This Thanksgiving escape to the quaint village of Jim Thorpe, PA, , for an idyllic two days at the Inn at Jim Thorpe, a cozy Victorian-style bed and breakfast.
A haven for artists and entertainers, Jim Thorpe is the county seat of Carbon County, PA, and a three-hour drive from New York City. Once known as Mauch Chunk,a Leni Lenape Indian name meaning Bear Mountain, the town is a great base for area exploration or simply resting a spell.
Jim Thorpe, renamed in the 60s for the famous Native American athlete who is buried there, is an inviting little village. Broadway, the main street is lined with charming shops like the Mauch Chunk 5&10, an old-time general store with original pressed tin ceilings and hardwood floors, and Rainbow's End, an old-fashioned candy store.
Nearby is Lehigh Gorge State Park for hiking, whitewater rafting or mountain biking. Jim Thorpe River Adventures charges $53 per person for river adventures through October and rents mountain bikes for $5 per hour with a three-hour minimum.
Founded in 1816, The tiny town is known for its firsts. Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, it is also home of the first railroad and the first rollercoaster. At the turn of the century, the village was a more popular resort destination than Niagara Falls. It is the former home of millionaire railroad magnate and founder of Lehigh University, Asa Packer. The millionaire's mansion may be toured today.
Other tourist attractions include the Old Jail Museum, site of the hanging of seven coal miners known as the Molly Maguires, the Mauch Chunk Museum, St. Mark-St. John Church, an 1869 Gothic Revival stone church, the Mauch Chunk Opera House, and No. 9 Mine, the world's oldest continuously operating anthracite coal mine.
Tired of touring, relax with customized spa treatments offered by the Inn in conjunction with The Therapy Option. From a relaxing lavender body wrap to warm stone massage, there's a treatment to soothe even the most frenzied spirit.
Formerly the New American Hotel, the Inn at Jim Thorpe is a New Orleans style grand hotel with street front veranadas nestled in the center of the tiny historic mountain village. Built on the foundation of the White Swan Hotel, which burned to the ground in the late 1840's, the hotel was purchased by its current owners and lovingly restored. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Inn's Thanksgiving package Nov. 27-29 starts at $135 per person, double occupancy. The two night stay includes a Thanksgiving buffet at Inn's Emerald restaurant and includes all taxes and gratuities.
Mary Macrae Warren - footloose, food-loving travel queen in search of the best places to visit, the best travel tips and the best trip deals
