A Memorial Day Getaway Weekend Trips: Historic Jim Thorpe, PA

Just one and a half hours north of Philadelphia and two hours west of New York City, Jim Thorpe, PA is the perfect little town for you to spend your Memorial Day weekend. Nicknamed the "Gateway to the Poconos", the historic town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania many activities to entice and excite you.

As spring has arrived, the tree lined streets are blooming with activity. The art galleries on West Broadway offer some wonderful pieces to be admired. The shops are open for business, and the opera house is lining up some top acts. There are even many restaurants to choose from, bistro, tex-mex, steaks, and even Italian to name a few.

A favorite activity for the tourists involves antiquing. Jim Thorpe offers several antique stores with a wide variety of goods. From the Dreisbach House to Anne's Early Attic, you are sure to find a treasure or two. Most of the well known antique shops are located along the main street called West Broadway.

For those who favor art, the town is a hidden haven for artists. There are over 10 art galleries and foundations in town. Many are hidden on the side streets. You can find many pieces of contemporary, art deco, and modern styles. Many of the artists live in town. Some of the artists even produce works of Carbon County, of which Jim Thorpe is the county seat.

For the history buffs, there are many attractions to lure you to town. Established in 1985, The Old Mauch Chunk Model Train Display and Hobby & Gift Shop offers an impressive display. Featuring more than 1000 feet of rail, thirteen mainlines, over two hundred buildings, this display is impressive to say the least. Children will love watching the trains climb over mountains, cross bridges, and disappear into a mountain, only to reappear somewhere else. When you are finished watching the model trains, head downstairs to the gift shop and look for a gift for your children or grandchildren. The hours of operation are Friday to Monday 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Until May 31^st. Admission prices are: Adults - $4, Senior Citizens (62+) - $3, Child (ages 3-12) - $2, and Child (2 & under) - free.

Next door to The Old Mauch Chunk Model Train Display and Hobby & Gift Shop, you can find the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. This operating train offers a one hour ride through the scenic Lehigh Gorge. Hours of operation and fares for the ride can be found at http://www.lgsry.com . During the relaxing train ride, you will have the opportunity to learn a little history of the area, take in some exceptional scenery, and relax a little. A guided walking tour of town that includes several tasty treats along the way is the Walk This Way Tour. Starting at the train station, a ninety minute walking tour of historic Jim Thorpe, will wind you through town, ending at the Asa Packer Mansion. There are several stops along the way that offer a tasty treat from local restaurants. More details can be found at this website: http://walktalktaste.com .

There are many other activities to do in and around town, to include mountain biking, whitewater rafting, camping, hiking, fishing, and paint ball to name a few. A great source for all of the possible activities is found at this website: http://www.jimthorpe.org/ .

Lodging can be easily found in town or nearby. You can choose from many quaint little bed and breakfasts such as Defeo's Manor B&B at Opera House Square and White Bear Bed And Breakfast . Or, if you prefer to rough it a little, there are many nearby campgrounds like Jim Thorpe Camping Resort and Mauch Chunk Lake Park. Finally, nearby there are several hotels that range in price from economy, such as The Mahoning Inn (71 Blakeslee Blvd. East, Lehighton, PA, 18235 610-377-1600), to three/four star hotels like Hampton Inn (877 Interchange Rd, Lehighton, PA, 18235 610-377-3400). Reservations should definitely be made as early as possible for the Memorial Day or any other holiday weekend.

Dining options also range from inexpensive to very expensive. A nice and relatively inexpensive dining option is Terpstra's Tavern. Located on the north side of the Lehigh River, they offer a classic menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Flow offers a fine dining experience that is truly farm to table fresh. They proudly serve chemical free meats and vegetables prepared fresh. There are even several specialty restaurants, such as Pepper Jacks, located on West Broadway, which offers an exciting menu of tex-mex flavors.

When you come to this quaint little historic town at the ��"šï¿½ï¿½"Gateway to the Poconos��"šï¿½ï¿½, you are sure to find something to satisfy you. Whatever you are seeking, adventure, history, or art, quaint bed and breakfasts or economy lodging, the spicy flavors of a fajita or the refined dining experience, Jim Thorpe has something for everyone.