10 Best Activities in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Jim Thorpe is a small town hidden between valleys in beautiful Pennsylvania. However, mixed in with its small-town vibe is a sense of adventure and magic that can be found around any corner. Here are the 10 best things to do in Jim Thorpe.

Shopping Local Along Broadway Street

The main strip is filled with little local shops that fit in with the old fashion styled buildings. From antique stores to jerky shops this town has a little something for everyone. One of my favorites was a print shop. Their beautiful paper designs and funny cards were really unique!

Wizard Café (Muggles Mug)

Who doesn’t love a café that is themed after witches and wizards? Even during Covid, it was a fun experience to just order in the café and try some of the themed cookies and drinks. While you are not allowed to sit inside during Covid, they have seats outside along the main road. Check out their hours and menu on their website.

Hiking

Get outside the town to the surrounding mountains. The Jim Thorpe area is not short of great hikes! There are hikes of all different levels including paved paths that wind along the valley as well as harder paths up the mountains. We hiked to Glen Onoko falls on the loop path, the main path is currently closed. You can find the trail on the All Trails app.  Before we hiked, we also stopped to see an old train tunnel that led to a beautiful view cut out of a cliff. If you are interested in other hikes around Pennsylvania, check this blog post.

Raft Along the Lehigh River

There are multiple rafting tours that you can book in Jim Thorpe or the surrounding areas to raft along the river. Whitewater rafting is a lot of fun and this is one of the best rivers to raft in Pennsylvania. I recommend going on a day there is a dam release for the most excitement. There are usually dam releases between May thru October.

Scenic Train Ride

This picturesque town almost seems to come out of the Harry Potter universe and the train station is no exception! The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway offers a 70-minute scenic train ride through the valley. The trips are narrated so you get to learn about the region’s history and see the beautiful sights. The trips are during the weekend except in the Summer and Fall when they run on weekdays as well. I want to come back in the Fall and ride the train when all of the trees begin to change colors! To book tickets you can visit their website.

Visit the Local Wineries/Meaderies

This town has multiple wineries in the area, some within walking distance of the town. My friends and I loved Big Creek Vineyard’s wine. The location was right next to the train station, so we could walk there from our Airbnb. My favorite drink was their Vin di Pasqualina Rose. Also, if you have never tried mead, this is the place to do it. I didn’t like mead until I tried some at the local meaderies in Jim Thorpe. The mead is so popular here that when I went back to a store to buy a bottle of my favorite mead that I had tasted, they had completely sold out of it a day earlier!

Show at the Historic Opera House

If you walk towards the back end of town, you will see the Mauch Chunk Opera House. It is a historical location that continues to host shows. The Opera house hosts bands from all different styles of music as well as other events including the Jim Thorpe independent film festival. It is currently open during Covid and its Covid restrictions are listed on their website.

Murder Mystery Weekend Tour

One of the most eye-catching houses in the whole town, the Harry Packer Mansion Inn offers murder mystery weekends! The price includes lodging in the mansion for the weekend, some meals, and murder mystery events. I honestly haven’t done this murder mystery weekend yet because I didn’t know about it until I traveled to Jim Thrope. However, I am saving up my money to come back for another weekend. Who wouldn’t want to do a murder mystery tour in the mansion that Disney’s haunted mansion was based on? If this is something that interests you, make sure to book your weekend tickets well ahead of time on their website.

Visit the local museums

The town has two local museums, the Mauch Chunk Museum, and the Old Jail Museum. Mauch Chunk used to be the town’s name before it was renamed after the famous Olympian Jim Thorpe. The Mauch Chunk Museum is where you can learn about the town’s history and about coal, which is tied closely to the town’s history. The Old Jail Museum offers historical tours during the day and ghost tours at night. I was unable to visit the Jail Museum because it was not open, it is set to reopen sometime in May 2021. Along with the museums, you can also visit the memorial of Jim Thorpe. While there is controversy surrounding his final resting place in the town, I think is it still a great spot to learn history, learn a little about the impacts of racism against Native Americans, and celebrate the athletic accomplishments of Jim Thorpe.

Eat at the Local Restaurants

Jim Thorpe has plenty of great restaurants. For example, Molly Maguires had one of the best roast beef sandwiches I have ever eaten.  I loved the hot and savory roast beef on a pretzel bun! Don’t forget to visit the Old Jail Museum to learn about the history behind the name of Molly Maguires.