Jim Thorpe is a picturesque town nestled in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Lehigh River runs through its historic downtown, which is lined with a mix of Victorian and Gothic Revival buildings. You can follow the river from downtown to Lehigh Gorge State Park’s colorful mountains, which turn vibrant green in the summer and burnt orange in the fall before winter snow blankets the tree canopies in white. Whitewater rafting and hiking and biking trails bring visitors to the park for outdoor adventure. Abandoned railway lines are scattered throughout the region, but the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is still intact, and you can ride an original vintage train as it wends its way through the gorge.

You’ll find some of the earliest historic buildings in downtown Jim Thorpe on Race Street, including St. Mark’s and St. John’s Episcopal Church, a National Historic Landmark, with its tall stained-glass windows and striking whitewashed altar. Further down Race Street are 16 symmetrical stone row houses constructed by a local millionaire for coal miners. This corner of Pennsylvania is an up-and-coming wine destination, and you can visit a few wineries in downtown Jim Thorpe to try the region’s own blends.

There are four distinct seasons in Jim Thorpe, each offering something unique for visitors. Fall is cool and pleasant, and the Fall Foliage Festival takes place throughout October. Winters are cold and snowy, and skiers and snowboarders may find this the perfect base for exploring the nearby resorts. Jim Thorpe’s Olde Time Christmas happens every weekend of December, with tree-lighting carriage rides and live holiday music, and the Winterfest each February features ice sculptures and live performances.

As the weather starts to warm up in spring, the city hosts the annual Jim Thorpe Birthday Celebration, a weekend dedicated to the town’s namesake and former Olympian, where you can learn about the athlete’s Native American roots through cultural dances and music. Summers are muggy and warm, and this is the best time of year to take advantage of activities in the cold Lehigh River, like whitewater rafting and trout fishing.

Stabin Museum

The Stabin Museum, a former 19th-century wire and cable factory converted into a contemporary studio, sits at the foot of Mount Pisgah in downtown Jim Thorpe. The artwork in the museum leans toward the quirky and fantastical, with surrealist-style paintings and mixed-media works. Check the schedule before you go to see whether the museum is hosting events such as live jazz shows and holiday gatherings.

Lehigh Gorge State Park

You can explore the 4,500-acre Lehigh Gorge State Park on foot or by bike on the Lehigh Gorge Trail. Along the trail, which is lined by river birches, you will pass through the depths of the rock-walled gorge that skirts the Lehigh River. Near the Rockport Access Area, keep an eye out for two waterfalls — Luke’s Falls and Buttermilk Falls — and you’ll eventually reach an abandoned railroad tunnel with a perfect cutout view of the lush mountains ahead.

Mauch Chunk Museum Cultural Center

Set in a former Victorian home, the Mauch Chunk Museum covers Jim Thorpe’s history from its beginnings as a coal mining and railway hub to the story of its later namesake. Relics from various periods in the town’s history are on display, along with cultural artifacts like 19th-century clothing and coal carriers the miners once used.