Luzerne: Nature, Culture and Regional Discoveries

Luzerne is a destination for anyone who wants to combine experiences in nature with history and regional culture. In Luzerne County, impressions range from large State Parks with lakes, forests and waterfalls to former mining settlements, historic buildings and a restored theater. Depending on whether you are planning active days, nature observation or cultural discoveries, you can choose your vacation rental or vacation home based on different travel priorities.

Lakes, Forests and Distinctive Landscapes

Frances Slocum State Park covers 1,035 acres in Luzerne County. Boating and fishing are possible on Frances Slocum Lake; at the same time, the lake provides a habitat for numerous bird, fish and other wildlife species. Numerous hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as a large day-use area for picnicking and exploring the forests, round out the nature experience. The Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Center features exhibits about Indigenous peoples and the ecology of the park.

Another large natural area is the 3,550-acre Nescopeck State Park. Wetlands, species-rich forests and diverse habitats characterize the area. Hiking trails follow Nescopeck Creek, pass through forests and run alongside wetlands. Environmental education programs and public outdoor activities are offered year-round. Hiking trails are also available in the Seven Tubs area of Pinchot State Forest.

Waterfalls and Trails for Active Days

Lehigh Gorge State Park is characterized by a deep, steep-sided river gorge, dense vegetation, rock outcrops and waterfalls. In Luzerne County, the park follows the Lehigh River from the Francis E. Walter Dam toward Jim Thorpe. The Lehigh Gorge Trail runs for more than 20 miles along the D&L Trail. The abandoned rail line offers opportunities for hiking, cycling, sightseeing and photography. The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Ricketts Glen State Park also stands out for its distinctive landscape. It includes the Glens Natural Area, which is designated as a National Natural Landmark. The park has 22 named waterfalls, including 94-foot-high Ganoga Falls. For mountain biking days, the Moon Lake Recreation Area offers more than 18 miles of singletrack trails and 2 miles of administrative roads. Boating is permitted on Moon Lake, but motorized boats with gasoline engines are prohibited.

Bear Creek Preserve in Buck Township, Luzerne County, is a 3,986-acre nature preserve. Challenging hikes lead through forests and steep creek valleys. Shades Creek, Bear Creek and Stony Run, which run through the preserve, are classified as high-quality coldwater fisheries.

Mining History, Museums and Culture

Eckley Miners’ Village preserves the social and architectural history of the anthracite coal region, its mining settlements and their residents. The Luzerne County Historical Society Museum houses a permanent exhibition about the Indigenous peoples of the Wyoming Valley in a building constructed in 1893. Temporary exhibitions share stories about people, places and events in Luzerne County. The Luzerne County Courthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. At Swetland Homestead, the historic room settings range from the summer kitchen of the 1790s to the Victorian parlor of the 1860s.

In Wilkes-Barre, the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts is a restored theater for the performing arts. It also serves as a cinema for limited screenings as well as art and foreign-language films. The building began as an elegant movie theater on Public Square and was built in 1938. Culinary and local traditions are showcased at the Edwardsville Pierogi Festival, with food vendors, live entertainment, a pierogi cooking competition and a pierogi parade. The two-day festival began in June 2014.

Getting There and Choosing Your Accommodation

For travel by car, Luzerne County can be reached via Interstates 80, 81 and 84, as well as the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is located in the northern part of Luzerne County. When choosing your accommodation, it is worth deciding on your preferred travel focus in advance: nature parks and water activities call for a different daily itinerary than museum visits, theater or historic sites. This allows you to search more specifically for a vacation rental in Luzerne without trying to fit every experience into a single travel plan.

If you would also like to compare other places, you will find additional guidance here: Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, White Haven, Drums, Kingston, Avoca, Sugarloaf, Nanticoke, Freeland and Milnesville.

For the overarching travel overview: Pennsylvania.