7 Close-Knit Towns To Visit In The Poconos
Looking for a vacation where small-town charm is combined with nature’s grandeur? The Pocono Mountains offer something beyond scenic beauty—tight-knit communities where locals greet guests like old friends. Heart of northeast Pennsylvania, the Poconos spans four counties known for their forests, lakes, and historic settlements. They may be small, but their strong local identity, traditions, and civic pride make them stand out. Whether you stroll through a historic main street, visit one of the family-run hotels, or experience one of the local festivals, you can feel the warmth of these welcoming townships. From historic districts and scenic trails to favorite diners and general stores from the good old days, these seven enclaves showcase the heart and soul of the Poconos. Pack your bags and experience these friendly villages for yourself.
Jim Thorpe
Once a thriving coal town, Jim Thorpe has reinvented itself as a hotbed of history, adventure, and local culture. Stunning 19th-century architecture is celebrated in the Asa Packer Mansion Museum, where guided tours remind visitors of the town's industrial past. The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway takes passengers through craggy mountains over historic bridges and alongside sweeping vistas over the river. In the scenic trails through the Lehigh Gorge State Park, hikers and bicyclists travel through trails lined by rock cliffs and waterfalls.
Festivals and live entertainment hold the town together. Locals and tourists come for music, craft, and outdoor marketplaces during the Fall Foliage Festival. Jim Thorpe is also home to one of the nation's oldest theaters, the Mauch Chunk Opera House. It features intimate productions that bring the town together for great memories through music and narration.
Milford
Perched along the Delaware River, the town of Milford is one where history and nature frame day-to-day life. Gifford Pinchot's house, the Grey Towers National Historic Site, offers guided tours and sweeping woodland views. Pennsylvania's highest waterfall, the Raymondskill Falls, rumbles through the woods only minutes from town. The Columns Museum preserves the bloodstained Lincoln Flag, a relic from his assassination.
Locals take great pride in their intimate town, where gathering places and traditions bring the locals together. Locals gather through the Milford Readers & Writers Festival and open discussions over books. Locals' favorite gathering place for live music is the Waterwheel Café, a 19th-century gristmill repurposed as a café. Hotel Fauchère, established in 1852, welcomes generations of families drawn by its convivial atmosphere.
Honesdale
Known as the "Birthplace of the American Railroad," the town preserves its history at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum, where the Stourbridge Lion steam train replica chronicles the town's industrial history. The Irving Cliff Overlook offers panoramic views, while the Dyberry Creek trails wind through peaceful woodlands, perfect for quiet strolls and fishing.
Locals come together through music, food, and shared traditions. Neighborhood streets come alive yearly during the Roots & Rhythm Festival, filled with live music and artwork, bringing tourists and neighbors together. Community tables and small-batch brews set the stage for friendly conversation At Here & Now Brewing Company, where regulars share stories and guests feel like locals from the start.
Stroudsburg
Stroudsburg thrives on its strong sense of community, where local culture, festivals, and landmarks unify the town. One-hundred-year-old Sherman Theatre remains the venue for concerts and productions bringing locals and tourists together. Winterfest converts Main Street into a festive venue where neighbors gather around fireplaces and ice sculpture display cases and exchange hot drinks and stories.
A deep love for history breathes life into the town's customs at the Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, where costumed interpreters recreate daily life from the 1760s to 1913, offering hands-on experiences that connect generations. The Monroe County Historical Association, housed in an 18th-century home, preserves local history through exhibits and artifacts. Just short of the town's main street, Glen Park is the serene escape where residents walk the woods-shaded trails and picnic alongside the creek, solidifying the town's friendly nature.
Hawley
Life in Hawley revolves around Lake Wallenpaupack, where tourists and locals enjoy strolling, fishing, and boating. Tours from the Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tour & Rentals showcase the scenic spots around the lake while providing its history. Closest to the lake, Bingham Park offers year-round activities, from playgrounds and shaded trails to picnic areas where families gather.
The town’s intimate nature is attested by its landmarks and town festivals. Historic Hawley Silk Mill, previously a manufacturing structure from the 19th century, is now filled with boutiques, galleries, and coffee houses where the locals know the patrons by name. Every fall, the streets ring alive during the Hawley Harvest Hoedown with the sound of live music, craft vendors, and local food, making the town one where you will be treated like one of the locals.
Delaware Water Gap
A town shaped by its setting, Delaware Water Gap prospers where the rugged mountains collide with the close-knit town. The Appalachian Trail runs through town, drawing hikers who stop for coffee and conversation at local cafés before continuing their journey. The Castle Inn, the town's former grand hotel, is now filled with artists' studios and small business start-ups keeping the town's creative heartbeat alive.
Music has also provided a common connection here for many years. Locals and tourists come together for intimate performances at the Deer Head Inn, the country's oldest continuously run jazz club. During the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts, the town transforms into an open-air venue, where residents gather on porches, sidewalks, and grassy hills to enjoy live jazz and reconnect with neighbors.
Blakeslee
Blakeslee may not be the largest town, but the sense of community is strong here. Neighbors come together yearly for the Blakeslee Rotary Craft Fair, where local artisans peddle their craft and the chatter is as lively as the sales. Blakeslee United Methodist Church, the town's historic landmark from the 19th century, is the venue for town activities, solidifying the close bonds that make this town feel like home.
Nature and the great outdoors also bring citizens even closer together. Austin T. Blakeslee Nature Area features wooded trails, fishing spots, and creekside picnic areas, perfect for weekend gatherings. Just 4.7 miles from town, the year-round fun is at the Jack Frost Ski Resort, from snowboarding and snow skiing during the colder months through summer scenic chairlift rides, and is the local favorite for gathering spots where locals can sit and kick back.
Where Community Runs As Deep As The Mountains
The Poconos offer more than spectacular views—The mountains also foster close-knit villages where history, tradition, and shared experiences create lasting connections. In Milford, literary salons and landmarks bring the town’s history alive. In Honesdale, its robust music culture and railroad history create strong local bonds. Jim Thorpe’s festivals and its Victorian-preserved setting make the town one where neighbors still gather. Stroudsburg lives for its creative energy, and the Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm bridges the generations. In Hawley, its lake setting creates a cozy, inviting setting, and the Delaware Water Gap ties its citizens together through music and the great outdoors. In Blakeslee, seasonal festivals and the Jack Frost Ski Resort bring the town together year-round. These villages illustrate the connections being worth the vistas in the Poconos.
