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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Shickshinny
Skip unless you have a specific reason (hiking the Mocanaqua Loop Trail, apple picking at Heller's Orchards). A half-day stop is enough; base in Wilkes-Barre or Berwick.
Shickshinny is a small borough on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania's Coal Region, surrounded by mountains. It has a few outdoor attractions — a hiking trail system, a riverside walking trail, and an orchard — but no major sights, limited dining and lodging. Most travellers use it as a brief stop on Route 11 between Wilkes-Barre and Berwick.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, some trails may be icy)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–80 (day-trip only) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Apple picking at Heller's Orchards | check |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AVP · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
- About 40 min north on I-81 and Route 11
Typical fares
- Wilkes-Barre to Shickshinny by car
- about 15–20 min, no tolls
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
By car or on foot. Many streets have sidewalks. US Route 11 and PA 239 are the main roads.
See and do
Known for
- Mocanaqua Loop Trail
- Susquehanna Warrior Trail
- Heller's Orchards
- Views from Shickshinny Mountain
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wilkes-Barre | Route 11 north, about 15–20 min | 20 min |
| Berwick | Route 11 south, about 10–15 min | 15 min |
| Jim Thorpe | PA 239 south to PA 93, about 30 min | 35 min |
Sleep
- Shickshinny borough
- Very limited options; most visitors stay in Wilkes-Barre or Berwick.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- No public transport within Shickshinny; you need a car.
- Mocanaqua Loop Trail parking is across the river in Mocanaqua — follow the directions carefully.
- Heller's Orchards is seasonal; call ahead for hours and apple availability.
Shickshinny is a quiet, low-crime area. Standard precautions apply: lock your car, don't leave valuables visible.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Shickshinny yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mocanaqua Loop Trail
- Susquehanna Warrior Trail
- Heller's Orchards
- Views from Shickshinny Mountain
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Shickshinny, revision 4958521 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4958521
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Shickshinny
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No public transport within Shickshinny.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/shickshinny). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.