A heaven or a paradise for every adventure enthusiast like me and travel lovers out there is the Mountains of Poconos. I’m sure you might’ve heard about the beauty and serenity of these mountains before, because that’s how popular the Poconos are. The land is filled with resorts, outdoor attractions like hunting, hiking, skiing, boating and a wide range of others too. You just would never get tired of visiting the Poconos again and again.
Poconos doesn’t end with the outdoor recreations, there is so much more to it like the scenic landscapes, forests, rivers and so much more awaiting to be explored by you. Trust me, the things to do in Pocono Mountains and the very serene landmarks there is one thing you shouldn’t miss. This blog will provide you with an idea of places to visit in Poconos which you should never miss in your life.
A Small Synopsis of Pocono Attractions
The mountains of Poconos wasn’t always a tourist destination, it used to be the home of native Americans, but during the year of 1664 they were forced to leave their home by the Dutch Establishments during that time. Later on, the first people to reside at the mountains were the English and Germans during the year of 1742. However, the mountains started being a tourist destination from the year of 1900 and kept growing from there as a successful tourism industry.
Moreover, Poconos is a mountain region which extends to many locations in the northeastern part like Wayne, Monroe, Pike and Carbon counties in Pennsylvania. Also, the name Poconos itself was borrowed from a native Musnee term known as ‘Pokawachne’ and that means ‘Creek between Hills’. Furthermore, the regions are bounded by many rivers and hills in many parts.
Oh and the weather is one more thing which is special about the mountains, no matter which climate it is, the Poconos will still be lively. Let it be summer, spring, autumn or winter, there are so many attractions spread throughout the location.
What’s more to Pocono? The culture and traditions! The communities of Poconos still maintain and dignify the traditions and a lot of cultural highlights in the region like the museums and historic sites throughout. They just never compromise on any of that stuff.
Now let’s take a look at the various things to do in the Poconos this weekend for you.
Natural Attractions of Poconos
The land of Poconos was always popular for the many natural attractions there. There are so many features such as the waterfalls, hiking spots, natural parks and state parks, lakes and more. Let’s go through them one by one shall we?
Visit the Parks
The regions are overflowing with them, the parks which are a combination of natural beauty and recreational activities There is so much to do in these parks. In Poconos there are both natural and state parks present. Where to visit would be your choice or you could visit them both. All of these parks offer many options such as the visitors could do picnics, hiking, biking, witness the natural beauty and more. Here are some of the most popular and best parks in Poconos:
| Park Name | Location | Highlights |
| Tobyhanna State Park | Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County | Wildlife, Hunting, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Snowmobiling, Camping, Fishing, Ice skating, Picnics |
| Promised Land State Park | Green Town, Pennsylvania | Camping, Hiking, Swimming, Forest exploration, Fishing |
| Beltzville State Park | Franklin and Towamensing Township in Carbon County, Pennsylvania | Skiing, Canoeing, Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Picnic |
| Big Pocono State Park | North Eastern Pennsylvania, Monroe County | Hiking, Motor Biking, Horseback Riding, Picnic, Leaf Peeping, Wildlife Photography |
| Lehigh Gorge State Park | Luzerne and Carbon Counties | Hiking, Fishing, Hunting, Biking, Snowmobiling, Wildlife |
Hiking Trails
Hiking is one of the best things you could do in Poconos. There are so many trails in Poconos which are groomed and maintained for the visitors. Hiking in these trails can be a unique experience for you to do alongside your loved ones. If you are ever visiting Poconos you should definitely check out these trails:
| Trail Name | Difficulty | Distance | Location |
| Shohola Falls Trail | Easy | 0.6 miles | Route 6 in Shohola,PA |
| Wallenpaupack Lake Trail | Easy | 2.6 miles | Hawley, PA: Intersection of Route 6 and 507 |
| McDade Recreational Trail | Easy/Moderate | 31 miles | East Stroudsburg, PA 18302 |
| Lehigh Gorge Trail | Easy/Moderate | 26 miles | Lehigh Gorge State Park |
| Mt Minsi via Appalachian Trail | Moderate/Challenging | 5.3 miles | Delaware Water Gap, PA |
Catch Sight Of The Waterfalls
There are some really gorgeous waterfalls in the regions of Poconos which is such a beautiful sight for our naked eyes. The waterfalls in the regions such as the Bushkill PA known as the “Niagara of Pennsylvania” is one of the most beautiful sights for the visitors and the best part is most of them are easily and freely accessible for everyone. Some of the best waterfalls in the regions of Poconos are:
- Lehigh Gorge State Park Waterfalls: S Lehigh Gorge Dr in Weatherly, PA 18255
- Bushkill Falls: 138 Bushkill Falls Trail, Bushkill, PA, 18324
- Shohola Falls: Route 6, Shohola, PA 18458
- Hawk Falls: Kidder Township, PA 18210
- Paupack Falls: Next to Ledges Hotel
Distinct Adventure Sports in Poconos
Are you seeking a great holiday filled with adventures and outdoor activities to fill up your mood and enhance your adrenaline? Then I believe Poconos would be the right choice for you. As an adventure craver myself, I will definitely choose the Mountains of Poconos for a mixing up serenity and peace along with thrill. That’s how distinct sport activities in Poconos are. Now, we will go through a wide range of adventures in the Poconos, make sure to stay along with me.
Skiing in Poconos: Ski Resorts
If winter is here, then it is definitely the time for skiing, don’t you think so? The mountains of the Poconos is the best place where you could enjoy skiing along with your friends and family or even alone. There are so many ski resorts in the regions for the visitors to enjoy a great day of amusement with skiing. Almost every ski resort offers lessons for the beginners too. Isn’t that great? Some of the best ski resorts in the location are:
- Blue Mountain Resort: Palmerton, Pennsylvania
- Camelback Ski Resort: Tannnersville, Pennsylvania
- Jack Frost Ski Resort: Kidder Township, Pennsylvania
- Shawnee Mountain Ski Area: East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
WaterSports in Poconos
The rivers and lakes of the Poconos are the right choice for you if you are seeking a great water adventure. Not just for thrill but you could also enjoy the peace and serenity of the rivers while boating in the aquatics. Watersports can be the best choice for families to enjoy a great vacation during the summer while rafting, kayaking, canoeing and more. Some of the popular water sports in the regions of Poconos are:
- Whitewater rafting: One of the best parts of watersports which can be explored in all seasons. Challenge the rapids of rivers and enjoy witnessing the wilderness, waterfalls and natural landmarks around. Lehigh Rivers and Delaware Water Gap is the best choice for whitewater rafting in Poconos
- Kayaking/Canoeing: Explore the open aquatics and calm waters of Poconos, paddle down the streams and enjoy the beautiful rivers and lakes of Poconos. You could rent a jacket and a canoe or kayak for the great experience. Some of the best spots for renting out would be: Chamberlain Canoes, Kittatinny Canoes, Edge of the Woods Outfitters and more.
Glide Through with Ziplining
The perfect adrenaline fueled adventure for all the adrenaline junkies. Glide across many forests and hills while viewing the many scenic beauty of the Poconos. Step out of your comfort zones and glide above the lakes, rivers, and woodlands and get the one of the best experiences of your life with ziplining. There are many adventure parks in Poconos which offers ziplining experience such as:
- Camelback Mountain Adventures
- Pocono Zip Racer
- Summit Adventure Park at Blue Mountain
- Whitewater Rafting Adventure Zip Line
Enjoy A Great Family Time in Poconos
Poconos is certainly a great choice for amusing and relaxing family friendly activities. There are so many things available for families to enjoy and explore in the mountains such as theme parks, museums and many educational tours. Take your loved ones to the heaven known as Poconos and get them out of the stress of everyday life.
Feel the Thrill of Theme Parks
The mountains of Poconos were always a home for many adventures and thrilling activities. Just like those, theme parks are also a major attraction of Poconos. Theme parks could be great picks for families to enjoy a whole day of amusement and get excited throughout with the various rides and slides in there. Here is some of the best theme parks in the location:
| Theme Park Name | Location | Highlight |
| The Arcade Era | 344 Stroud Mall Road, Ste 272 Stroudsburg, PA | Mario Kart Racing, Arcade Games |
| Blue Lightning | 124 Golf Drive East Stroudsburg, PA | All Season Snow Tubing |
| Costa’s Family Fun Park | 2111 Route 6 Hawley, PA | Go-Karts, Bumper Boats, Laser Tag, Water Slides, Miniature Golf, Batting Cages |
| Pocono Rocks! | 1428 Pocono Boulevard Mount Pocono,PA | Bounce Houses, Ninja Warrior Course , Boulder Climbing Wall |
Take an Educational Tour with Museums & Historic Spots
Poconos is regarded as highly rich in its cultures and history. There are many museums and historic locations which are preserved and maintained without any compromises. These locations could be a great option for families to explore and take an educational tour with. Moreover, the museums and historic sites perfectly describe the past of the Poconos. Here are some of the popular historic spots with that provides Educational tours:
- Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm: A historic farm which works on a non-profit and 114 acres of area which preserves agriculture along with rural life of America during the 19th century. They provide day trips, guided tours and guided activities for school trips and families free of cost.
- No 9 Coal Mine & Museum: Perfectly describes the 160 years of coal mining history of America. The visitors could take a 1600’ train ride on to the mountains and will have to walk a guided tour of almost 600’ on the world’s deepest and oldest anthracite coal mine. They have day tips and guided trips for families, school trips and more, free of cost.
- Pocono Indian Museum: The one and only museum which displays the native American history and is situated in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The museum perfectly displays the past of the Delaware Indian and many artifacts during that age. Best choice for school trips, family tours and the museum even provides guided tours and activities without any cost.
Premier Places to Stay in Poconos
Poconos is home to many things and especially for luxury homes and vacation rentals. In the Poconos, places to stay are one thing you could get in an instant, that’s how distinct and packed are the mountains. There are villas, mansions, farmhouses, lake houses and many other options available for each and every one out there. If you are seeking for an amazing and comfy staycation, then I’ll guide you straight to the best ones for
Luxury Mansion
This luxury mansion is included with modern interiors and all necessary essentials for the visitors and it can occupy 40 people. It is provided with many amenities such as
- 9 luxury bedroom
- 8 bathroom
- Conference room
- Movie theater
- Indoor games
- Hot tubs
- Tennis court
- Swimming pool
Luxury Villa
This luxury villa is built with an open kitchen which provides all the essentials and can occupy more than 10 people at the same time. The many amenities of the villa is:
- Indoor lap pool
- 4 bedrooms
- 4 bathrooms
- Hot tub
- Sauna
- Mini bar
- Theatre
- Fire pit
- Outdoor pool
- Bbq grill
- Gaming room
Farmhouse
The farmhouse is designed in a classy interior and it can occupy more than 25 at the same time. It is included with many amenities such as:
- Open Kitchen
- 5 Bedrooms
- 4 bathrooms
- Indoor Pool
- Trampoline
- Volleyball Court
- Fire Pit
- Gaming Room
Lake House
This spacious lake house is designed with an open dining space with lake side view and it could occupy more than 16 people. The many amenities of the lake house are:
- Bbq Grill
- Outdoor Dining
- Waterfront views
- Private entrance
- Dock with kayak rentals
Unique Seasonal Activities
The Mountains of Poconos are always ready for a great adventure no matter what the season is. You can find so many attractions and activities around everywhere in the Poconos in every season. It is up to you to pick the ideal season for you to enjoy a great vacation getaway. Now let’s go through the various seasonal attractions of Poconos.
Pocono Falls
You could enjoy the best out of the Poconos during the autumn as there are endless ways to do it. There are several outdoor activities around the region during the fall. These are some of the popular fall activities in Poconos:
- Hiking
- Apple Picking at Lakeland Orchard
- Leaf Peeping
- Golf
Winter in Poconos
Poconos was known as ‘the Winter Wonderland’ because of the wide unique activities in the region. Poconos would be the best place for you to enjoy a great winter holiday season. Some of the best activities during winter would be:
- Skiing
- Snowtubing
- Ice Skating
- Snowshoeing
- Skiing
Spring Experience
The temperature starts to warm up and the sunlight is more hours for the visitors to enjoy the various activities during spring. The whole mountains starts blooming with beautiful sceneries and sets up the region for many activities like
- Hiking
- Wildlife watching
- Bird-watching
- Boating
- Picnics
- Golf
- Biking
Summer in Poconos
Definitely the best season to plan a great outdoor adventure alongside your family. There are so plenty of adventure activities, waterparks, celebrations and many other attractions during summer in Poconos like:
- Ziplining
- Hiking
- Paintball
- Jet skiing
- Watersports
- Off Road Adventures
Booking Platforms:
Airbnb
Airbnb is one of the most popular vacation rental platforms which has many rental options around the whole world. They have more than 1000 vacation rentals in Poconos with more than 890 reviews. Airbnb provided properties from affordable rates to luxury options.
HolidayKeepers
HolidayKeepers is a leading luxury vacation rental platform which is focused on Poconos and Dubai. They offer many properties all around in the Poconos such as luxury condominiums, villas, lake houses, farmhouses and many more with the best available hospitality and amenities.
VRBO
VRBO is one of the most popular rental platforms which started back in 1995, and now has properties and homes all over the world. They offer more 5600 properties in Poconos with spaces that will suit your style. They provide cabins, cottages, houses, apartments and many others in Poconos.
Wrap Up!
As a person who is obsessed with outdoor activities and traveling, the Mountains of Poconos always used to be the very first choice for me. The many recreational activities mixed with relaxing and thrilling aura just keeps attracting the visitors more and more into the region. There are so many things to do in Poconos that you just can’t cover the entire place yet it is the perfect spot for a great vacation adventure. I hope this article helps you dear readers to explore more of the Poconos and enjoy your perfect weekend getaway.