On the southern edge of the Pocono Mountains lies Jim Thorpe, a town named after the famous athlete that became the first Native American to win a gold medal for the US in the Olympics of 1912. Known as the “Little Switzerland of America,” this town may just be one of PA’s best kept secrets. Growing up in South Central Pennsylvania, this corner of the state wasn’t on our radar, and it wasn’t until moving away from the area that we realized that this quaint little town was right under our noses our entire lives! Although we had a rather short stay in Jim Thorpe over Memorial Day weekend, we fell in love with the area, and we’ve since urged our entire families, friends, and really any one who will listen, to visit posthaste!
Things to do
–Shop around the multiple unique little stores on West Broadway on the south side of the Lehigh River. This part of Jim Thorpe is the what I would call the “historic district” as it has maintained its old timey, somewhat Victorian charm of years past.
-Visit Lehigh Gorge State Park to walk or bike the path past Luke’s Falls and Buttermilk Falls. If the weather is good, there are multiple vendors that will take you on a kayaking/rafting excursion down the Lehigh River.
–Book a train ride through the mountains on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway Tickets cost $17 for adults include a 70 minute scenic ride that parallels the Lehigh River. If you are looking for a more active experience, you can ride the train 25 miles north to White Haven, PA, and return to Downtown Jim Thorpe by bike on a trail that runs slightly downhill.
– Explore the bolder field in the northeastern corner of Hickory Run State Park. Located just 30 minutes from downtown Jim Thorpe, this park also is home to waterfalls, trout streams, and over 40 miles of hiking trails.
-Walk or bike the D&L Trail along the Lehigh River. No bike? No problem. Rent one right across the street from the trail at Pocono Biking
-Check out the Old Jail Museum which dates back to 1871. Book a tour and enjoy some haunting history.
Eats
-Grab a drink from the sidewalk bar of The Albright Room Speakeasy and enjoy it in the streets. According to our bartender, open containers are a perfectly legal indulgence in Jim Thorpe!
-Have dinner or lunch at Molly Miguire’s. This laidback Irish pub has great food and beer at even better prices and boasts live music every Thursday!
-Grab a coffee at Muggles Mug. This Harry Potter themed café provides the perfect ambiance for grabbing a morning bite or kicking that inevitable hangover.
-Make an after-dark reservation at Stone Row Pub and Eatery and dine on the deck beside the old stables in the woods. It makes for quite a romantic experience – complete with fairy lights!
-Be sure to get some Bloody Mary’s and grub from Union Publik House. This little bar has some amazing food and is not to be missed…. just ask the locals.
Other tips
–Stay: There are ample affordable places to stay that can be found on Airbnb from quaint to quirky, but book in advance because we learned that Jim Thorpe is an extremely popular tourist destination for leaf peepers and Christmas-cheer-seekers. The town hosts a Fall Foliage festival in October and an Olde Time Christmas extravaganza in December, that are both apparently not to be missed.
–Getting Around: Parking can be tricky in the historic district so it may be advantageous to stay in the area. We stayed across the river and on libation-filled nights out we opted to Uber into the little town but found that the ride sharing app isn’t as bountiful in small town USA as we’re used to in D.C.
