Scranton is a charming city in Pennsylvania’s Lackawanna River Valley. A former coal mining community, the area today is packed with museums and historical sites that reflect its industrial past. Picturesque parks, rolling hills and a large lake also surround Scranton.

Take a subterranean tour of the Lackawanna County Coal Mine. In the depths you’ll experience the pitch-black conditions in which miners worked for decades. Learn about the history of the mine and the young children who once worked in these squalid circumstances.

Hike along one of the paths around Lake Scranton alongside trees, flowers and plants. View the water as you take a healthy jog on the walking path. Enjoy a picnic on a grassy knoll with a backdrop of birds, squirrels, chipmunks and other wildlife.

The Steamtown National Historic Site is a railroad museum with an adjacent railroad located on 62 acres in downtown Scranton that is a must see for train enthusiasts.  Visit the Electric City Trolley Station and Museum to learn about the history of this transportation system and see antique trolleys. The children’s section has small models of the vehicles. Purchase souvenirs at the gift shop. The main attraction is a ride on a trolley through scenic countryside. 

Enjoy the serene ambiance at Nay Aug Park. Find walking trails, picnic benches and children’s playgrounds in this family-friendly area. Kids flock to the waterslide complex and Olympic-sized swimming pools. Follow the long wooden ramp, which is wheelchair-accessible, to the David Wenzel Tree House, where you can enjoy panoramic views of a gorge. The park’s Everhart Museum combines natural history, science and art. 

See a theatrical performance at the Scranton Cultural Center. The Gothic and Romanesque building is bathed in purple and blue light in the evening.