Easton and Nazareth

South of the Delaware Water Gap, Hwy-611 runs along the Delaware River until its confluence with the Lehigh River, near the town of Easton. This historic industrial center is now home to one of the Poconos’ most popular family attractions: the Crayola Experience (30 Centre Square, 610/515-8000, $23), where you can watch colorful crayons being made and packaged, then scribble away to your heart’s content. The actual Crayola factory is a half dozen miles away and not open to the public. The National Canal Museum (2750 Hugh Moore Park Rd.) traces the history of the Delaware and Lehigh Canal and other artificial waterways all over the United States. Seasonal canal boat trips are offered.

Another more historic American factory tour is in nearby Nazareth, where the venerable Martin Guitar Company (510 Sycamore St., 610/759-2837 or 800/633-2060, tours 11am-2:30pm Mon.-Fri., free) has been in business since 1833. If you’ve ever enjoyed strumming a six-string, you’ll want to take one of the wonderful tours of the family-owned factory. The tours include both a look inside the workshops—where you can watch workers as they bend, carve, inlay, and polish the instruments—and displays of classic Martin guitars.