12 Quirkiest Poconos Towns You Didn't Know Existed

History buffs, treasure hunters, adrenaline junkies, and urbanites just looking for a quiet escape have long known the Poconos Mountains region in northeastern Pennsylvania holds the itinerary to their dream vacation. More than 150 lakes, 170 miles of river, and more than 261 miles of trails, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail, grace the region's landscape, making it an obvious choice for sports and recreational enthusiasts. Tucked into many of the tiny towns that dot the hillsides, however, are some of the offbeat attractions, from reptile and exotic animal farms to haunted hotels, handmade wax museums, and underground tours deep in abandoned coal mines. Here are 12 of the quirkiest towns in the Poconos you never knew existed.

Brodheadsville

Near the southern border of the Poconos region sits Brodheadsville, a tiny town of 1,700 with some curious attractions, including the Phoebe Conrad Waxworks Museum, featuring 32 intricate storybook 3-D scenes encased in glass at the Western Poconos Community Library. Nearby is the Pohopoco Creek Alpacas, a 72-acre farm that educates visitors about the fleecy animals and offers both an alpaca-goods store and overnight farm stays. Down the road in Effort, unwind at Blue Ridge Estate Vineyard & Winery. During Autumn, the Hotel of Horror, housed in the former Lake House Hotel, provides plenty of thrills and chills for anyone who revels in the spookiest season.

Tamaqua

Before it was known as a vacation destination, the Poconos region was famous for its massive anthracite coal production. Tamaqua celebrates that history by offering visitors a chance to dig deeper with an underground tour of one of its abandoned coal mines. The No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum offers tours that start with a 1,600-foot rail ride into the mountain, followed by a 600-foot guided walking tour. Visitors explore a 700-foot deep mine shaft and visit a miner’s hospital cut into solid rock. Once tourists emerge above ground, they can fish, hike, and boat in the nearby Owl Creek Reservoir area. The Tamaqua Arts Center offers classes, exhibits, and live entertainment, and larger towns like Jim Thorpe and Hazleton are only a few miles away.

Honesdale

Called The Birthplace of the American Railroad, Honesdale is small in size, at just 4,458 inhabitants, but big on entertainment and education. The Stourbridge Line celebrates the town's history as the home of the country's first steam locomotive run in 1829. Today, the Stourbridge offers romantic dinner train excursions, event rides, and round trips throughout the Poconos region. After visitors hop off, they can stroll downtown to the Wayne County Arts Alliance, or The Cooperage, a non-profit space that provides the community with access to arts, entertainment, youth and senior programs and services, and exhibits. Honesdale is also, truly, a Winter Wonderland; Honesdale native Richard Smith, who wrote the song "Winter Wonderland," based his lyrics on his memories of growing up in Honesdale, and the town commemorates him with a special plaque at his childhood home on Church Street.

White Mills

With just 659 people, you wouldn't think White Mills would be worth checking out during your Poconos adventure ... but you would be wrong. This hamlet packs a lot into its diminutive borders: the Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary, a 600-acre wildlife sanctuary that also hosts seasonal concerts, houses the Dorflinger Glass Museum, named after the famous Dorflinger leaded glass owned by four US presidents and the Duke of Windsor. Also worth checking out is Warner Art Glass and The Art Factory of White Mills, featuring painting and drawing classes, a gallery of more than 60 local artists, and an art shop. The town is also a stop on the Stourbridge Line.

Hawley

Building a town on a lake that was flooded to build the lake; the town is destined to be quirky, with a capital "Q." Hawley, a city of 1,200 on the north shore of Lake Wallenpaupack, fulfills its mission in that realm, while also charming tourists year-round. The Looking Glass Art Gallery attracts international artists in Hawley's Silk Mill Building, which is a lynchpin of the town; in addition to the gallery, the former silk mill houses Lackawanna College on one floor, and various retail and professional services. Head over to Costa's Family Fun Park to cool off in the bumper boats and water slides, hit the driving range, or take a spin on go-karts. The Ritz Company Playhouse has presented live theater for the community for 35 years. To learn a little more about the history of Lake Wallenpaupack and the surrounding area, Hawley offers fun Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tours.

Lackawaxen

At the northern border of the Poconos region, Lackawaxen sits on the confluence of the Delaware and Lackawaxen rivers, and is home to the Roebling Bridge, built in 1848 as an aqueduct to carry boats across the river, and used as a prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge. Fans of Wild West fiction will love the National Road and Zane Grey Museum, run by the National Parks Service, which offers tours explaining the significance of the National Road, and its portrayal in Grey's novels. The Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers provide a tide of kayaking, fishing, canoeing, camping, and tubing adventures. In the winter months, Ski Big Bear at Masthope is only 5 miles away, offering 18 trails, five lifts, and a terrain park.

Marshalls Creek

This unincorporated town on the outskirts of East Stroudsburg holds some of the most intriguing attractions in the southern Poconos region. Historically known as the place where a truck explosion became the catalyst for the federal 1974 Transportation Safety Act, today, Marshalls Creek is known as the home to the Pocono Snake and Animal Farm, featuring bear, bobcats, serval, monkeys, lemurs, sloths, chinchillas, raccoons, wallabies, macaw, pot-belly pigs, goats, alligators, and a huge snapping turtle. Down the road is the Frazetta Art Museum, set in the godfather of fantasy art's 67-acre estate, and housing a massive collection of his original artwork. Nearby Marshall Falls Park offers up a beautiful waterfall hike, and the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area is just 3 miles away.

Milford

Visitors to the Poconos may have heard of "that cute town near the Delaware Water Gap," but struggle to remember the name Milford, despite the desire to visit the many sites and surrounding natural attractions. Milford is home to the Grey Towers National Historical Site, the former manse of Gifford Pinochet, the first chief of the US Forest Service. The Pike County Historical Society at The Columns houses intriguing artifacts like the Lincoln flag hanging in the Ford Theater, the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Forest Hall Studios, an arts incubator in a historical building formerly operated by the Yale School of Forestry at Grey Tower, attracts internationally known artists for its exhibits. The town serves as the north gate to the Delaware National Water Gap Recreational Area, and is close to Raymondskill Falls, the state's tallest waterfall.

Jim Thorpe

Often dubbed "Little Switzerland" for its Victorian architecture and dramatic setting in the mountains, Jim Thorpe is a southern Poconos town of 4,507 named after the Olympian champion raised there. The historic buildings in the downtown area house some peculiarly fascinating attractions, including the Old Jail Museum, Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center, and Asa Parker Mansion Museum. For arts and culture lovers, the Mauch Chunk Opera House, built on "millionaire's row" during the region's coal mining boom, today offers live music and performances. Nearby, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway lets visitors ride century-old coaches into Lehigh Gorge State Park.

Stroudsburg

Just across the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border, Stroudsburg is a charming town of 5,927 with a walkable downtown populated by many 18th-century-era historical buildings. Regular events, like First Saturday Art Walks, a weekly Farmer's Market, seasonal events like Stroudfest in August, and a Veteran's Day Parade in November, keep visitors returning year after year. Check out the Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm off the beaten path to experience life on a circa 1800s working farm, including animal care, household tasks, education in a one-room schoolhouse, and wagon rides. To return to the present day, get tickets to one of the many live music performances offered at the Sherman Theater.

Long Pond

Car enthusiasts can start their engines and rev over to Long Pond, home of the Pocono Raceway, and host to NASCAR Racing, as well as Elements Music & Arts Festival, a car camping festival featuring three days of eclectic music and art. For visitors who want to try their hand behind the wheel, Alvin's Offroad Playground offers one-hour ATV Tours, or visitors can bring their vehicle and kick up some dirt. Big Boulder Ski Resort and Jack Frost Ski Resort are each less than 20 minutes away, making Long Pond an excellent choice for an adrenaline rush. Still, for those who want to get past the crowd's roars, Pocono Organics offers a nourishing experience on a 380-acre regenerative farm that provides classes, tours, a market, and dining events.

When visiting the Poconos, travelers can pick and choose the experience they crave. Whether seeking adventure, solitude, nature, or culture, visitors can rely on the towns nestled in these mountains and valleys. Some towns are tailored to go-getters, some are fashioned for relaxation, but all of them take pride in their respective local histories, heritage, and legacies. That dedication to maintaining local personalities makes The Poconos a remarkable destination for anyone looking for something extraordinary.