Jim Thorpe: A Swiss-style fall getaway without the airfare

Are you looking for a fall escape that mixes the Pocono Mountains, professional sports and European flair? Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, is the destination to explore within a three-hour drive of Long Island.

It is named for sports legend Jim Thorpe, famous for his gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. Thorpe was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the U.S. and later played professional football and baseball. Some say he was one of the greatest athletes in the world. He died in 1953, and his wife and civic leaders made a deal to bury him and build a monument in the town that was founded in 1818 as Mauch Chunk to honor him and boost tourism. It was renamed Jim Thorpe in 1954.

With its mountain vistas and gorge, you might feel like you are in an alpine valley, which is why the area has been dubbed "the Little Switzerland of America."

Pack the car and head to this Pennsylvania gem straight out of a storybook. 

HOP ON A SCENIC TRAIN RIDE

The one absolute-must experience is a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, which takes you along the Lehigh River, crosses over bridges and offers views of rocky cliffs and forested mountains. The trip lasts about 70 minutes and bring your own food and drink (no alcohol) or seek out the snack car. (1 Susquehanna St., 570-325-8485, lgsry.com; standard coach is $25, $9 ages 3-12)

EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS  

Here, it’s all about the outdoors — in the spring, summer and fall, mountain hiking, biking, white water rafting, paddling and chasing waterfalls are top activities. Come winter, skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobile thrill visitors. Head to Lehigh Gorge State Park where there are 26 miles of trails or take a whitewater rafting trip down the Lehigh River. Hikers and bikers can explore the Lehigh Gorge Trail, part of the D&L Trail. (Lehigh Gorge Trail, 272-808-6192, pa.gov). 

Then there’s Mauch Chunk Lake Park, with its beach, fishing and rentals for kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, rowboats and paddleboards (625 Lenz Trail, 570-325-3669, carboncountypa.gov; free after Labor Day).

GO SHOPPING 

Another part of Jim Thorpe’s small-town charm is the shopping in hyper-local boutiques, gift shops and specialty stores, many in Victorian buildings on Broadway in the historic downtown. Treasure hunt at Antiques on Broadway and anticipate surprises among the antique furnishings, coins, glassware and retro collectibles (52 Broadway, 610-850-5660).

Browse the shelves at Sellers Books for their curated collection that includes bestsellers as well as rare finds (65 Broadway, 215-514-6443, sellersbooks.com).

CHECK OUT LIVE MUSIC 

For some entertainment, see who’s performing at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, where you can catch tribute acts. At more than 140 years old, it is one of oldest vaudeville theaters in the U.S. (14 W. Broadway, 570-325-0249, mcohjt.com)

For jazz music, head to Vic’s Jazz Loft at The Stabin Museum, located inside a historic, vaulted wireworks factory (268 W. Broadway, 570-325-5588, vicsjazzloft.com).

The Underground also offers live music worth checking out. That building is also home to the Broadway Grille with a menu that whets your appetite, including short rib grilled cheese (Cheddar and provolone) on sourdough bread, elk or bison burger and shrimp and lobster scampi (24 Broadway, 570-732-4343, broadwaygrillepub.com/underground).

TOUR AN OLD JAIL AND MORE MUSEUMS

If you’re traveling with tweens and teens, get a thrill from the Old Jail Museum. Explore the cells and basement dungeon cells once used for solitary confinement. This stone structure was completed in 1870 and was Carbon County’s prison until 1995 (128 W Broadway,  570-325-5259, theoldjailmuseum.com; $13, $10 ages 13-17, $7 ages 5-12, $1 ages 2-4).

For a museum experience of another sort, consider the Asa Packer Mansion Museum. The lavish digs were the home of philanthropist, railroad magnate and founder of Lehigh University Asa Packer. It took two years to build and was finished in 1861, with three stories, 18 rooms and about 11,000 square feet of living space (Packer Hill Avenue, 570-325-3229, asapackermansion.com; $20 ages 19-54, $15 ages 6-18, $10 ages 5 and under).

GRAB A BITE 

Grab a brew at the dog-friendly Bright Path Brewing, where you can choose from McGowan’s Cream Ale, the Hefeweizen, a Bavarian-style wheat beer and more options. (1215 North St., 570-732-9990, brightpathbrewing.com).

Pop in for a pour of the Noble Bourbon, BlackBerry Bramble, Tapped, a maple  flavored whiskey, among other offerings at Nomad Distilling (55 Broadway, 570-732-9922, nomaddistilling.co).

As for where to eat, there are some favorites. One is the Marion Hose Bar (16 W. Broadway, 570-732-1968, marionhosebar.com). It’s a restored firehouse with vintage firefighting decor. It serves locally sourced craft beers and cocktails. Menu items include the firehouse chili cheeseburger, French onion dumplings and the Wellington — beef tenderloin, mushrooms, melted Gruyere, dijonnaise drizzle, mixed greens on a buttered croissant bun.

At Ouros, you’ll get everything from vegetarian nachos, Asiago-stuffed gnocchi, Wagyu sliders, to filet mignon (70 Broadway, 570-325-2024, ourosjt.com).

SPEND THE NIGHT 

What you won’t find here is major national hotel chains and that adds to the town's charm. Take advantage of the opportunity to sleep in history. The Harry Packer Mansion is part of the opulent estate that dates to 1874. Harry was the son of business titan Asa Packer. In a word, this is luxury. The veranda is made from Vermont green sandstone and has the original mahogany ceiling and extravagant tile flooring. Over-the-top interiors will let you see how the other half lived. The 19th century vibe is taken seriously, so don’t expect modern amenities like televisions or in-room refrigerators. Stay in the Carriage House, said to be inspired by Victorian hunting lodges, with its classic plaid accents, fox hunting scenes and that era’s style of furnishings. Rates in the Carriage House start at $240 per night (19 Packer Hill Ave., 570-325-8566, hpmansion.com).

Spend the night at The Inn at Jim Thorpe, the Victorian-grandeur hotel built in 1849. Rooms feature electric fireplaces and soaking tubs. Guests can book spa services or grab a bite at Broadway Grille and the Underground. Room rates start at $180 per night (24 Broadway, 800-329-2599, innjt.com).