Mini Travel Guide: The Poconos

Looking for a travel guide to the Poconos? Click through for Poconos travel tips from a local - what to eat, places to go, and where to stay in the Poconos! #Poconos #Pennsylvaniatravel #honeymoon
Looking for a travel guide to the Poconos? Want a resort experience like the one you saw in Mrs. Maisel? You are TOTALLY in the right place! Today, we’re getting Poconos travel tips from a local – what to do, where to stay, and where to eat.

I’m Olivia! I’m a college senior living in New York City, but today I’m here to tell you about the Poconos, where I grew up. This mountainous region in northeastern Pennsylvania is known for being a honeymoon capital, a popular skiing spot, and an ideal summer-home-location, but I think the best thing about it is that it’s a retreat.

In the Poconos, you can get a totally rural and/or small-town experience just a few hours away from major cities like New York and Philadelphia. I love going home for the weekend in the wintertime and feeling like I’ve got a cross-country ski resort in my backyard! (Plus, my mom does my laundry….)

I hope you enjoy this little travel guide and are tempted to stop by this rich corner of Pennsylvania sometime.

Poconos Must Go

The great outdoors

The biggest draw of the Poconos is undoubtedly the incredible opportunity for outdoor activity. In the summer you can hike, bike, and boat; in the winter, crowds come to ski.
The Delaware Water Gap is a national recreation area that’s full of parks and the occasional beach, interspersed with forest.Rent a canoe or kayak from somewhere like Kittatinny Canoes and spend the day floating down the Delaware! If the river’s not your thing, you can enjoy a more sedate day swimming or fishing at Lake Wallenpaupack.
Roadside attractions
Northeastern Pennsylvania, like so many places in the USA, is a region full of quirky little attractions, like the Grey Towers National Historic Site. This mansion was the summer home of the Pinchot family and is considered the birthplace of the American conservation movement.
Members of the Pinchot family have connections to Cooper Union, the ACLU, President Kennedy, Hollywood, and the suffrage movement–the family was quite the cast of characters.
Other notable and unusual historic sites in the area include the Roebling suspension bridge, the oldest existing bridge of its kind in the United States, as well as the Zane Grey museum and the house of renaissance man Charles S. Pierce. The Columns, the official museum of Pike County, houses a flag that is said to have cushioned the head of President Abraham Lincoln as he died. The home of millionaire and railroad mogul Asa Packer is also now a museum that’s open to the public.

Poconos Must Do

Get out and about

The McDade trail is open for walking, hiking, skiing, or biking and runs along the river for 32 miles. Bushkill Falls, which is sometimes called “The Niagara of Pennsylvania,” is an impressive series of eight waterfalls nestled deep in the woods. Dingmans Falls and Raymondskill Falls are among many other spots known for their hiking trails and waterfall views.

You’ll probably find deer, squirrels, and bears quite literally in the backyard while you’re visiting, although they’re generally considered a nuisance by locals and hunting is another popular seasonal sport.
Small-town life

The Poconos is the perfect place to spend some time exploring a small town. Antique shops and art galleries abound. In between shopping, seeing historical sights and enjoying the natural beauty, there are plenty of local restaurants to try. On the weekends, you’ll find local festivals, fairs or flea markets, so come prepared to go bargain hunting!

poconos-must-eat

Poconos Must Eat

There aren’t very many dishes that are signature to the Poconos region, but there are scores of inns and restaurants serving hearty comfort foods for you to choose from. You can’t go wrong by stopping at a roadside diner, one of my favorite places to eat.

If you visit in mid-October, the Pocono Food Truck Festival features a wide variety of food trucks from around the region, as well as live music and other entertainment. Ask for recommendations from your host or hotel!

Poconos Cultural Tips

The culture of the Poconos is – for the most part – typical Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic culture. Be polite and respectful, as you would anywhere, and you’ll be fine!

Many areas of the Poconos thrive on tourism, so shops, hotels, and restaurants are eager to make you feel comfortable. If you’re staying in a rented cabin in the woods, recognize that your neighbors may live there year-round, and while you’re on vacation and want to relax and unwind, they may be too busy or less eager to talk. It’s nothing personal, but they likely see new visitors in your cabin every weekend!

poconos-travel-guide
Poconos Travel on the Cheap

The Poconos are very budget friendly – particularly if you’re renting a vacation home and doing all your own cooking. This gorgeous, modern farmhouse sleeps six for $99 a night and looks like something out of an interior design magazine. This super cute cabin is just $79 a night! (P.S. If you’ve never used Airbnb before, here’s $40 towards your first booking.)

If you want that vintage Poconos feel, the Cove Haven Resorts look amazing – heart-shaped hot tubs and all!

Thanks so much for sharing, Olivia! I’m sure there are plenty of readers who know this region – what are your must-sees?

P.S. The 7 travel tools I won’t shut up about till you buy them

photos by Ravi Shah // Frank Holleman // MTSOfan // Katie Schenk // Ravi Shah // Shawnee mt // Alice Triquet on Unsplash

Welcome to Yes & Yes!

Want to spend your time, money, and energy on purpose? I'll show you how.

You might also like…

The Cheapskate Guide To: Portland

The Cheapskate Guide To: Portland

Is it possible to travel cheaply in Portland - what with all those world-class restaurants, great live music, and some of the best hiking in the country? It sure is! I brought in a Portland native to give us the low-down on the best food carts, $3 cocktails, and how...

read more

5 Comments

  1. Amanda | Chasing My Sunshine

    What a great post, Olivia! I grew up near Allentown so tons of my friends had houses in the Poconos. Unfortunately, my parents were not the most outdoors-loving people when I was growing up so I didn’t get to visit too often. Now I always head up there once ski season starts. 🙂 Grad student = still getting student discounts at the slopes. Love it!

  2. Sky

    I’m beginning to realize how ridiculous it is that I am desperate for somewhere new to explore…and I’ve never explored the places near my house. I grew up in NEPA, about 45 minutes from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but I haven’t explored the area at all. I always feel shocked when I realize that people come here on vacation because I’ve grown to take the area for granted. Obviously I need to do some exploring! Thanks Olivia!

  3. Olivia Cunningham

    Thanks for letting me share, Sarah! 🙂

  4. Katie

    I grew up in Milford, PA! So exciting to hear someone write about how nice of a town it is and how great the general Poconos area is. You really covered a lot of the best parts…great post, Olivia!

  5. Leigh

    Wow! This is great to read. I grew up in Honesdale, PA near Scranton. The Zane Grey Museum was definitely a school trip we took back in the day. I went back east this fall and stayed at a cute family resort (Ehrhardt’s) on Lake Wallenpaupack with my boyfriend. We really enjoyed it, and it was interesting to see home through adult eyes. Canoeing the lake after breakfast made the top of my list very quickly.

    And as far as food, it’s not entirely true that there aren’t any regional delicacies worth seeking out. Get you some pierogies and some hoagies!! Good, homestyle Italian food is everywhere, as is the square pizza unique to the region. We did get a bit of food poisoning from some bad bagels, but also had a pretty good salad from a Turkey Hill. If you’re a fan of diners and greasy spoons, PA has them in spades. The microbrew scene is catching on as well, so it’s not just Yuenglings as far as the eye can see!

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares