Scranton is a historic city with a ton of things to do that was revitalized as a tourist destination in the mid-2000s by NBC's popular show The Office.
Tourists can step inside vintage steam locomotives and learn about railroad culture at its premier attraction, Steamtown National Historic Park. The Electric City Trolley Museum, which honors Scranton for being the first city in the nation to have streetcars powered only by electricity, offers rides on historic trolleys.
The Pennsylvania Anthracite History Museum and the 300-foot-deep Lackawant to Coal Mine Tour both offer information on the past of coal mining.
There are also a ton of things available for culture buffs and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. To mention a few attractions, there are performances at the Scranton Cultural Center, a popular tree house in Nay Aug Park, walks along the Lackawant to River Heritage Trail, and exhibits of American folk art at the Everhart Museum.
Use your time in the "Electric City" by doing some of the activities on our list of the best things to do in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
1. At the Steamtown National Historic Park, ring the locomotive bell
The history and culture of American steam railroading are on display at Steamtown. This National Historic Monument, which is simple to access from The Marketplace at Steamtown, is a haven for train enthusiasts of all ages.
You can get near to a collection of steam locomotives that millionaire F. Nelson Blount gathered around the middle of the 20th century, some of which provide tourists with seasonal trips.
A theater, an antique roundhouse, a turntable, a repair shop, and outbuildings from the years 1899 to 1902 are also located inside the 62-acre complex.
A visit to the nearby technology museum is also recommended. Many interactive displays are available, such as a game where visitors must guess what different train horns are attempting to say. This game is sure to make anyone a fan of trains.
2. Enter a treehouse in Nay Aug Park.
The largest park in Scranton, Nay Aug Park, which spans both banks of Roaring Brook, was founded in 1893.
Tourists may easily spend an entire day in this lush sanctuary between the beauty and its attractions, which include the well-known Everhart Museum, two Olympic-size swimming pools, a rose garden, picnic spaces, and playgrounds.
A few must-see locations can be visited if you only have an hour to spare. To begin, go to the David Wenzel Tree House. When it debuted in 2007, the wooden building, which stands 150 feet above the earth, was the first of its sort in the state. It provides a stunning perspective of the area, especially during the fall foliage.
After there, make the short, straightforward climb down the trail to Rie Rie Viewpoint for a view of the Nay Aug Gorge and Waterfall (a National Natural Landmark). Keep an eye out for the magnificent red-tailed hawks that call the area home.
3. Visit the Electric City Trolley Museum and ride a vintage trolley
In Scranton, transportation is celebrated in addition to trains. The Electric City Trolly Museum is located in a 19th-century mill structure next to Steamtown National Historic Park.
With displays of restored vintage trolleys that once traversed city streets, collections of signal equipment and mining railway artifacts, vintage street lights, and kid-friendly exhibits, it tells the history of eastern Pennsylvania's electric railway.
The museum also offers rides on genuine vintage trolleys from 1926 and 1932 to visitors. The 5.5-mile, beautiful rides follow Roaring Creek parallel and pass by the Old Iron Furnaces and Crown Avenue Tunnel. It is one of the longest interurban tunnels in the world, measuring more than 4,700 feet.
4. Go to the Aquarium & Reptile House in Electric City
The 20,000 square foot Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den, located on the first level of the Marketplace at Steamtown, throws a spotlight on exotic animals from all over the world. The amphibian and reptile den, where you may view brightly colored poison dart frogs, yellow-bellied slider turtles, an absurdly large African bullfrog, and a blue Komodo Island pit viper, sets the tone for visits right away.
The rainforest phase of your tour is next. You can witness a variety of mammals (such as a sloth, a porcupine, and cute kinkajous) and birds with rainbow-colored feathers here. After that, you'll arrive at the fascinating aquarium, where tank after tank of unusual species swim in ice-blue waters.
Don't skip the shark nursery, which is worthy of National Geographic. It illuminates four translucent eggs, each containing a squirming young bamboo shark, at various developmental stages.
5. Visit the Pennsylvania Anthracite History Museum to learn about Deep Coal Mining
The Pennsylvania Anthracite History Museum is the best place to learn about Pennsylvania's interesting history of hard coal mining.
This substantial museum is next to the Lackawant to Coal Mine Tour and educates tourists about the difficult working circumstances faced by coal miners, including child laborers, using a variety of rare pictures and relics (such as documents that recorded injuries and deaths by ethnicity).
It chronicles the emergence of unionization and workers' rights movements as well as the cultures and communities that emerged among coal miners.
A number of life-size recreations of significant locations for mine employees can be found at the museum, including an actual family home and a church that houses the original altar of the Immaculate Conception Church in Berwick, Pennsylvania, which was established by Irish immigrants in 1902.
6. Wander the grounds of Lake Scranton.
A five-minute drive from the center of town will take you to the 3.5-mile asphalt Lake Scranton Trail, which around the city's reservoir.
After a long trip, the picturesque trail is the ideal place to stretch your legs. Walking or jogging is simple due to the generally level terrain. And nothing beats the vistas of the magnificent foliage reflecting on the tranquil lake in the fall.
On the eastern edge of Lake Scranton, near to Highway 307, there is free parking accessible.
7. Montage Mountain snow tubing
One of the most popular winter activities in Scranton is participating in snow sports, and Montage Mountain offers a variety of icy excursions. The ski slope has one of Pennsylvania's longest and fastest snow tubing attractions, and it's only eight miles from downtown Scranton.
Moreover, there are 27 ski and snowboard trails, of which more than half are rated as novice or intermediate. Warm up with hot cocoa by the fire pits after hitting the slopes.
General Dynamics Ordnance in Scranton, Pennsylvania, producing 155mm shells for the Ukrainian army.
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) February 18, 2023
Another factory in Texas will also produce the same type of shells.
The USA ramping up the production capacities.#USA #Pennsylvania #Texas #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/TOmMbJSxiQ
The well-liked water park at Montage Mountain opens in the summer. Visit the wave pool, float down one of the exhilarating waterslides, and take a lazy river float. The resort's ZipRider, a zipline-style activity that provides a panoramic view of Scranton and Wilkes Barre, also allows riders to reach speeds of up to 50 mph.
8. Visit the Everhart Museum to see some American folk art
The Everhart Museum is situated on Nay Aug Park's western edge. One of the oldest museums in the area, it was established in 1908 by a Civil War veteran. With more than a dozen galleries, it emphasizes science, natural history, and the arts.
The Bird Gallery's collection of more over 2,300 specimens still reflects the museum's original goal of cataloguing local bird species.
Thousands of other specimens, such as unique shells, beetles, butterflies, monkeys, reptiles, fossils, and fluorescent rocks and minerals that shine in their case, are also part of the museum's natural science collection.
The Main Gallery on the second floor is completely filled with artwork. A sizable collection of American folk art can be found here. Also, you may view a variety of 19th-century paintings by regional and international artists as well as a collection of decorative arts that features renowned Dorflinger Glass.
9. Take a Little Walk Along a Section of the Lackawant to River Historic Trail
Scranton has many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The Lackawant to River Heritage Path is another option in addition to Nay Aug Park and the Lake Scranton Trail.
This lovely rail route runs from the border of New York State to Pittston, Pennsylvania, and it can be used by walkers, runners, and cyclists to cover distances of up to 70 miles. An area of the path that is 6.1 miles long is in Scranton.
One block north of the South Side Shopping Center and a short distance southeast of the intersection of Depot Street and Pond Avenue are two trailheads where visitors can access it.
10. Shop in Steamtown's Marketplace
The Marketplace in Steamtown, like many shopping centers across the nation, occasionally has a drowsy vibe. Yet, because of the mall's prime position near to the Steamtown Historic Park and its ample parking, visitors are likely to end themselves there at some point while visiting Scranton.
On the first floor, you'll find the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den as well as dining options and retail establishments. On the second level, there is a sizable bookstore.
During the year, The Marketplace at Steamtown also holds events including free concerts and seasonal markets.
11. Visit the Scranton Cultural Center,
The Scranton Cultural Center's events calendar is packed with performances, shows, and cultural activities. The Masonic Temple, which houses the venue and is listed on the National Register of Historic Properties, is just as popular as the big-name bands that perform here.
Raymond Hood, a renowned architect who is known for creating New York's Rockefeller Center, created the magnificent Neo-Gothic building. The building is decorated with Masonic emblems like two-headed eagles and shield designs.
Visit the building by participating in one of the many events held there throughout the year or by taking one of the Saturdays at 10am free public tours. By appointment, private visits can be arranged.
12. Explore Lackawant to County Courthouse Square.
In Scranton, the magnificent Lackawant to County Courthouse Square is a must-see sight. The ancient courthouse, which was constructed in 1884 and entered to the National Register of Historic Places 113 years later, stands out on the 4.7-acre site.
The Anthracite Coal Strike Commission held hearings in this courthouse in 1902–1903 during the six-month-long strike by mineworkers demanding improved working conditions, increased pay, and union recognition.
On the Adams Street side of the courthouse square now, there is a memorial honoring John Mitchell, who was the president of the United Mine Workers of America at the time.
You can find statues honoring a variety of different historical personalities as you walk around the area, including General Philip H. Sheridan, Christopher Columbus, and George Washington.
13. See the Inside of the Defunct Scranton Iron Furnaces
At the Steamtown National Historic Park, you may view the ruins of four enormous stone blast furnaces. All that's left of an enormous iron facility that once produced 125,000 tons of pig iron in 1880 while producing the iron rails for the Erie Railroad are the Scranton Iron Furnaces. In 1902, the factory was shut down.
With the Scranton Iron Furnaces now a part of the Pennsylvania Anthracite History Museum, the nation's iron-making history is being preserved for upcoming generations. Wandering around the enormous stone building and seeing inside the empty rooms is interesting.
14. Go on a tour of the Lackawant to coal mine.
Visitors are invited to board a mine car and go 300 feet below ground as part of the Lackawant to Coal Mine Tour to see the meandering tunnels of a coal mine that first opened in 1860. The popular, miner-led tour illustrates what life was like for the laborers who fueled the Industrial Revolution.
Bring comfortable shoes and a light jacket because the trip requires walking for half a mile in a cool atmosphere (53 degrees Fahrenheit).
The property also has some intriguing items on show above ground, such as a solid piece of 13,000-pound pure anthracite coal.
Visit the Pennsylvania Anthracite History Museum, which is just up the hill, for more information about coal mining and the working conditions of the miners.