jordan Center
The State Theatre
Mount Nittany Conservancy
Rothrock State Forest
Penn's Cave
StateCollege.com
HappyValley.com
