Anonymous wrote:Can you give a link to the mine tour? We drive right by Scranton on the way to upstate NY to see family and that might make an interesting detour.

http://www.lackawannacounty.org/index.php/attractions/coal-mine

OP we had the same trip planned but didn't make it due to illness. Our DC are pretty jazzed about going. Have fun!

Mine tour is great, my kids were 5 and 7 when we went and they really found it interesting. Not a special trip though, we were on our way to the Poconos.

Can you give a link to the mine tour? We drive right by Scranton on the way to upstate NY to see family and that might make an interesting detour.

Anonymous wrote:Go through Ashland and stop at the anthracite museum
http://www.anthracitemuseum.org

Then drive over and see what is left of Centralia.

If you like to hike, take a detour to Hawk Mountain.

Ashland and Centralia? Depression Grand Central.

It sounds like a great trip that will strongly reinforce how good it is to live here and not there.

Go through Ashland and stop at the anthracite museum
http://www.anthracitemuseum.org

Then drive over and see what is left of Centralia.

If you like to hike, take a detour to Hawk Mountain.

Anonymous wrote:If you have kids why don't you a least take them to one of the water parks in the Poconos on Satruday/Sunday.

The rest sounds miserable to a kid.

OP here

Really? A national park all about trains is miserable to a kid? We actually went there several years ago and my kids loved it! But the younger ones were too young to remember that now so I thought a second visit would be fun.

Thanks to the PP who recommended the Thai restaurant and hike.

If you have kids why don't you a least take them to one of the water parks in the Poconos on Satruday/Sunday.

The rest sounds miserable to a kid.

Anonymous wrote:This sounds awful. Really totally awful. If you have some interest then go on your own. Don't drag your kids into it. The only redeeming thing was the pizza but if that won't make your kid happy let him enjoy his life and go by yourself.

STFU. The coal mine tour is great ... for kids and adults. Steamtown is a good way to kill a couple of hours, along with the separate Trolley museum on the same acreage.

Downtown, near the university, there is a Thai restaurant that is in my top 10 Thai restaurants anywhere in the U.S. (and I spend too much time at Mi lay cay and the vastly overrated little Serow.)

The other thing we really enjoyed is the mini hike in Nay Aug Park, ending at this treehouse. It could well be too cold for that, though

This sounds awful. Really totally awful. If you have some interest then go on your own. Don't drag your kids into it. The only redeeming thing was the pizza but if that won't make your kid happy let him enjoy his life and go by yourself.

I grew up near there and there is nothing you could do that would entice me to willingly go there.

Ha ha I love Scranton. But other than Steamtown and the coal mine, I don't think there is much to do.

Is there a Dunder Mifflen tour?

There is a mine tour there that I have been dying to do for years. It's closed during the winter and this is the last weekend it's open---we have no other plans this weekend so Friday we are driving to Scranton!

Our plan right now is to leave somewhat early Friday morning and arrive in Scranton in the early afternoon. We will visit Steamtown National Park. Saturday we will go to the Anthracite Heritage Museum and the mine tour, then drive home.

I know that Old Forge, close to Scranton, is famous for pizza. Does anyone have a specific recommendation? I was thinking we'd do that for dinner Friday night or maybe lunch on Saturday. I should mention that we have a kid that HATES cheese and will not eat pizza. Usually when we get pizza, he gets a sub or chicken wings or something--so a pizza place that also serves other things would be great.

I've done a bit of research and saw that Nay Aug park has a Christmas light display. Is this worth visiting? Anything else we shouldn't miss (particularly if it is Christmas/holiday related?)

Thanks!