Scranton - Wikitravel (original) (raw)

Scranton [1] is a city in northeastern Pennsylvania[2], is nearby to Wilkes-Barre[3], and is the seventh most populous city in the state. The city grew vigorously in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a capital of coal mining and railroads, which were vital to the expanding industry in this part of the country. Prosperity subsided and economic distress followed for decades. In recent years, property values have increased as Scranton is gaining employers and investment.

Get in[edit]

Scranton pa.jpg

By plane[edit]

The city of Scranton, PA is located about 20 minutes north of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport [4] in Avoca. The airport recently added a new terminal, and operates daily flights to Atlanta, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Charlotte. Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Hertz, National, and Alamo at the terminal.

Scranton is also within three hours driving distance from Newark Int'l Airport in New Jersey, JFK Int'l Airport and LaGuardia Int'l Airport in New York City, and Philadelphia Int'l Airport in Philadelphia.

By car[edit]

Scranton is accessible primarily by car (or by coach bus):

By bus[edit]

Scranton also is serviced by multiple bus lines:

By train[edit]

The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Rail Authority is working with New Jersey Transit to bring a passenger railroad back to Scranton from New York City and its western suburbs. Currently, the closest train is in Port Jervis, about 60 miles east along I-84.

Get around[edit]

By bicycle[edit]

The Electric City is a growing biker/commuter city. Gas prices going up help many to decide alternate means of getting to work, restaurants, and shopping. While Scranton does not provide cyclists with bike lanes popular to Philadelphia, New York City, and other big cities, some groups try to bring biker awareness and safety to light. The last Friday of every month, 6PM North Washington side of the courthouse, is where you can find bikers of all sorts gathering to participate in Critical Mass. It is a gathering of cyclists of sorts to participate in a huge group ride. The purpose of Critical Mass is to bring awareness of bicyclists to the public. Some forms Critical Mass have been used to protest certain events, be it political, social, and so on. Careful, you may see the car, but they don't always see you.

By car[edit]

Virtually all transportation throughout the city is by car. North Main Avenue and the North Scranton Expressway travel north to the Providence section and to the shopping centers of Dickson City. Green Ridge Street and the Central Scranton expressway travel east to the large suburb of Dunmore and I-81. Pittston and Cedar Avenues are the main routes through "South Side" to the Minooka section and beyond to the attractions of Montage Mountain. South Main Avenue and Keyser Avenue are likewise the main routes through "West Side".

The Scranton Parking Authority [9] operates four daily parking garages in the city. The garages are Casey Garage (corner of Lackawanna Ave. & Adams Ave.), Linden Street Garage (corner of Linden St. & N. Washington St.), Medallion Garage (100 Block of Adams Ave.), and the Electric City Garage (with entrances on Spruce St. & Penn Ave.). Rates are 1.75/1sthourandabout1.75/1st hour and about 1.75/1sthourandabout0.75/hr afterwards. They're open daily from 7AM-11PM, with Linden St. open 7AM-2AM on Saturdays.

Private taxicabs such as Posten and McCarthy service the area as well. They are hired by telephone through central dispatch and cannot be hailed on the street as in larger cities.

On foot[edit]

Walking is also safe and practical in "Central City" (or "Central Scranton"/"Downtown Scranton"). This area of two dozen square blocks (approximately bound by Lackawanna Ave. and Jefferson, Vine, and Mifflin Sts.) contains a great deal of what Scranton has to offer tourists, so it may be best to just park at one of many garages for a reasonable day-long fee.

By bus[edit]

County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) [10] also operates public buses throughout all parts of the city and a few Lackawanna County extremities. Rates are 1.75/ride,1.75/ride, 1.75/ride,15.75/10 rides (adult), 7.86/10rides(student),or7.86/10 rides (student), or 7.86/10rides(student),or60/31 day unlimited pass. Travel times are a little more than twice what it would take driving the same route. The base system operates Monday - Saturday from 7am - 7pm, with a night system operating from 7pm to midnight. COLTS does not operate on Sundays or Holidays.

See[edit]

Scranton is host to many architecturally interesting buildings from the early 1900s, most notably the county courthouse located in the middle of Central City. Also downtown:

Do[edit]

Buy[edit]

Eat[edit]

Drink[edit]

Being a College town it is not hard to find places to drink. Just walking around the hills section of town on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night you can find countless parties. Drink until the Keg is Kicked for $5.

Sleep[edit]

Get out[edit]

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WikiPedia:Scranton, Pennsylvania Dmoz:North America/United States/Pennsylvania/Localities/S/Scranton

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!