Jim Thorpe is a nice little town nestled in a little crevice of the Lehigh Valley at the base of the Poconos. The town straddles the Lehigh River and is, basically, a Grade-A Tourist Trap. But, you say, the actual Poconos are about an hour north of Jim Thorpe! Yeah, I know. I’m from Pennsylvania. I know where things are…generally. Just don’t give me road numbers or names and you’ll get some okay-ish directions. But, while you’re on your way to the Poconos for a summer getaway or that ski/snowboarding trip, you might want to think about stopping down in Jim Thorpe for a little visit. But, gosh, what could there possibly be to do in Jim Thorpe? That’s what I’m here for. But, I’ll be focusing mostly on the Broadway area in Jim Thorpe. (Disclaimer: I don’t actually live in Jim Thorpe, but I’ve been there a lot.)

1. Shop around

Jim Thorpe’s Broadway area is loaded with small businesses. They stretch up Broadway and some are even on the upper parallel street, Race Street. In Broadway, you’ve got this huge mish-mash of stores and eateries (which I will get to later). There are candy stores, cafés, curiosity shops, clothing stores, stores that sell shiny rocks, jewelry stores, a pickle store, snack stores, a hippie store, and even a meadery outlet. All kinds of stores you might think of. You’ll need a good amount of time to explore every single one of those. Also, come often because stores will often move locations, expand, or close down.

2. Scenic railway

I’m sure you’ve noticed the train station with the big lump of anthracite coal in front of it. Well, that train won’t exactly take you somewhere else and leave you there. It, however, is a scenic railway. You get tickets to ride the rails for a short trip. I’ve only done the ride once, and that was several, several years ago, so I don’t know where it takes you. But, I do remember it being a very beautiful environment. Bring your cameras because you will definitely want to take some pictures. Also, I bet the best time to travel on the train is during the fall season.

3. Old Jail

If you travel up Broadway a little, past the Opera House, you’ll see a big stone building with a pretty tall fence. That would be Old Jail. I’m sure it has a proper name, but locals just tend to call it the Old Jail. Simple enough and everyone knows what you’re talking about: “Have you been to the Old Jail?” “Have you seen The Handprint?” This is the draw of the Old Jail. I’m not going to go deep into the story, but there is a handprint on one of the jail’s walls that has been there, despite intense efforts to wash it away, for a large number of years. If you want to know the story, go visit the Old Jail. Just beware of the ghosts. It is haunted, after all.

4. Glen Onoko

This is a nature park around Jim Thorpe. There’s a bunch of pretty waterfalls you can go see. I’ve never gone up there and hiked around, though. But, please, for the love of everything, listen to the signs! Don’t stand at the waterfall! People die every year doing that. None of the locals are surprised when a headline in the paper reads that a hiker has died up at The Falls. Don’t be a headline. Read and follow what the signs say. Wear appropriate shoes. That selfie isn’t worth your life. And yeah, it’s a hike, not a simple walk on flat ground.

5. Visit Asa Packer Mansion

If you come into Jim Thorpe from Lehighton, you’ll be able to see his mansion perfectly outlined above the county courthouse (the one with the clock tower). It’s the one with the red roof and the teal-ish siding. His son, Harry, lived in the red brick mansion next door. The Harry Packer mansion is now an inn. Asa Packer’s mansion has been turned into a museum to tour. It’s also probably haunted; so beware of those ghosts. Tours are seasonal. Also, it's pronounced "A-sah".

6. Visit Jim Thorpe

Of course, to outsiders, this probably doesn’t make much sense at all. “How can I visit Jim Thorpe? I’m already in Jim Thorpe.” Well, Jim Thorpe isn’t the actual name of this town. It’s actually Mauch Chunk. Jim Thorpe was actually the first Native American Olympian to win the gold medal. He was originally from Oklahoma, but his body is buried in a small town in Northeast Pennsylvania. Why? Well, his family didn’t want him after he died so, Mauch Chunk said they’ll take him and bury him here, and so that’s what happened and Mauch Chunk adopted his name as the town’s name. He’s got a very nice headstone and a huge memorial telling his Olympian story. There’s also a large ongoing feud between the family that now wants him back and the little town of Jim Thorpe. I won’t get into that, though. Go visit his grave, learn a little history, and investigate a controversy with his Olympic medals (yeah, that’s a thing).

7. Festivals

Twice a year, Jim Thorpe’s Broadway gets busy. That would be during the Fall Foliage Festival that takes place during October weekends and the Olde Time Christmas festival that takes place during December weekends. That’s when everyone is open and everything is busy. It’s a great time to check out the stores and see what seasonal items are available. It’s also sort of terrifying to work those times of the year so, be a little considerate with the workers. They’ll thank you later.

8. White Water Rafting

I’m pretty sure everyone knows what white water rafting is. It’s not personally my thing. But, I love watching the people float down the Lehigh and splash each other and having fun. It’s funny to watch and I’m sure if you’d you, it’d be quite a fun experience for you. And a way to cool off in the summer. Try to plan your event for Dam Release Day

9. Mauch Chunk Lake

Mauch Chunk Lake is a large lake near Broadway. You need to pay to enter the park, but there are nature trails and swimming! Some people also kayak and boat around on the lake too. People also can also camp in the campground area. It’s a nice area to go and enjoy nature.

10. Carbon County Environmental Education Center (CCEEC)

This little building houses native wildlife and raptors, as well as a wildlife rehabilitation center. Apart from the main building, where visitors can learn all about any native wildlife and wildlife safety, there are also many nature trails in the woods and out in the Mauch Chunk Lake Park. Stick to the trails though and keep your hands to yourself out there. Don’t damage any of the wildlife and that includes plants. The trails are free admission and open dawn until dusk every day of the year. I went there a lot as a kid and I loved it.

11. Eat at Molly’s!

This small Irish pub-style restaurant is a local gem. If you ask anyone for a restaurant recommendation, they will suggest Molly’s. The full name is Molly Maguire’s and it comes from the same local history story that is behind the handprint in the Old Jail. Their food is delicious and filling. I definitely recommend the pierogis and the bruschetta, of course. They do have a whole selection of other meals, of course. But, definitely, definitely eat at Molly’s.