4,063 Best Things to do in Scranton
 

I won second prize of a 2 week vacation in Scranton in a contest. (First prize was 1 week.) My travel agent said that was a great place to visit, but couldn't name anythng to do. Can anyone help me out? The first 4,063 things would be enough. Thanks.

I would drive to the finger lakes in New York--a couple of hours-and visit some wineries.

When I was a kid and we had to visit my grandparents in Scranton, we would tear open large packing cartons and slide down the coal hills! <BR> <BR>And we now wonder, as adults in our family, why we all have serious health issues... <BR> <BR>Also, there's LOTS of corner bars to help you TRY to forget that you're in Scranton. lol..

I was in Scranton once. It actually has some character, a dramatic mountain setting, hilly, much if not most of the central city dates from the 1880-1940 period, it gives off a very old Americana soda fountain and diner kind of vibe. Unless they've built a modern one the library is in a very elegant building, from the time when it was considered important for public buildings even in rinky-dink towns to be elegant and somewhat inspiring. And as far as tourists go, you will definitely be off the beaten track among "real" Americans, though meeting such people doesn't seem to be the goal it is in travelling here that it is in other countries.

My advice to you my friend is to drink heavily.

You LUCKY devil you, you don't say what time of the year you're thinking of redeeming your Prize but if you're into skiing there are a number of slopes in the area(Elk Mountain for one).If you are a hunter you will find excellent white tail deer hunting in the area..........I think that covers it !!

Try to get down to "The Valley" on a Friday or Saturday night. The best pizza on this planet can be had at a little hole-in-the-wall place, Victory Pig BBQ. Their pizza, only served on certain nights, is worth driving 500 miles for, which I do about once a year or so. They've been copied several times, but the original (and best) Victory Pig is on Wyoming Ave in Wyoming...just across the street from the Midway Shopping Center. If I'm not mistaken, they have a mini-golf course right behind, so there's your activity for a fun-filled evening. :-)

Uh.. didn't you people get that this is a take off on all the "100 best things to do in NYC" posts and the like... (nice job, actually, listlover) <BR>(you'd think the "second prize of a 2 week vacation in Scranton in a contest. (First prize was 1 week.)" comment would be a tip off...

I think the contest "listlover" won was legitimate. A few years ago a radio station (in Florida, as I recall) had a losers contest. The grand prize was a week in Buffalo, New York (in the winter, of course). Well, Buffalo found out about it, and Buffalo rose to the occasion. The "losers" were met at the airport with a red carpet rolled out - the mayor of Buffalo greeted them with a dozen red roses, and one of the high school bands played for them, and they were treated like royalty - keys to the city - the whole nine yards. This sounds to me like a similar contest and if it is, I hope Scranton will welcome these people with open arms, and find lots for them to do.

Scranton Rules!

Drive south to Jim Thorpe, PA for a few hours. It's quaint little town on the side of a mountain. If you go during the fall, you can take the train out to the gorge to see the fall colors...one of the most beautiful sites you'll ever see.

I am so sorry to hear this terrible news. My heart goes out to you and your family, but that's what you get for entering a contest run by the Sadists of America. Can you try to sell it on eBay to recoup your losses?

I just saw a Janet Jackson Concert at the First Union Arena, and Les Miserables at the Scranton Cultural Center. Lot of things to do and great restaurants. Not what you would think.

The Scranton public library, main branch, aka Albright Library is indeed a beautiful specimen. My great grandafther and his brother did all of the woodwork -they were master craftsmen from Switzerland. Haven't been there in several years, so not sure what condition it is in these days.

Is the topless donut shop in Dickson City still open? It was one of my favorite Sunday brunch spots back in my college days in central PA.

Les Miserables in Scranton. How appropriate.<BR><BR>HE'S KIDDING, PEOPLE, JUST KIDDING!!!

I know you're kidding, but we visit a friend of ours there every year, and there is one of the best seafood restaurants called Coopers. They go through tons of ice each day and have Belgian brews on tap and your more exotic seafood specials. Last time I was there the catch of the day was wolf fish, which has a flavor like shellfish, it was great! So every time we visit I look forward to going there, it holds its own against the best I've had here in Philly. The Steam Town Mall is just a mall, but it has an interesting walkway over the train yards, and the trains are older models refurbished to brand new, so for train buffs that might be of interest. So there's my 2 points of interest, only 4000+ to go...

Last summer we were passing Scranton on the way to western NY and stopped at the Lackawana Coal Mine, which had a very interesting tour. Check it out, my kids thought it was cool.

<BR>http://www.surfscranton.com/<BR><BR>

Scranton also has a couple of sports teams, but minor hockey (Penguins) and minor baseball. (Red Barons) You also don't have to travel to ski - there is Montage Mountain.<BR><BR>This was obviously a joke, but based in fact - there was such a contest to write about Scranton even if the prizes weren't as described.<BR><BR>No - I do know of probably the only donut shop in Dickson, and it's not topless.

How about visiting that fancy drug store? Sugarmans******* I think?

If you're not a troll and really want to know, just relax and take it easy when visiting Scranton.<BR><BR>My husband is from Eyenon, which is a small town just outside of Scranton. Almost his entire very extended family live in the area too. I've been there so many times, I think the car could get there by itself. Anyway, I've been sitting here trying to think of the proper words to describe the unique "flavor" of the Scranton area. It's not easy. I live near Washington D.C., and it's certainly quite different from Scranton. From that perspective, My husband is alway expressing amazement that Scranton has one amenity or another -- for instance, Montage. Everytime we pass it on our way up to his mother's lake house, he complains bitterly that it wasn't there for him and his friends to enjoy during their youth.<BR><BR>But some things never change, like small-town life. Our visits to Scranton are mostly uncomplicated, and filled with the joy of experiencing simple things, like evening fishing on the lake during the Spring or morning chats in the gazebo over coffee with my mother-in-law, knowing there's no hurry to get anywhere. The opposite of our lives in D.C. <BR>

Scranton is nothing compared to its sister-city Wilkes-Barre.<BR>The BEST beer drinkers in the world.And the best mayor in the world;;Mayor McGroarty alias Mayor Magoo (private joke) he he he !!!

Any one who is criticizing or making fun of Scranton must not be widely traveled. There are all sorts of really remote, really awful places which have nothing going for them and they are not close to anything. From Scranton you can get to NYC in 2 and a half hours, the Poconos in one, Philadelphia in 2 and a half, the Atlantic Beaches in 4. It is a small city but that has more pluses than minuses. It's in a great state, has many lakes and parks nearby, is low crime, is very interesting and diverse culturally, has very strong family and community ties... I could go on and on.<BR><BR>

Dear xx.x.xx,<BR><BR>Hate to say it but Sugarmans has been out of business for some time. You can talk to JTA since it was in Eynon. (otherwise known as Eynon Drug) It was one heck of a going out of business sale I can tell you that.

Of course this was a joke, a take-off on the "100 things to do in..." It was not to demean Scranton, just to pick an unlikely place. But the outpouring of things to do has been surprising, and I hope that now some people will have the incentive to stop while passing through. I live in PA and have driven through Scranton several times, and when I am there again I will stop to see some of the things noted here.<BR><BR>mjh - I have been in 41 states and 43 countries.

originally from Scranton and cringe every time I have to make a trip back there!! It is like being in a time warp. They do have some great pizza places in Old Forge, and a beer joint on every corner! i think the days of maybe witnessing a sinking mine are over. There is a train ride, from the old Lackawanna station, and a coal mine that kids always like. beside that, take a good book and make sure to keep a window open, coal gas fumes can be dangerous!!

An interesting article in the Scranton Times newspaper from 3/9/2002, titled "Prefers St Pats Parade to Paradise." It's about a man who travels from Honolulu every year to see the annual St. Patricks Day Parade in Downtown Scranton. I was there this week, along with 70,000 other people. It was great..The Web Site is WWW.Scrantontimes.com<BR>

mih-It's a sad state of affairs when you start defending a town by talking about how close it is to GOOD places.<BR><BR>I spent a summer working at a camp near Scranton. The camp was beautiful, as are the Poconos (as long as you avoid the cheesy resorts). However, in my trip into Scranton (note the singular--no desire to ever ever return), I found nothing to interest a tourist. Maybe it's a good place to live, but not a good place to visit.

Well, it certainly depends on what you're looking for, right? If you're looking to relax, Scranton is a great place to visit. If you're looking for cultural events and big-city excitement, look elsewhere.

I'm also from Scranton and have been in DC for a long time now.<BR>I have many things to do every time I go to Scranton. And yes getting pizza at my favorite Old Forge restaurant is right up in the top ten. I LOVE Revello's, but Ghigarellis and Arcaro & Gennells is good too as is bruticos. I took the trip down in the mine too. Took a ride on the steam train - visited their great Univ of Scranton and also went into the old Scranton home (Part of the U) where my ancester did much of the carved woodwork. My kids and I both love Montage - much cheaper than flying to Vail or Breckinridge. Used to spend weeks at their great lakes (Lake Winola, Lake Sheridan, Lake Wallenpaupack) You can find antiques in 2nd hand shops there, and fabrics for recovering/reupholstering in your home, Scranton has some of the best small saloons where you can sit and have a old country recipe dinner. Then on the other bright side - where else can you see an entire mountain of junk cars (courtesy of DiNaples) culm dumps that actually glow at night. I know I can always find lots to do there - maybe that's why I like going back. (It does help keep my feet firmly on the grouns)

Yay, the Scranton thread is back!<BR><BR>We are happy to say that we will be in Jessup for the May 25 Race of the Saints. Scranton locals will know what I'm talking about. They shut down the main streets of Jessup and the young men run through the town with statues on platforms of Saints Ubaldo, George, and Anthony hoisted up on their shoulders. Participants include natives of Gubio, Italy, which is Jessup's sister city. No matter how close the race, St. Ubaldo ALWAYS wins. <BR><BR>The Jessup volunteer hose company carnival goes on the same weekend and the smells of steamed clams, pierogies and italian sausage perfume the air. Viva St. Ubaldo!!

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Visit Carmen's restaraunt int he Lackawanna Station. It's an old train station converted into a Radisson Hotel. <BR><BR>Then go on a tour of Steam Town NHS and take an excursion or two.

Can anyone recommend any hotels in Scranton where my barking dog and I can hear people having sex in the next room?

Go to Scranton for Memorial Weekend!

Lived in the Scranton area for several years now. (Lived in many areas in NE US). INMHO:<BR><BR>Culm dumps don't glow anymore. Fires are out and no "gas smell" remains.<BR><BR>Coal Mine tour is very interesting and worthwhile.<BR><BR>St. Pat's parade is one of the biggest in the country. Too many drunks and fights.<BR><BR>Old Forge Pizza must be an aquired taste - I like real pizza better.<BR><BR>Montage is a very good sports arena, entertainment complex, ski slope (not really a resort) and movie theater.<BR><BR>Is probably is a better place to live than to visit - but we love it here. Great place to raise kids.<BR><BR>Has some of the friendliest people in the country (and some of the rudest, too.)<BR><BR>Has some very beautiful natural scenery, including mountains, lakes, streams, etc.<BR><BR>Excellent hunting and fishing.<BR><BR>Some beautiful (not too many) historical buildings and landmarks.<BR><BR>Some real "American" neighborhoods.<BR><BR>A place we have decided is one of the nicest areas we've been to live and raise a family.

I grew up there (Well, actually, no one really grows up in Scranton, that happens after one leaves. In Scranton you just get older. Ever see "That Championship Season?) Left over 20 years ago, do go back to visist remaining family. The place is economically a disaster, naturally quite beautiful, culturally a wasteland but getting better. It's a great example of the late 19th/early 20th century transition from immigrant to assimilated culture, with strong retention of the essentially peasant ethic of the immigrants who populated the place to build railroads and mine coal. Later came the sweatshops - most of the high end off the rack womens' clothes were made there until the 70's. The first time I visited Eastern Europe I was amazed at how much of the culture felt so familiar, then realized that this was because I grew up with it. <BR>The predominant culture is one of the European immigrant, with a majority defiantly Catholic, at least in name. Vigorously defended suspension of rational thinking in the name of submission to mystical authority, not at all unlike that seen in impoverished Latin American countries where the relatively small ruling class uses the Catholic church as a tool to foster oppression and maintain control. Everyone turns out for the church events, then goes on to violate the basic tenets of Christianity pretty much at will - and at length. Major disconnect between stated values and behavior, individualy and socially. Still, some of the best pirogies you'll ever eat!

What does this mean - "Everyone turns out for the church events, then goes on to violate the basic tenets of Christianity pretty much at will - and at length." ?

=hypocrisy.<BR>The "love thy brother and emulate Jesus" party line is in direct contrast to typical behaviors of social injustice, enduring suspicion, intolerance, and rushed judgment of anyone or anything different. A firm unwillingness to look critically at reality in favor of perpetuating the familiar.<BR>Still, those pierogies are really good...