Five Pennsylvania towns and villages recently appeared among a collection of spots across the U.S. offering the best appeal, weather and atmosphere this holiday season. The list, published online by New York Travel Guides, recognizes 110 of the coziest winter towns in the country.
Towns ranging from New Hampshire to Wyoming and beyond earned a spot on the list after the digital publication surveyed nearly 600 small towns and examined their popularity, climate and entertainment offerings. Here’s what you need to know about Pennsylvania’s representatives among New York Travel Guides’ coziest winter towns in 2023.
Lititz
This Lancaster County borough is home to roughly 9,730 people, according to 2020 U.S. Census estimates. Lititz, which earned the No. 15 spot among New York Travel Guides’ coziest winter towns, is named after a Bohemian town that, in the 1400s, sheltered members of the Moravian Church, one of the oldest Protestant denominations within Christianity.
Formally founded in the 18th century, Lititz offers plenty of history to visitors and locals alike. It hosted a hospital during the American Revolution and remains home to the Linden Hall School for Girls, the oldest all-girls boarding school in the U.S. “Lititz, a town in Pennsylvania that was founded in 1756, is one of the coziest winter towns in the country,” New York Travel Guides writes.
“The historic town looks magical when covered in a layer of snow, and there’s so much to do during the winter season.” Through Dec. 24, Lititz is hosting a holiday decorating contest and asking locals and visitors to vote for their favorite contestants. Venture Lititz, the area’s tourism bureau, asks guests to take a tour downtown and help pick a worthy winner. Lititz’s 10-day Fire and Ice Festival returns starting Feb. 16. The annual event lines the streets with “wow-worthy ice sculptures,” plus food trucks, bar crawls and plenty of opportunities for local shopping.
Easton
This city serves as the seat of Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania. Easton checked in this year as the No. 23 coziest winter town in the country, according to New York Travel Guides. Today, Easton has a population of roughly 28,127, according to 2020 U.S. Census estimates. It was first settled after land was purchased from Lenape Native Americans in 1737 and later became a military center during the American Revolution and, eventually, a railroad and shipping hub.
Some of the biggest attractions in the area include the National Canal Museum and The Crayola Experience, a family attraction centered around the popular crayon and art supplies brand founded in Northampton County.
Jim Thorpe
Located in Carbon County in northeastern Pennsylvania, this borough is home to about 4,507 people, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Jim Thorpe earned the No. 28 spot among New York Travel Guides’ coziest winter towns. First known as Mauch Chunk, the town became Jim Thorpe in 1954 to honor the life of the eponymous Olympian and Native American sports legend, though he never stepped foot there during his life. Instead, his third wife shipped his remains to the area after hearing it was hoping to attract business. Local officials “purchased” Thorpe’s remains, erected a monument at his grave and later named the area’s reshaped municipality after him.
Visitors to the area might also consider heading to the Mauch Chunk Museum & Cultural Center and catching a showing of “A WhiteChristmas Cabaret,” which features selections from Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” Jim Thorpe’s annual WinterFest returns Feb. 16-18 to offer ice carvings, live entertainment, food and drink specials, round-trip train rides aboard the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway and more.
Stroudsburg
This Monroe County borough sits within the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania. Stroudsburg offers a population of about 5,927 people, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates, and earned the No. 50 spot among New York Travel Guides’ coziest winter towns. Stroudsburg dates back to the 18th century and offers plenty of historic attractions, including the Academy Hill Historic District and the Stroud Mansion, which are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors to the area might also seek recreation at the nearby Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
During the winter, Stroudsburg offers farmers markets in Courthouse Square each Saturday. Meanwhile, the sixth-annual Snowmen of Stroudsburg project tasks guests with completing a scavenger hunt for dozens of hand-painted snowmen throughout town until late February. Downtown Stroudsburg’s Winterfest returns Feb. 17 to transform the area into “an ice-sculpted winter wonderland” complete with live entertainment and plenty of stunning sculptures.
Doylestown
The county seat of Bucks County, Doylestown ranked No. 74 among New York Travel Guides’ coziest winter towns. You can find it located roughly 25 miles north of Philadelphia’s Center City in southeastern Pennsylvania. Much like Easton, Doylestown was once inhabited by Lenape Native Americans before it was settled by Europeans in the mid-1700s. Roughly 8,300 people live in the borough today, according to 2020 U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Doylestown is home to a cultural district featuring a belt of historical attractions along the Mercer Mile. Key stops include Fonthill Castle, the Mercer Museum and The Tileworks, all of which celebrate the life and work of famed archaeologist Henry Chapman Mercer. Most offer holiday-themed events throughout the winter, including evening tours and light displays at Fonthill Castle.
Elsewhere, visitors to the area can visit the County Theater for screenings of classic holiday films, including “White Christmas” Dec. 20 and 21 and “The Polar Express” Dec. 24. The ever-popular Peddler’s Village, located just up Route 202, offers its own massive Christmas light display with plenty of opportunities for shopping and live entertainment, too.
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