Mini Travel Guide: The Poconos

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.

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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 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.

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.

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 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