Pennsylvania's Mountain-Framed Borough Offers Scenic Trails, A Growing Arts Scene, And 19th-Century Streets

If your ideal trip blends history, adventures, and an arts scene, you should look to Tamaqua, which is a quaint destination hidden in the Pennsylvania mountains. You'll find this borough in a valley where the Little Schuylkill River and Panther Creek join, with the Appalachian foothills framing the area. The town's 19th-century boom was driven by its location in the state's Anthracite Coal Region. When you walk through the downtown area, you will see streets decorated with brick and stone buildings. The architecture reflects the richness of the era, with styles like Italianate, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival. The reason for the preserved streetscape is that this charming Pennsylvania borough was one of the first in the state to establish a historic preservation ordinance.

The area's industry-focused past is now the base for your recreation, too. Its former railroad lines have become pathways where you can walk and bike. You can check out the Lehigh and New England Trail, which is a 3-mile path that follows along the Little Schuylkill River. A more difficult route is the Schuylkill Valley Heritage Trail and goes past old mining sites. These trails also connect you to a larger network of outdoorsy areas like Tuscarora, which is one of Pennsylvania's underrated state parks, and Locust Lake.

Tamaqua has a growing arts scene that's a big part of the town. The main spot is the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, which puts on a plethora of events every year. You can see a gallery with monthly art shows from local Pennsylvania artists. You can also take classes in pottery and other crafts in its workshop spaces. There's a stage for concerts and plays, too. You'll also find festivals, like the Tamaqua Summerfest in June and the Tamaqua Heritage Festival in October, which bring vendors and entertainment to the downtown streets.

You'll find plenty of sites and activities to keep you busy in the Tamaqua area, too. Start with the Tamaqua Historical Society, which has its museum inside a restored 1905 bank building where you can see collections about the town's business and social past. The society also looks after the 1848 Hegarty Blacksmith Shop and the Burkhardt Moser Log Home, keeping them as preserved historical sites. If you want a direct look at the region's coal mining industry, you can head to the nearby town of Lansford. There, the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum takes you on a train ride into an anthracite mine that was once the world's longest continuously operating mine of its kind.

Your trip can also include a visit to the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville, where you can take a tour of its brewhouse and fermentation caves. If you make your way to the town of Jim Thorpe, you can see the Asa Packer Mansion Museum, a preserved Italianate villa from the 19th century. For arts and entertainment back in town, the Tamaqua Community Arts Center is the main spot. It has a gallery for art and a stage for concerts by local musicians and theater shows. You can also pop into local shops like Tink's Antiques, which is a vintage store near the restored railroad station, or the Coal Cats Cafe, which is both a coffee shop and a cat adoption center.

When you visit Tamaqua, you'll find that your stay usually involves restored historic buildings. Check into The Bischoff Inn, which has five rooms inside the 1865 Conrad Bischoff Planing Mill and Furniture Factory. The design of the inn has exposed brick and original flooring, and some rooms even have furniture that was made in the factory itself. Another option you can look into is The Village at Houser's Crossing. This property gives you a choice of four houses, and some of them are historic Sears and Roebuck kit homes (essentially catalog-built homes). They are all on a private, 10-acre area along the Little Schuylkill River. To get to the area, the nearest larger city to Tamaqua is Allentown, which is about 37 miles away (around 55 minutes), and also has the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE).

There are also quite a few local spots to grab a bite or drink when you're feeling it. Pick up a delicious (and meaningful) coffee at Hope and Coffee, which is a coffeehouse that supports addiction recovery programs. The Tamaqua Station Restaurant is inside the town's 1874 train station and serves American-style food. If you're looking for Italian-American dishes, you can try La Dolce Casa Dimaggio's or Basile's Italian Delight Restaurant and Pizzeria. Gimbel's Restaurant is a farm-to-table spot that uses ingredients from its own family farm.