Visiting Scranton (Reading, Wilkes-Barre, York: coupons, houses, live in)

[nepanite]

If you are up on a weekend, get a reservation a few weeks in advance for psychic theater at the Houdini museum. An excellent show that used to start at 7pm and end close to midnight. You can do a search for 'psychic theater' but I remember the website was not impressive. You do need reservations though for the audience is kept small on purpose (full audience participation also, bend keys in your hands with the power of your mind, etc. - keep the key!!!)
I don't think the coal mine tour would be open yet but if so, definitely worth checking out.
Visitors usually like Nay Aug Park waterfalls, bridge to nowhere and tree house
Steamtown if you are a locomotive buff is a must see.
And of course the impending renaissance of the downtown in all of its ephemeral glory

[scrantonluna]

It's too bad the trolley museum will not be running excursions until May, it's inexpensive and pretty cool.

[Wolfman89]

The steam museum sounds nice..as does this bridge to nowhere.

I would also say the psychic thing but I'm going to end up forggetting and not making reservations.

We're only gonna be up there a day.

[CHS89]

Why do you need reservations to a psychic museum? If they're worth their salt, they'd know you were coming before you did...

[NEPAfriend]

I love Scranton and there is a lot of fun things to do but if you are here for a while you can always do a day trip to New York (less than 2 hour drive!)

[krislati]

If you like shopping there is the shops at Montage, outside shopping mall.
There is Snow Mountain, you can go skiing or tubing for the the day, if the snow is not melted yet, and with the cold winter it might not be, or if you go to the poconos which is about 45 min there is Great Wolf Lodge with alot of things to do, and Tannersville outlets for more shopping. As op said, we are close to NYC as well.

[beckycat]

Originally Posted by krislati

If you like shopping there is the shops at Montage, outside shopping mall.
There is Snow Mountain, you can go skiing or tubing for the the day, if the snow is not melted yet, and with the cold winter it might not be, or if you go to the poconos which is about 45 min there is Great Wolf Lodge with alot of things to do, and Tannersville outlets for more shopping. As op said, we are close to NYC as well.

I was going to say go shopping at Montage. If the snowtubing is still open, that's alot of fun. Good suggestions!

[Wolfman89]

thanks for all the suggestions.

[scrantonluna]

If you only have one day, then maybe April won't be so bad.
Here are some suggestions on what can fill a day in Scranton.

Everhart museum and Nay Aug park - not the Metropolitan, but not a bad little museum. The park has a couple highlights you should check out, most notibly the tree house, and also the nearby Genesis Wildlife Center. There are some light walking trails, and the Nay Aug gorge should definately be on your list. (not far from the downown, less than a 5 min drive)

Steamtown national historic site/Electric City trolley museum - both are in the same parking lot, and you should really see both. It's a complete shame that you won't be visiting a month later, when you would see both steam engines and trolleys in operation, and have a chance to ride them. (in downtown, at the end of Lackawanna Ave)

Coney Island Lunch on Lackawanna Avenue- about as downtown Scranton as you can get. Texas weiners and hamburgers, a Scranton staple at a great price. (heart of downtown, right on Lackawanna)

Northern Light espresso bar/ Anthology books - don't know what you're tastes are, but Northern is the place to go if you're looking for a coffee fix, and Anthology offers a great selection of new, used, and first edition books, all at great prices. Anthology is located in a building just behind Northern, in the center of the block. Outrageous, located in the same building, has funky jewelry at low prices, great gifts for the girlfriends you're ditching to see Scranton for the day. (on Spruce, one block from lackawanna - runs parallel)

Gertrude Hawk Chocolate/Dunmore Candy Kitchen - both are in Dunmore (a Scranton suburb), both have great chocolate. Go around the side and visit the 'seconds' section of Gertrude Hawk's to avoid sticker shock. The Candy Kitchen has great milkshakes and sundaes. Their formed chocolate pieces are so pure, they melt in your hands, so be careful handling and transporting them.

Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour - located a little ways outside of the downtown, definately worth seeing if it's up and running in April. You go down in an actual mine.

North American Warhorse - motorcycle and ATV superstore. Yeah, I know it's a business, but they have a lot of eye candy. (also in Dunmore, right behind Gertrude Hawks)

Some other pointers; Scranton has two comic book shops in the downtown. Be sure to try 'Cherokee Red' soda, a local flavor from the Crystal Bottling Co. they amazingly still haven't banned. If you're smokers, make sure you try a Parodi cigar, made right in Scranton, and available just about anywhere. Clint Eastwood smoked these in most of his westerns, I think their 'Ram Rod' specifically. You can also try their 'Avantis,' which are a black licorice flavor.

I would also make a point to check out the Lackawanna County Courthouse (there's nothing to really see on the inside, it's still a functioning court house) and also the Electric City sign, which lights up nightly, I think around 8? They're both on the square, right across from Northern Light.

[Wolfman89]

^I love how both of the big Scranton foods are named after other places.

I will probably visit most of the museums and I think everyone should be interested in the mine tour.

I don't smoke...but I may buy the cigars anyway just to have because of my Eastwood obsession.