Your guide to the Poconos

5 min · Outside the Gate · Easy Loop · Free

Literally outside the Penn Estates gate in Analomink: 42 acres of restored meadow and woods with a mile-long, stroller-friendly gravel loop down to the Brodhead Creek — the stretch where American trout fishing was born. Open dawn to dusk, free, and the perfect first-morning leg-stretcher.

10 min · Creekside · Dog-Friendly · Flat Trail

The green backbone of Stroud Township: Brodhead Creek Park's 30 creekside acres connect by a flat 1.5-mile gravel path to Pinebrook Park — picnic tables, grills, catch-and-release fishing, and the Levee Loop at the Stokes Mill end. Dog-friendly the whole way; snowshoe or cross-country ski it in winter. Small non-resident fee at Creek Park in summer (waived with a PA fishing license).

15 min · Pond Loop · Free · Easy

The town secret hiding right behind the Wendy's: sixteen quiet acres beside Terra Greens golf course, with a mile of gentle gravel loop around a catch-and-release pond, a gazebo on the water, and leashed dogs welcome. Free, year-round — the easy evening walk when nobody wants a 'hike.' (Zacharias Pond off Chipperfield is the same idea with a playground.)

10 min · Hiking · River Views · Quieter

The closest real hike to the houses — a 5-mile loop on the PA side of the Water Gap with river views the whole climb, and a fraction of Tammany's crowds. Park in Delaware Water Gap borough if the small Lake Lenape lot is full, and cap it with pizza at ShawneeCraft.

15 min · Hiking · Iconic View · Go Early

The marquee Gap hike: up the red-dot trail, down the blue-dot, about 3.5 steep miles to THE view of the river bend. The lots fill by 8 AM on nice weekends — go early, go midweek, or hike Minsi instead.

10-25 min · Walking · Biking · Riverside

Thirty-two miles of smooth riverside trail inside the national recreation area, with trailheads starting ten minutes from the houses. Walk a stretch, bike it, or use it for the low-effort fall-color fix — flat, marked, and never fully crowded.

25 min · Waterfalls · Family · Go Early

The "Niagara of Pennsylvania" — eight falls strung together with wooden bridges through hemlock gorges. It's paid admission (~$20) and popular: a 9 AM weekday start on the red trail gets you the gorge nearly alone. Lots of stairs, so no strollers.

30 min · Waterfalls · Free · Tallest in PA

Pennsylvania's tallest waterfall, and it's free — a short staircase trail to the lookouts, no ticket booth in sight. Weekdays are best in October. Even closer to home, Resica Falls off Route 402 needs no hike at all.

25 min · Hidden Gem · Waterfalls · Quiet

The quiet one the internet hasn't ruined: a couple of creekside miles over little footbridges to a stacked pair of waterfalls. You'll pass more chipmunks than people. Kids love the bridges; the last stretch is a scramble.

35 min · Waterfalls · Reopened 2025 · All Ages

Three waterfalls — Factory, Fulmer, and Deer Leap — freshly reopened in 2025 after years of trail rebuilding. Accessible paths along the top, stairs down to the good views. An easy win with mixed-age groups.

25 min · Drive-Up Views · Sunsets · Picnic

The summit of Camelback without the lift ticket: drive to the top for a three-state panorama, sunset picnics, and short rim trails. The summit road closes for winter — it's a spring-through-fall move.

40 min · Boulder Field · Hawk Falls · Go Midweek

Home of the surreal 16-acre glacial Boulder Field, the Hawk Falls mini-hike, and the Shades of Death trail (scarier name than hike). Summer weekends get slammed — make it an early or midweek trip, and cool off at Sand Spring Lake.

25 min · Family · Nature Center · Free Snowshoes

PEEC's Tumbling Waters trail ends at a falls where kids can wade at the bottom, the nature center is a great rainy-hour stop, and in winter they lend snowshoes for free. Check their calendar — the family programs are legitimately good.

15 min · Swimming · Tubing · Paddling

Fifteen minutes away: Smithfield Beach is the sanctioned river swim — sandy shoreline, lifeguards in season, small fee. Rent kayaks, canoes, or tubes from family-run Chamberlain Canoes or Edge of the Woods (summer weekends sell out — reserve), and use the free weekend river shuttle to float one-way. Go early on summer weekends.

35 min · Swim Beach · Hiking · Peaceful

The swim beach locals actually vouch for — clean lake, forest all around, 50 miles of trails from lakeside strolls to backcountry. If it's busy, the quieter beaches at Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro state parks are the fallback.

40 min · Boating · Pontoons · Day Trip

The big one — 5,700 acres with 52 miles of shoreline. Rent pontoons, jet skis, or kayaks, or take a scenic boat cruise. Make a day of it with drinks at Glass Wine Bar in Hawley on the way back.

45 min · Adventure · Rafting · Dam Releases

Class II-III whitewater through the Lehigh Gorge. Book a dam-release weekend for the real rapids — outfitters in Jim Thorpe run guided trips spring through fall.

Fishing · Brodhead Creek · Year-Round

World-class trout water starts at Brodhead Creek, minutes from the houses, with bass lakes and walleye reservoirs beyond. PA license required off-property — but remember the stocked catch-and-release lake right off your dock needs nothing.

25 min · Skiing · Tubing · Waterpark

The Poconos' biggest ski area — 39 trails, 16 lifts, and the largest snow tubing park in the US with 42 lanes (book the first morning slot; holiday-weekend tubing lines get brutal). Also home to Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia indoor waterpark.

20 min · Skiing · Snowboarding · Night Skiing

Two mountains, one ticket. Jack Frost has great intermediate terrain while Big Boulder is the terrain park paradise for snowboarders. Night skiing available.

30 min · Family · Skiing · Budget-Friendly

Family-friendly slopes with 23 trails and a great ski school for beginners. Smaller crowds, lower prices, and a charming lodge at the base.

15 min · Free · Sledding · Snowshoeing

Skip the resort lines after a snowfall: the free sledding hills locals use are right in Stroudsburg (the big one at Wesleyan Church on N 5th St, another behind the junior high). For snowshoeing, PEEC lends snowshoes free — the McDade Trail in snow is the quiet winter walk.

25 min · UTV · Guided · Kids Ride Along

Honest local intel: nobody publicly rents snowmobiles in the Poconos anymore. The winter thrill-ride that does exist is a guided UTV tour with Pocono Outdoor Adventure Tours near the Raceway — enclosed side-by-sides, runs year-round including snow days, and kids 5+ can ride along.

10 min · Ropes Course · Ages 4+ · Ziplines

Practically at the doorstep in East Stroudsburg — eight treetop ropes courses with 90+ elements, a KidVentures course for ages 4–7, and 1,000-foot side-by-side racing ziplines. The easy 'we did something big today' morning.

25 min · Mountain Coaster · Zipflyer · Book Online

PA's only alpine mountain coaster (worth every penny), a 4,000-foot zipflyer, treetop courses, and summer tubing on the ski hill. Buy tickets online — it's cheaper than the window — and expect a parking fee.

20-30 min · ATV · UTV · Guided

The real outfitters, named: Pocono ATV Tours at Memorytown for ~50-minute guided rides, and Pocono Outdoor Adventure Tours near the Raceway for year-round guided UTV — kids 5+ can ride along. Alvin's Off-Road Playground in Long Pond is the bigger-terrain option.

15 min · Trail Rides · Beginners · Year-Round

Bushkill Riding Stables is the close one — about fifteen minutes out, with guided rides through the woods. Mountain Creek Riding Stable in Cresco runs beginner trail rides seven days a week year-round, snow included, plus pony and wagon rides for the littlest crew members.

40 min · Family · Animals · Interactive

An interactive zoo with over 120 species — feed giraffes, hold parrots, catch the live shows (open May through fall). Closer to home, the little Pocono Snake & Animal Farm in Marshalls Creek is a fun 45-minute starter zoo for small kids, ten minutes away.

20-40 min · Paintball · Groups · All Day or Casual

Skirmish USA is the world-famous one — 750 acres, 50+ fields with castles and tanks; make it an all-day thing, pre-sign waivers online, and budget 500+ paintballs each. Want casual and close? The Paintball Asylum by Camelback runs laid-back three-hour sessions on 30 wooded acres.

10 min · Brunch · All-Day · Local Favorite

All-day brunch seven days a week, made from scratch — the Crystal Street spot in East Stroudsburg is ten minutes from our homes (sister locations on Main Street and Fox Run). A Pocono Record "Best Brunch" winner, and it earns it.

15 min · Breakfast · Pancakes · Institution

The Poconos' breakfast institution — a menu of pancakes that runs from banana-nut to cheesecake, at diner prices, from 6 AM. Expect a weekend wait, and note it's closed Tuesdays.

15 min · Cafe · Gluten-Free · Vegan-Friendly

From-scratch breakfast and lunch on Main Street with the best gluten-free and vegan range in town — and it doesn't taste like a compromise. A true locals' room.

15 min · Sushi · Live Music · Deck

Thirty years running and still the town's reliable night out — surprisingly serious sushi, live music six nights a week, a deck for summer, and a game room for the kids.

15 min · Craft Beer · Speakeasy · Arcade

The biggest craft-beer list in Stroudsburg, a hidden speakeasy behind the bar, and a basement of vintage arcade games. Dog-friendly patio out front. Yes, all one place.

15 min · Bakery · Apple Pie · Cheap Eats

The famous hot dog + slice of apple pie combo (about five bucks) in Delaware Water Gap, with the pies rolled out behind glass while you watch. Zero pretense, all-day line for a reason.

15 min · Brewery · Beer Garden · Wood-Fired Pizza

Taproom and beer garden at the old Shawnee Inn — fire pits, axe throwing, shuffleboard, wood-fired pizza, and live music Thursday through Sunday. The easy 'we don't feel like cooking' night.

15 min · Brewery · Après-Ski · Live Music

A Pocono landmark since 1995, a mile from Camelback — the après-ski default. Get the five-glass sampler flight and grab the 'Pint-Sized Park' lawn in summer. Weekends get packed.

45 min · Cocktails · Waterfall Views · Date Night

An 1890 bluestone glass factory hanging over the falls gorge in Hawley. Go for cocktails and small plates on the deck at sunset — pair it with a Lake Wallenpaupack day.

20 min · Hibachi · Groups · Book Ahead

The big-production hibachi show — flames, tricks, and a full night's entertainment for groups. Budget $70–80 a head and book ahead; it fills up with birthday parties for a reason.

20-30 min · Wineries · Tastings · Rainy Day

Three tasting rooms within a half hour: Blue Ridge Estate (360° vineyard views, free cellar tours), Sorrenti's Cherry Valley (pouring since 1981), and Mountain View — the Poconos' only winery, brewery, and distillery in one.

15 min · Coffee · Ice Cream · Weekends

A charming Main Street cafe serving breakfast, lunch, espresso, and house-made ice cream. Heads up: closed Mondays and Tuesdays, short hours midweek — it's a weekend stop.

20 min · Boutiques · Galleries · Walkable

A walkable main street packed with independent boutiques, galleries, and cafes. Don't miss Olde Engine Works — a 22,000 sq ft antique marketplace with ~100 vendors — and the Saturday-morning farmers market at Courthouse Square. Live music up and down the street most nights.

25 min · Outlets · Brands · Deals

Over 100 brand-name outlet stores including Nike, Coach, J.Crew, and more — renovated and renamed (locals still say "the Crossings"). A rainy-day lifesaver with deals year-round.

40 min · Historic · Scenic · Art

Called the "Switzerland of America" — this historic Victorian town has unique shops, art galleries, the Lehigh Gorge trail, and the Old Jail Museum. Stunning fall foliage.

20 min · Family · Sweets · Fun

A nostalgic candy store with walls of vintage sweets, gummy everything, and chocolates. Great for a quick stop with kids.

10-15 min · Escape Room · Roller Rink · Art House Cinema

Stroudsburg has the wet-weather day covered: Klues Escape Room on Main Street (a 4.9-star crowd-pleaser that scales from kids to adults), Big Wheel Roller Skating in East Stroudsburg (spinning since 1977), and the Pocono Cinema art house in an 1884 building. All within fifteen minutes.

20 min · Waterpark · Under-8s · Day Passes

The indoor waterpark for the under-8 crowd — wave pools, mini bowling, and relentless kid programming (freshly renovated top to bottom). Limited day passes from ~$35 sell out, so book ahead — and brace for the upcharge add-ons.

30 min · Waterpark · Big Kids · Go Midweek

America's largest indoor waterpark — the pick once kids outgrow Great Wolf. Peak summer weekends are packed and pricey; the magic move is a midweek off-season day, near-empty at the same park. Local tip: the massive arcade doesn't require a waterpark pass. Budget alternative: Split Rock's H2Oooohh in Lake Harmony, around $30 and never crowded.

15 min · 21+ Only · Casino · Date Night

Now a 21-and-over resort — which makes it the grown-ups' escape: 1,800 slots, table games, live shows, and a serious spa. Leave the kids at the house game room and make it a date night.

35 min · NASCAR · Ride-Alongs · Seasonal

The "Tricky Triangle" NASCAR track. Race weekends are an event (plan around the traffic — locals avoid Route 115 entirely); the rest of the season you can book a stock-car ride-along at 145 mph, ages 14 and up.

35 min · Luxury · Full Day · Forbes 5-Star

A Forbes Five-Star destination spa resort. Day packages include access to the spa, fitness classes, archery, kayaking, and gourmet meals. Pure luxury.

15 min · Spa · Pools · Relaxation

A 27,000 sq ft spa with soaking pools, steam rooms, saunas, and a full menu of massages and facials. Combine with casino gaming for a full day out.

Yoga · Meditation · Drop-In

Several local studios offer yoga, meditation, and sound bath experiences in stunning natural settings. Check Pocono Yoga or Mountain Laurel Yoga for schedules.