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.

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.

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.

Scranton is nothing compared to its sister-city Wilkes-Barre.
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.

Dear xx.x.xx,

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.

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

mih-It's a sad state of affairs when you start defending a town by talking about how close it is to GOOD places.

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.
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!

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.

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!!

to the top

Visit Carmen's restaraunt int he Lackawanna Station. It's an old train station converted into a Radisson Hotel.

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:

Culm dumps don't glow anymore. Fires are out and no "gas smell" remains.

Coal Mine tour is very interesting and worthwhile.

St. Pat's parade is one of the biggest in the country. Too many drunks and fights.

Old Forge Pizza must be an aquired taste - I like real pizza better.

Montage is a very good sports arena, entertainment complex, ski slope (not really a resort) and movie theater.

Is probably is a better place to live than to visit - but we love it here. Great place to raise kids.

Has some of the friendliest people in the country (and some of the rudest, too.)

Has some very beautiful natural scenery, including mountains, lakes, streams, etc.

Excellent hunting and fishing.

Some beautiful (not too many) historical buildings and landmarks.

Some real "American" neighborhoods.

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.
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.
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.
Still, those pierogies are really good...