Pocono Mountains
Each generation has added something new to the cultural heritage of the Poconos. The one-time honeymoon haven was home to the first novelty heart-shaped bathtubs, but, thankfully, those days are over. Now, visitors can expect to enjoy a wide range of exciting attractions, cultural activities and plenty of time for leisure, just a stone’s throw from the East Coast’s metropolitan hubs. There’s also a dose of high-speed NASCAR thrills to keep things interesting.
Waterfalls and Wonders
Bordered by the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to the east, Lake Wallenpaupack to the north and the Pocono Mountains to the west, the region is a four-season paradise for lovers of outdoor recreation. Paddling, hiking, biking, skiing and hunting abound. The Delaware Water Gap is known for its scenic vistas, as well as opportunities for rafting and tubing. The boardwalk trail leading to 130-foot Dingmans Falls is a great introduction to the park’s hiking and biking.
A dual zipline dishes out thrills at Camelback Mountain Adventures.
Hiking and Biking Paradise
Camelback Mountain Resort is famed for its skiing and snowboarding, and the Big Pocono State Park that surrounds it is a great spot for hiking and biking in warmer months. Skytop, known for its historic 1920s retreat hotel, also offers a wealth of outdoor adventure. The many lakes, ponds and rivers that sculpted the mountainous region are open for fishing and swimming, and outfitters are available in most towns to help guide you through exciting rafting and boating excursions.
Days of Thunder
The Thunder Swamp Trail System comprises a 45-mile network of interconnecting hiking trails that skirt wetlands and traverse ridges, valleys, streams, swamps and forest. The 7-mile Blooming Grove Trail coils around picturesque hardwood swamps and meadows.
Superb State Forest
The Delaware State Forest features the 82-acre Tarkill Forest Demonstration Area, which was established in 1948 as a textbook example of multi-use forestry; a self-guided nature trail provides glimpses of a compelling ecosystem. Also on offer are boating, hunting and horseback riding along 26 miles of designated riding trails, along with biking and ATV trails (for all skill levels).
River Wild
The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is prized as one of the most ecologically rich rivers in the Northeast, with riffles, runs, pools and a profusion of in-stream habitats. Here, you can canoe through rapids, marvel at the ever-changing scenery from rolling hills to quaint riverside villages, or partake of excellent fishing in crystal clear streams that cascade over spectacular waterfalls before joining the Delaware River.
Football Fame
Each of the small towns of this eastern Pennsylvania region has a distinct charm and character. The town of Jim Thorpe is brimming with Victorian homes built by the coal mining barons of an earlier era. It’s also home to the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, which follows winding tracks through the rugged region and offers striking views of the Lehigh Gorge State Park. Originally named Mauch Chunk, the town adapted the name of the local football legend who played for Carlisle Indian Industrial School and went on to win gold in the 1912 Olympics.
Forest Service Founder
In Milford, visit the Columns Museum, home to the Pike County Historical Society, for an educational journey into the region’s local history, including stagecoaches and vintage clothing. The Grey Towers National Historic Site, also in Milford, offers tours of the 19th-century home and stunning grounds owned by Gifford Pinchot, a renowned conservationist and the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service.
Gnarly NASCAR Action
If hiking and cycling aren’t enough to get your adrenaline pumping, head to Long Pond, home of the Pocono Raceway. There are NASCAR and IndyCar events held throughout the summer season, highlighted by the Pocono 400 in early June. There’s nothing quite like seeing the greatest drivers in the country tangle with the track’s tough turns on the famed “Tricky Triangle,” so nicknamed because of its triangular layout. RVing race fans can cheer their favorite drivers from trackside campsites between turns 2 and 3.
Pocono Gaming
Keep the excitement going long into the night with a visit to the Mount Airy Casino Resort. Featuring tables, slots and classic games, as well as restaurants and spas, the 65,000-square-foot resort has all the amenities you could hope for in a mountain getaway. It’s the perfect place to unwind in luxury after spending the day enjoying the great outdoors.
Segway touring is a popular wrinkle in Pocono travel.
Promised Land
Draped across the Pocono Plateau, at 1,800 feet above sea level, the 3,000-acre Promised Land State Park is a magical landscape where ancient forests of oak, beech, maple and hemlock give way to ethereal glacial lakes and fecund bogs. Encircled by 12,464 acres of Delaware State Forest, 50 miles of hiking trails crisscross the park and intersect with Delaware State Forest. The park’s most popular hikes, which lead through areas of jaw-dropping natural beauty and historical import, include the loop around Conservation Island and the hike from Bruce Lake Road to a natural glacial lake. Wildlife abounds in the Promised Land. White-tailed deer, black bears and rafters of wild turkeys are among the conspicuous creatures you might encounter.
More Promise
Masker Museum rounds out the Promised Land experience with an informative series of natural history displays and artifacts, as well as interactive children’s activities, a bird observation area, outdoor bird feeding stations and a native plant garden. Promised Land’s lake lures water sport enthusiasts with prime conditions for recreational canoeing, kayaking and fishing for bass and yellow perch. On the lake’s two sandy beaches, you can sunbathe, play volleyball or settle in on the wildlife observation deck from which you can spot myriad waterfowl species and even bald eagles that nest within the park.
For More Information
Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau
800-762-6667
www.800poconos.com
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
800-847-4872
www.visitpa.com
