Scranton celebrates its iron and coal industry heritage with a collection of fascinating museums and coal mine tours. This landmark city also features a range of tranquil parks, exciting family attractions and surrounding nature reserves, as well as a strong connection with fans of the American television series “The Office”.
Things to do in Scranton
Take a journey back to Scranton’s years as a major contributor to the coal industry at Lackawanna Coal Mine in McDade Park. Here you can ride a heritage mine car down 300 metres below the ground and tour the old coal mining tunnels while learning about everyday life for miners. It’s connected to the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, which houses interesting exhibits on the region’s workers, iron furnaces and traditional homes.
Are you visiting with your family? Take the kids to the Electric City Trolley Museum, where you can explore vintage trolley cars, ride the trolleys and learn how to generate electricity. Get out and about at Nay Aug Park, which features a treehouse, waterfalls and swimming pool with waterslides.
Are you fascinated by art and science? Visit the Everhart Museum, home to a range of exhibits focussing on natural history and science, as well as 19th-century paintings and objects from ancient civilisations. For more nature, visit the Marywood University Arboretum, where you can see over 40 species of trees.
Explore Pennsylvania’s natural spoils at The Nature Conservancy's Dick & Nancy Eales Preserve, which boasts unique vegetation, mountain biking trails and hiking routes. If you’re visiting during winter, drive 13 kilometres to Montage Mountain Ski Resort for 24 skiing and snowboarding trails, including one of the steepest in the United States.
Getting around Scranton
Scranton is 20 minutes’ drive from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and is serviced by two long-distance bus lines. Scranton is easily explored on foot, by riding a bicycle or catching public buses.