Jim Thorpe Vacation Rentals

In the magnificent mountains of eastern Pennsylvania, the Poconos has a long history of being a premier vacation destination.
Whether you want to rough it in the wild, or stay in the most luxurious vacation rentals, condos, or homes, the Poconos has 2,400 square miles of pure land, quiet towns, matchless lakes, and flowing rivers, which make your vacation an exploration into a dream made reality. Native Americans were the first live in Poconos. They included Delaware, Iroquois, Shawnee, Minisink, Lenape, and Paupack. While the Dutch were the first European explorers to arrive in the Poconos, they were forced out by the English sometime around 1664. In 1742, the Poconos saw an influx of English and Germans. Anthony Dutote opened the first boarding house hotel in 1829. It became the resort center in the mid-1800s, so that by the turn-of-the-century, vacationers from Philadelphia and New York City were flocking to the Poconos.
The communities began a century's long serious development, such as with Lake Wallenpaupack, which was created by damming the creek; a hydroelectric plant was built here. It is the third largest man-made lake in the US, at 5,200 acres and 52 miles long. Known now today as "Pennsylvania's Playground", at one point during Prohibition, it was known as the "Friendly Mountain Resort", for its Puritan spirit. Card playing and gambling were prohibited, while golf and tennis were not allowed on Sundays.
The Poconos was a popular destination for the GIs and their wives during World War II. It was becoming known as the "Honeymoon Capital of the World". The invention of the heart-shaped tub was popularized here in 1963. To this day, the Poconos and its resorts set the mood for a gorgeous, romantic honeymoon. Skiing took hold in the 1950s. The snow maker was invented, patented in the Poconos, and was perfected in 1956.
The Poconos became more accessible with the construction of the interstates. A speedway, constructed in the Poconos, brings over 100,000 NASCAR fans every year. Entering into the 21st century, restaurants, golf courses, ski areas, stores, and just about everything in the resorts are developing nicely, property value dramatically on the rise. In Carbon County the town Jim Thorpe, named so from a Native American athlete, who, because he was found out about playing professional baseball for one season, was forced to relinquish his Olympic gold medals.
The first railroad in the United States is said to have begun in Jim Thorpe. The men who made millions from the railroad business also lived in Jim Thorpe. Known as "Switzerland of America", Jim Thorpe has 4,804 residents, as of 2000 census. Most notable attraction is the Asa Packer Mansion, which was home to one of the most famous and most wealthy railroad tycoons, also founder of Lehigh Valley Railroad and Lehigh University. Built in 1860, this Victorian mansion still has its original furnishings.
Built in 1827, the Gravity Railroad was a 14 kilometer down hill tracts, the railroad delivered coal to the Lehigh Canal in Mauch Chunk. In the 1850s, for $.50, you could ride "Gravity Road", in what is considered the first railroad in the United States. To this day, the Switchback Gravity Railroad Foundation studies the preservation and interpretation of the remains of the Switchback Gravity Railroad on top of Mount Pisgah. Mauch Chunk Lake Park, located in Jim Thorpe, is ideal for prime viewing of foliage, white water rafting, hiking, picnicking, sailing, swimming, fishing and mountain biking.

Lodging & Accommodations in the Poconos

Accommodations and lodging in Jim Thorpe are sure to please and make accessible all of the interesting attractions in the vicinity.
Anthracite Triathlon is a distance triathlon, which is open to both amateur and professional tri-athletes. Mauch Chunk Lake is where the swim portion is, while the bike course takes riders through the towns of Summit Hill, Nesquehoning, Lansford, and, Jim Thorpe, parallel to the switchback railroad, is the running portion. In Carbon County, October's Fall Foliage Festival has arts and crafts, food and live entertainment. Join the Olde Time Christmas celebration, filled with festivities and old fashioned fun.
Winterfest is an especially interesting event, where there is a poker fundraiser, Civil War history, ice carving, live music, and good food. Jim Thorpe's Opera House hosts many events and puts on brilliant shows. Famous comedians stop in Jim Thorpe, bringing laughter to the crowds. Upon arrival to Jim Thorpe, grab a calendar and join in on the fun. The dining experience in Jim Thorpe leaves no one wanting. Some restaurants you should try include Kelly's Irish pub, Fran's Covered Dish Cafe, Through the Looking Glass, and Terpstra's Tavern. While for fine dining, check out Macaluso's Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, Moya, Cafe Origins, Emerald Restaurant, and the Blackbread Cafe.
If you are not hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, camping, or just enjoying a night out on the town, there are many shops and stores, which may be the highlight of your trip to Jim Thorpe. Some of the stores carry antiques, art, books, clothing, gifts and novelties, music, and the latest in fashion and sports gear. When choosing vacation rentals, keep in mind that you may either want to be close to all events, restaurants, and stores, or near the heart of the wilderness. Either way, Jim Thorpe is exactly what you'd expect and more. When you come to Hula plays like of the Poconos, especially in the region of Jim Thorpe, you want certain kinds of activities.
But in a place like Jim Thorpe, there are more activities that you might imagine and you may just have to return to Jim Thorpe to try all the activities. Some include mountain biking, boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, paintballing, skiing, snowboarding, and touring the wonders of nature. Jim Thorpe is just one of the many locations in the Poconos. You may never have to leave Jim Thorpe, but if you do, there is so much to explore in the wilderness.
The lodging and accommodations should be either as rough as you want them to be or as comfortable and luxurious as possible. And it is not hard to find vacation rentals, condos, or homes, that does all those things and which will suit you both at the same time.