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The Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania are well-known for their natural beauty of the highest caliber. These mountains overlook the Delaware River and coal country to their west. Here, visitors can find train rides in vintage locomotives between quaint towns, campgrounds sprawling as far as the eye can see, and more mountaineering opportunities than you can shake a stick at. When planning a visit to the Poconos, consider the following towns. Though off the beaten track, they each have something unique to offer.

White Mills

White Mills is a Pennsylvania Heritage Community that has gone out of its way to celebrate and preserve its local heritage over the years and has been recognized as one of 20 such places going above and beyond to hold on to its history. White Mills was, and is, known for its industry. The Dorflinger Glass Factory was renowned for the quality of its cut glass, and products from the factory were so in demand even the white house had some. Today, the factory is open to the public as a museum and is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Dorflinger cut crystal.

White Mills is so much more than crystalware, however. The Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses 600 acres and features trails upon trails packed full of cross-country skiing and trekking. The Wildflower Concert Series is held each year here, allowing attendants to hear jazz, bluegrass, folk, and chamber performances in the serene expanse of the sanctuary. Plus, the Stourbridge Line is a vintage railcar service that has been fully kept up-to-date and takes passengers along the scenic Lackaqwaxen River. Sit back, relax, and experience the beauty of the Poconos the way it was meant to be seen: in style.

Lansford

Lansford is found just 12 miles from the popular Poconos tourist destination, Jim Thorpe. Visitors to the Panther Valley can easily knock out the two visits without much issue. Lansford is and remains to this day inarguably linked to the coal mining industry. The towns that sprouted up around the anthracite coal deposits eventually consolidated into Lansford. Long after the passing of its builders, the No. 9 Coal Mine remains alive and well, open to the public as the º£½ÇÉçÇø’s oldest continuously operated anthracite coal mine.

Tourists can ride mine cars over 1,600 feet, take a walking tour, and visit the miner’s hospital…all entirely underground!

There is even a coal miner’s festival each year in September. Lansford is working hard to diversify its appeal to tourists, however, and has established a nice little community to keep visitors to No. 9 after they have had their fill of spelunking. Lansford Alive is a local organization that hosts events like the Annual Block Party in late September and outdoor live music shows each Sunday during warmer months.

Tobyhanna

Tobyhanna is a small town with a big, wonderful park nearby, and you simply have to see it. Situated inside both Monroe and Wayne counties, the park spans over 5,400 acres and even includes a 170-acre lake. More on that later. Tobyhanna State Park is open all year and features reasons to visit for every season. Hike and bike in the autumn, fish in the springtime, camp in summer, and snowmobile in the winter months. There is never a shortage of things to do at this park. There is even an annual ice harvest where townsfolk venture onto the frozen lake to cut and haul out ice the way townspeople used to before refrigerators.

Boating, cross-country-skiing, and old-fashioned soaking up the sun at the beach are all fan favorites in Tobyhanna. Tourists can find the Tobyhanna Train Station, which was originally built in 1907. The recent restoration of the station has transformed it into a museum of railroad memorabilia and even model trains. If locomotives are your thing, then there is no better way to explore the mountain range than by life-sized train. Lines run to other Poconos towns like Jim Thorpe, Hawley, and East Stroudsburg. There are even narrated train tours that are perfect for families.

Bushkill

Bushkill has it all. Bushkill Falls is often called Pennsylvania’s Niagara Falls, thanks to the gorgeous Bushkill waterfall. Adventures abound at this outdoorsman’s paradise, where adventure courses, verdant national parks, and fun for the whole family are in store. Hiking and biking the McDade Recreational Trial is one way to explore the Deleware Water Gap, but there are also horse stables allowing visitors to explore the area on horseback. There are ziplines, sledding, and more await in Bushkill. It is one big theme park for the kid in you.

The town is also home to Poconos Park, an event venue with a 10,000-seat amphitheater for concerts and shows. Learn more about all the things to see and do in and around Bushkill. Looking for a place to stay? Tourists can stay at nearby rustic accommodations like Echo Valley Cottages or the local campgrounds. Be sure to try some of the local flavors at the Llama Ice Cream Factory and Shop. This unique ice cream parlor has unique flavors on hand, such as lucuma, soursop, mamey, and tamarind.

Weatherly

Technically a borough, Weatherly was formally incorporated in October of 1863. This logging town slowly chugged along until the widespread development of railroad technology and the discovery of coal deposits in Pennsylvania. From there, Weatherly turned into a certifiable boom town. Coal is no longer king in Pennsylvania, or anywhere for that matter. And although these towns have shrunk from their peaks, there is plenty to see and plenty more to do in places like Weatherly.

For instance, this quaint and peaceful community has surprisingly hosted a Hillclimb event since 1960. Each year, drivers in specialized, streamlined cars race against the clock to navigate a course of breakneck turns as fast as they can. If racing is not your thing, Weatherly has plenty to do in the peaceful natural areas nearby. Roundstone Camping Resort has 400 acres of land on which to camp and enjoy the beauty of the Poconos. One can also visit the Eckley Miner’s Village, a remnant of coal country’s past. Founded in 1854, the wooden structures that used to house miners have been transformed into a museum for future generations to appreciate.

Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe is famous, and for good reason. Found in the heart of Carbon County, this is a certified gem thanks to its European flavor, charm, and amenities. Events are never in short supply in Jim Thorpe, with Christmas time and the Fall Foliage Festival being two standouts for tourists to mark on their calendars. Museum lovers will want to see the Stabin Museum for more classical art pieces, while the Old Jail Museum is fun, educational, and downright Gothic.

Lehigh Gorge State Park is an undeniable part of Jim Thorpe’s charm. The river spent millions of years etching its way through the Pocono Plateau, eventually leading to the growth and development of the park we know and love today. Over 6,000 acres of greenery extend off into the horizon in this massive park. Here, visitors can go chasing waterfalls, whitewater rafting, hiking, and trout fishing. Remember White Haven? The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway runs round-trip between these two towns as the perfect cap through your visit to the Poconos.

Experience the Charms of the Poconos' Small Towns

It truly is hard to go wrong in the Poconos. Peaceful and serene, yet close enough to the major metropolitan centers of Pennsylvania, these mountains offer an excellent escape from the hum-drum monotony of city life into the great outdoors. There is nothing like trekking through thousands of acres of London Plane and Chinkapin Oak trees with the mighty Delaware coursing nearby. Any one of these destinations is worthwhile, and we hope you enjoy your time in this beautiful mountain region.