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NEPA Gems: My Must-Visit Spots 🌄 Northeast PA Favorites: Hidden Treasures & Local Love

29 items

Laura Biscontini

Discover my favorite hidden treasures across Northeast PA — from cozy local restaurants serving unforgettable meals, to charming amusement parks that bring out your inner kid, to can’t-miss festivals that celebrate the spirit of the region. Whether y...

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Sections

Dine Like a Local: NEPA Favorites

Ice cream

Baked to Perfection: My Go-To Bakeries in NEPA

Sugar & Smiles: The Sweetest Treats Around

Crafted Close to Home: A Guide to Local Breweries

Explore NEPA

Dine Like a Local: NEPA Favorites

I love King’s Pizza because every time I walk in, it feels like stepping into a little corner of Italy. The authentic Italian food is simply unbeatable — from the perfectly baked pizzas with fresh, flavorful toppings to the delicious pastas and heart...

King's Ristorante and Pizzeria – Non c'e un amore pui sincero, di quello del cibo.

Mia Via in Luzerne is a true standout in Luzerne County and one of NEPA’s premier spots for Italian cuisine. The name Mia Via means “my way” in Italian, and that’s exactly how they approach every dish — blending time-honored Italian traditions with m...

Mia Via Restaurant & Bar

Named for the owner’s daughters and inspired by recipes passed down from his mother and grandmother, Mylana’s puts family at the heart of everything. This cozy, traditional Italian restaurant offers classic dishes that have stood the test of time, al...

Mylana's Italian Ristorante

Flaming Crab Cajun Seafood is a go-to spot for seafood lovers craving fresh, flavorful dishes with a Cajun kick! Portions are generous, and you can customize your meal with your favorite combination of bold flavors and spices. Whether you’re cracking...

Flaming Crab Wilkes-Barre

Angelo’s on Hazle Street has been serving up pizza for over 60 years, earning its place as a true NEPA pizza dynasty. Founded by Angelo Ricci, the tradition lives on today under the leadership of his grandson William. While Angelo’s inspired other lo...

Angelo's Pizzeria

The Down Pour is a fun, creative bar in downtown Wilkes-Barre that offers something for everyone. With plenty of drafts on tap, craft brews, and a huge variety of bottles, cans, wines, martinis, and mixed drinks, it’s the perfect spot for a night out...

The Down Pour

Carmella’s Italian Deli is an authentic Italian gem offering homemade pastries, soups, salads, hoagies, and specialty sandwiches. If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life, it would be their lobster tail pastry—flaky, filled with the crea...

Carmellas Deli

If you’ve never had the double crust white pizza at Arcaro and Genell, you’re seriously missing out. It’s absolutely legendary. The crust is perfectly golden and crisp on the outside, but it’s what’s inside that makes it unforgettable…a gooey, cheesy...

Arcaro and Genell, Old Forge, PA

Anthony’s Restaurant in Old Forge is one of those places that just feels like home. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the food is consistently delicious, but what really keeps me coming back is their homemade cappelletti soup. It is absolutely...

Anthony's

Ice cream

Since 1945, Blue Ribbon Farm Dairy in West Pittston has been a favorite stop for ice cream lovers. Family owned this spot serves up homemade hard ice cream in retro glass dishes that take you back to simpler times. It’s the only place in the area wh...

Blue Ribbon Farm Dairy

Curly Creme Soft Ice Cream in Plains, PA, is a seasonal favorite that’s been delighting ice cream lovers across NEPA for generations. Open only during the warmer months, this local soft-serve shack is famous for its ever-changing Flavor of the Week a...

Curly Creme Soft Ice Cream

Jitty Joe’s has been serving up sweet treats to all of Northeastern Pennsylvania since 1983. Their Birney Avenue location has a huge selection of homemade ice cream, soft serve, edible cookie dough, and more. A must-try is their Dubai strawberries—ju...

Jitty Joe's

Baked to Perfection: My Go-To Bakeries in NEPA

These local bakeries aren’t just places to grab a dessert, they’re where time-honored recipes and sweet traditions come to life. Each bakery on this list specializes in mouthwatering desserts, from classic cakes and cookies to ethnic specialties that...

Located in Nanticoke, PA, Sanitary Bakery has been baking for locals and visitors since 1918. This unassuming red-brick storefront on East Ridge Street is a true gem for pastry lovers. Step inside end enjoy the aroma of freshly baked bread, donuts, p...

Sanitary Bakery

Their cakes aren’t just desserts — they’re works of art that taste every bit as amazing as they look. I’m completely obsessed with their cupcakes…so many flavors to choose from, and every single one I’ve tried has been delicious. But what really keep...

Lynn Sandy's Bakery

Sugar & Smiles: The Sweetest Treats Around

These local candy shops are where handcrafted goodness meets irresistible flavor. From rich, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates to chewy gummy candies and creamy, decadent fudge, every treat is made with care and tradition. Whether you’re picking up a spe...

Michael Mootz Candies has been creating confections for chocolate lovers for over a century, with roots that go back to the early 1900s. What started as Gammy’s homemade holiday chocolates in Pottsville grew into a beloved family business in 1919. Ov...

Michael Mootz Candies

After years of making fine chocolates in New York and Philadelphia, George Esposito came back home to Hazleton, PA, to marry his wife, Victoria. Soon after Victoria’s Home Made Candies was born. What started in a small kitchen in 1934 has turned into...

Victoria's Candies

Crafted Close to Home: A Guide to Local Breweries

These breweries are where passion for craft beer meets hometown pride. From lagers to IPAs and rich stouts, these spots serve up fresh, small-batch brews made with care. Whether you’re looking to relax with friends, sample seasonal creations, or take...

Benny Brewing Company is a laid back brewery & eatery where handcrafted beers meet delicious scratch-made BBQ and comfort food. There are usually 10 beers on tap ranging from flagship brews like the crisp 570 Amber Lager, the refreshing Whit whea...

Benny Brewing Co.

Breaker Brewing Company is a Northeastern Pennsylvania staple, located in a beautifully repurposed former schoolhouse and monastery on East Northampton Street in Wilkes-Barre Township. This brewery pays tribute to local heritage by incorporating aspe...

Breaker Brewing Company

Explore NEPA

Always wondering what’s next in Northeastern PA? From hidden gems to weekend must-dos, NEPA Next brings you the freshest local finds, events, eats, and adventures happening right in your backyard.

A timeless family favorite in the heart of Pennsylvania! Experience the charm of America’s largest free-admission amusement park! Old-fashioned fun meets modern thrills. From the legendary Phoenix roller coaster to kiddie rides, refreshing pools, cl...

Knoebels Amusement Resort

The Scranton/Wilkes‑Barre RailRiders are the Triple‑A affiliate of the New York Yankees, proudly playing at PNC Field in Moosic, PA. The RailRiders bring high-level, hometown baseball to fans all summer: without heading to the Bronx! A gameday at P...

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders | MiLB.com

Experience Pennsylvania’s premier winter destination in Scranton! Montage has a 1,000 ft vertical drop, 27 ski and snowboard trails, terrain parks, night skiing (100% lit), and the famed “White Lightning” slope, one of the steepest east of the Rockie...

Montage Mountain Resorts

Ricketts Glen State Park is a breathtaking gem in Northeastern PA. With 13,000+ acres of old-growth forest, scenic lakes, and dramatic waterfalls, making it one of the region’s most cherished outdoor destinations. Explore the famous Falls Trail: a 7...

Ricketts Glen State Park

For nearly 70 years, the Fine Arts Fiesta has transformed Public Square into Pennsylvania’s longest-running, juried arts festival, and it’s entirely free for all ages . Third week of May (4 days of nonstop creativity) located in Downtown Wilkes‑Bar...

Fine Arts Fiesta

Jim Thorpe, PA completely stole my heart. As someone who juggles a lot: family, health, responsibilities, it was the kind of peaceful, beautiful getaway I didn’t know I needed. The downtown area is like a postcard, lined with historic Victorian buil...

Jim Thorpe, PA | Visitor Information & Travel Resources

Frances Slocum State Park has become one of my favorite places to unwind and reconnect with nature. With everything I have going on, between family life, and just needing moments of peace, this park offers a calming escape without having to travel fa...

Frances Slocum State Park

The Bloomsburg Fair is something I look forward to every year! It’s a perfect mix of nostalgia, energy, and good old-fashioned fun. For someone like me who’s usually juggling a million things, it feels amazing to step into a space that’s so full of l...

Bloomsburg Fair

The Lehigh Gorge rapids with Jim Thorpe River Adventures (also known as Pocono Whitewater), is an unforgettable rush! A perfect mix of adrenaline, breathtaking scenery, and top-notch guidance. There are a variety of experiences to choose from. EasyW...

Jim Thorpe River Adventures: Whitewater Rafting in the Poconos

I’ll be honest, I’m severely claustrophobic, so there was no way I was going down into the mine myself. But I took my students on the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour, and they absolutely loved it. From everything I saw and heard, it’s a powerful, eye-openi...

Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour

The Endless Mountains Balloon Ride was truly unforgettable. Floating peacefully above the tree line, with the stunning Endless Mountains stretching out in every direction, felt like stepping into a dream. The view was absolutely breathtaking, rolling...

Endless Mountains Hot Air Balloons, Inc