Jeff Dorman
Dog Friendly Lodging Near Jim Thorpe Pa – My little family went on a camping trip in rural Pennsylvania to a small town called Jim Thorpe, in the Lehigh Gorge Valley. I grew up on the NY/PA border, so I missed those mountains when I transitioned. the leaf! Jim Thorpe has also made numerous “best of” or “must see” lists in Town & Country, Expedia, Country Living, USA Today, National Geographic, etc. . He was even nicknamed the “Switzerland of America”.
Driving through Jim Thorpe, you can immediately see the beauty of the buildings! Many historic buildings are colorful and detailed! It is an easy walk to downtown with many shops, restaurants and businesses to explore. Many of the historic buildings have been converted such as an old fire station turned into a bar, an Irish pub turned into an old hotel, etc. Jim Thorpe is also steeped in history and you can see pieces throughout the building, business names, museums and more. I noticed the name Mauch Chunk everywhere in the city center which I found in the library was the old name of the city. Jim Thorpe was a Native American athlete and the city was renamed in his memory in 1953.
Dog Friendly Lodging Near Jim Thorpe Pa
The town of Jim Thorpe was primarily focused on railroads and mining. There was a museum with the history of mining in Jim Thorpe. One of the main attractions is the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railroad. While we were visiting, we saw some 1900s steam trains offering train rides. The train is even dog friendly!! Unfortunately, my dog hates loud noises (horns, screeching tires, etc.) so it wasn’t going to be a fun ride for us. I’m really tired! I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in the leaves. In front of the train station in Josiah White Park, there was a beautiful gazebo that gave me Star Hollows (Gilmore Girls) vibes!
Choose Your Own Adventure In Jim Thorpe, Pa
I was drawn to all the Victorian houses around Jim Thorpe. The two most famous are the Asa Packer Mansion and the Harry Packer Mansion. Both houses have an Italian style. Asa Packer founded the Lehigh Valley Railroad. And guess what?! Packer connects with Mystic! How to do it?? He was born here in Mystic, Connecticut in 1805. He moved at age 17 to work, and ended up in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. The Harry Packer Mansion sits next to the Asa Packer Mansion overlooking the town of Jim Thorpe. Asa’s son Harry Packer received the house as a wedding gift. The Harry Packer Mansion also inspired Disney to be the model for the movie ‘Haunted Mansion’. The Asa Packer Mansion is open for tours and the Harry Packer Mansion is a bed and breakfast but offers tours on weekends (Murder Mystery events). I was in awe of how beautiful the porch of the Asa Packer Mansion was, and the views of the railroad, mountains and downtown Jim Thorpe were amazing!
Books – I am a hacker for any store! It’s a nice little bookstore but a good selection of the latest (and older) books.
Curiosity Cafe and Ice House – Inside! I loved the gothic touches and the purple wallpaper. We had delicious raspberry lemonade.
Rainbow’s End – an old fashioned candy store that has all the candy from our childhood! A fun store to remember.
Unique Dog Friendly Adventures In Jim Thorpe, Pa
Dimmick Memorial Library – I almost passed out at the library entrance. Boy, am I glad I joined Dimmick. The interior of this Victorian library blew me away! I could spend the day in every corner!
Jingle Bells Christmas Shoppe – shop for all things Christmas. It’s a pleasure to go to this store. I loved how they incorporated Christmas into their outdoor fall decorations!
Muggles – calling all Harry Potter fans, this is a must see. The best part? It’s dog friendly! My pup got a pupuccino (pumpkin, whipped cream and milk beans!). We (the muggers) enjoyed a delicious pumpkin pie latte.
Molly Maguire’s Pub & Steakhouse – we’ve been enjoying lunch since we had a puppy. Great food and friendly service! The owners are from Dublin, Ireland!
The Y On Broadway
We want to see more but we are closed. If you’re planning a day in Jim Thorpe, check the hours of the places you want to see. Many of them had a strange time. As I said earlier, there is a fireman.outside offering bar bites and drinks. Also downtown, there is an old bookstore and an Irish goods store that was closed when we visited. We always like to walk downtown for the day.
Jim Thorpe would be a great weekend getaway if you are in the Poconos/Eastern Pennsylvania region. Stay tuned for the next blog: camping in Jim Thorpe.
Historic Race Street – more shops and businesses on this street just off Main Street (Broadway).
