Marsden Palmer, executive chef at Mikey's Caribbean Restaurant in Allentown, says he still has dozens of relatives in Jamaica ...

That perfectly golden-brown rye toast – crisp at the edges, tender in the middle, with just the right amount of caraway seeds – might seem like a simple side dish, but it’s emblematic of everything ...

Surrounded by the scenic Pocono Mountains and anchored by a lively downtown district, this cozy city in Pennsylvania makes for a relaxed escape.