6 of the Most Overlooked Towns in The Poconos

The Pocono Mountains sit in northeastern Pennsylvania, and most visitors head straight for the headline resorts and water parks. The smaller towns nearby are easy to drive past. Jim Thorpe carries Victorian streets and the name of a legendary Native American athlete. Hawley sits beside Lake Wallenpaupack and runs on its outdoor calendar. Tannersville anchors the region's ski-and-water-park scene at the foot of Camelback Mountain. These six towns each reward a closer look.

Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe sits in a steep bend of the Lehigh River in Carbon County, midway between Scranton and Allentown. Long known as Mauch Chunk, the town merged with neighboring East Mauch Chunk in 1954 and renamed itself for the Native American Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe, whose remains were interred here. Its tight, hillside streets of preserved Victorian-era architecture earned it the nickname "The Switzerland of America."

The Asa Packer Mansion anchors the town's history. This National Historic Landmark, built in 1861, belonged to the railroad magnate and philanthropist Asa Packer. The Old Jail Museum covers the other side of the era, including a handprint said to have been left on a cell wall by one of the accused Molly Maguires before his execution. Lehigh Gorge State Park, just outside town, runs hiking and biking trails along the river through the gorge.

Hawley

Hawley sits in the state's northeast corner, closer to New York City than to Philadelphia. Its main draw is nearby Lake Wallenpaupack, a 5,700-acre man-made lake built by the power company in 1926, with 52 miles of shoreline and marinas for boating, fishing, swimming, and kayaking.

In town, the Hawley Silk Mill is the standout. The 1880s bluestone factory, often called the largest bluestone building in the world, has been restored into a space for art galleries, a café, shops, and event venues. Downtown Hawley holds Victorian architecture and a walkable core of restaurants and shops, while the nearby Lodge at Woodloch runs a destination spa.

Tannersville

Tannersville sits just off Interstate 80, about a 90-minute drive west of New York City, which makes it one of the easiest Pocono bases to reach. Its anchor is Camelback Resort at the foot of Camelback Mountain, running skiing, snowboarding, and terrain parks through the winter. Come summer, the resort opens Camelbeach, billed as Pennsylvania's largest outdoor water park, alongside Camelback Mountain Adventures with its zip lines, mountain coaster, and treetop courses.

The indoor Aquatopia water park at Camelback Lodge keeps the splashing going year-round, and The Crossings Premium Outlets nearby draws shoppers with more than 100 stores. For a quieter contrast, Big Pocono State Park sits just west, where hiking trails climb toward summit views reaching across three states.

Honesdale

Honesdale, the seat of Wayne County, holds a notable place in transportation history. The Wayne County Historical Society Museum features a full-scale replica of the Stourbridge Lion, the first steam locomotive to run on commercial tracks in the United States, which made its 1829 run near here. The Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Music Festival each June fills the downtown with free live music and art.

The Lackawaxen River runs near town for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Downtown Honesdale keeps its Victorian-era architecture, antique stores, and restaurants along a historic Main Street anchored by the Wayne County Courthouse.

Lehighton

Lehighton sits in Carbon County a short drive from Jim Thorpe, with much of its appeal coming from the surrounding outdoors. Outfitters such as the Adventure Center at Whitewater Challengers run guided whitewater rafting trips on the Lehigh River, while Beltzville State Park nearby covers a long reservoir with a swimming beach, boat launches, and lakeside hiking trails.

Downtown, Lehighton runs the kind of one-of-a-kind stops that anchor a Poconos day trip. Country Junction, on the edge of town, bills itself as the world's largest general store, packing an ice cream parlor, a petting zoo, and aisles of goods under one roof. The town's compact Main Street fills in with local shops and restaurants.

Stroudsburg

Stroudsburg anchors the southern Poconos with a downtown built around the historic Sherman Theater, an entertainment venue since 1928. The 18th-century Stroud Mansion, home to the Monroe County Historical Association, holds period rooms and exhibits on local history.

The town sits next to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area along the Delaware River, a draw for hikers, kayakers, and photographers, and the Appalachian Trail passes within reach. Nearby waterfalls include Dingmans Falls and Bushkill Falls, the latter often called the "Niagara of Pennsylvania."

The Poconos' Quieter Side

The Pocono Mountains hold far more than their headline resorts, and these six towns make the case. Jim Thorpe leans on preserved 19th-century architecture and the history of a railroad magnate. Hawley and Honesdale pair Lake Wallenpaupack and a piece of American railroad history with walkable downtowns. Tannersville and Lehighton turn Camelback, the Lehigh River, and Beltzville State Park into year-round recreation. Stroudsburg puts the Delaware Water Gap and the Appalachian Trail within easy reach. Each rewards travelers willing to slow down and stop in.