Welcome (back) students! Newcomer or not, the first few weeks at Penn State should be an extremely exciting and entirely new experience. It is rather likely that for the rest of the semester, you’ll be seeking to feel as relaxed as you did during the first week at Penn State. With the help of some green space, the desire for a nearby stress-free environment can be met.
For as long as I’ve been a student at Penn State, I’ve been searching places on or near campus that are sort of hidden in plain view. What sparks the search is a personal tendency of never really settling down, believing there has to be something or someplace I haven’t fully experienced, or that I overlooked every time upon passing.
Thus far, I have found a few that have given me hours of serenity despite the constant hustle and bustle of people all around me. I use them for time to write, time to think, time to–well, breathe. It’s a way of clearing my head. I don’t discard my busy schedule while I’m there; rather, I think of it as a place where I can unhand all distractions.
Since they’re all either on or within a mile of campus, it’s easy to go to them, even during the busy school week. Here are 5 of my favorite stress-free escapes.
5. The ArboretumThe arboretum provides a lot of options for a nice place to sit and relax.Being a lover of ponds and streams, though, I often find myself near this dark pond that lies in the middle of the beautiful scene.
4. The Peace Garden
This is possibly the most curious little spot of them all. Though situated next to the HUB, which takes the cake for being the noisiest place on campus, it somehow manages to hold to its name of being a rather peaceful, quiet place to sit awhile. 
3. Hintz Family Alumni Center
Including the colorful Alumni Gardens and a pond teeming with wildlife, this area, too, allows a secluded feeling despite being smack dab in the center of campus. It’s also equipped with wooden benches, a stone footbridge, and a white gazebo for shade when you need it, and an open lawn outstretched when you don’t.
2. Lederer Park
Venturing slightly south of campus, Lederer is a scenic spot to relieve stress via exercise. A thin gravel trail encircles a large, grassy field and weaves through a lesser-known arboretum. Then, a short walk up the road spits out into a series of dirt trails through Thompson Woods and Walnut Springs Park, where a tiny stream trickles softly through the thicket.
1. Sunset Park
Just 2 blocks north of campus, Sunset Park opens up into 20 acres of forest filled with running, biking, and hiking trails. With plenty of nature to explore, each trip through can be a unique adventure.
My hope is to show you that these magnificent places are there, if right under our noses. Most of all, I am writing to share them so that you may find peace in places you pass. As the semester unfolds before our eyes, so, too, can new escapes. Find yours.