Pennsylvania

Poconos Family Vacations

Last updated 15th May 2018

Why Go

Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains used to be a kitschy tourist trap of heart-shaped tubs and champagne glasses. Since that time, the Poconos have embraced its natural mountain beauty and grown into a 4-season destination perfect for families. The 2,400 square mile region of northeast Pennsylvania is full of mountains, woodlands, lakes and streams perfect for outdoor adventures.

 

Historic old buildings and the scenic landscape of Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania.

Where to Go

The Poconos are conveniently located to many northeastern cities, just a 90-minute drive from New York City and two hours from Philadelphia.  The vast Pocono Mountain area is further divided into six regions: Mountain, Lake Region, Delaware River, Upper Delaware River, Wyoming Valley, and Lehigh River Gorge Regions.  Major towns in the Poconos include Hawley, Jim Thorpe, Milford, Tannersville and Stroudsburg.

 

Glen Onoko Waterfalls trail, Lehigh Gorge state park, Poconos region, Carbon County near by Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, USA

What to Do

There are a number of family-friendly attractions in the Pocono Mountains including ski areas, waterparks, mountain biking, hiking, and even NASCAR at Pocono Raceway. Below are highlights of some of the attractions of the Pocono Mountains.

  • Family Resorts – families have vacationed in this region for decades, and you can find all different types of accommodations. For example, Pocono Manor has welcomed guests for over 100 years (since 1902), and this luxury resort and spa is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Skytop Lodge is a “newcomer” (only about 90-years old), and another all-inclusive, luxury retreat with golf, a treetops adventure center, lake fun, and more. Other family-friendly properties are Woodloch Resort, The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, and Fernwood Resort with ziplines, golf, all-seasonal tubing, and more.
  • Outdoors – the mountains are perfect for outdoor adventures such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, paddling, rafting and swimming. The Appalachian Trail meanders through the southern portion of the Poconos, and many hiking trails crisscross the numerous local and state parks, as well as the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Along the trails families can find plenty of waterfalls like Bushkill (the Niagara of Pennsylvania), Dingmans, Raymondskill, and Shohola Falls. Wildlife viewing is plentiful, and you may even come across a spotted fawn nestled in a glen. Lake Wallenpaupack is a large man-made lake with plenty of opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing.  Fall foliage is spectacular on scenic autumn drives winding through the mountains.
  • Water Parks – a recent addition to the Pocono Mountain landscape is waterparks with Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari Resort, and Camelback Lodge all opening indoor waterpark resorts in the region.  Camelback Lodge also has Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark – the largest in the state of Pennsylvania.
  • Pocono Raceway – stages major NASCAR and INDYCAR auto races each year around the “Tricky Triangle.”  In addition to race weekends, families can participate in the Stock Car Racing Experience and ride in or drive a race car.  Other events are held at the Pocono Raceway throughout the year such as the Pennsylvania Wing Festival and the Lantern Fest.
  • Skiing – the Pocono Mountains offer nearly 200 slopes and trails for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing sledding, and tubing.  Camelback Mountain Resort has the largest ski slope in the area with 34 trails & 16 lifts, and also one of the biggest snowtubing parks in the country. Don’t feel like using your own power?  Take a romantic horse drawn sleigh ride at Pocono Manor or Daisy Field Farm, or mush a dogsled with Arctic Paws Dog Sled Tours. A number of the state parks offer ice skating when the lakes and ponds freeze over.

Getting Around

You will need a car to get around this mountainous region of Pennsylvania. There are six, main interstate highways leading to the region, making the Pocono Mountains easy to get to.  Martz Trailways is a family owned motorcoach company that offers a direct line to the Poconos to/from New York City, Philadelphia and other regional destinations. New Yorkers also have the Pocono Day Tripper that offers round-trip transportation to and from the region.