Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

During autumn in Jim Thorpe, a trip down memory lane is framed by brightly colored leaves. The historic town, tucked into a steep valley in the Poconos, offers wonderfully preserved buildings that house tea rooms, art galleries, and an old opera house popular on the Vaudeville circuit. Fall foliage weekends complete with arts, crafts, music, and kids' activities run throughout October, and this time of year also brings guided ghost walks to town.

Fall Foliage: Hiking, biking, and kayaking are key ways to enjoy the best of fall near Jim Thorpe. A number of companies in town offer rentals, guided trips, and shuttle services to favorite spots, such as the Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail. Or, appreciate the fall colors aboard a 1920s-era passenger train on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway.

Time it Right: October is prime time for both foliage and fall activities. This year, the projected peak of color is around October 12, but Alicia Quinn at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau notes, "if history repeats itself, this will get pushed back until mid-month, and usually lasts about two weeks."

Stay: The Inn at Jim Thorpe, located in the heart of Jim Thorpe's National Register Historic District, has October midweek rates from $103 and weekend rates from $149 per night. The historic inn comes with a rich history, and may even have its own ghost.