Situated in the heart of the Pocono Mountains region of eastern Pennsylvania about two hours from Philadelphia, Mount Pocono is a popular base for winter skiers and outdoor adventurers. The town itself has souvenir shops, a classic American diner that looks frozen in time, family-owned bakeries, new age crystal shops, and health food stores. Visitors can go white water rafting on the Lehigh and Delaware rivers, fish for rainbow trout and largemouth bass in Pocono Lake, cycle a mountain path in one of the 12 nearby parks, ski the slopes, or sample the local craft breweries.

About a 40-minute drive away in Jim Thorpe, you can take a daylong excursion on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway that will take you through the Lehigh Gorge State Park and past red covered bridges. More small, historic towns like Stroudsburg, Jim Thorpe, Milford, and Hawley are all within an hour’s drive from Mount Pocono for a dose of New England architecture and boutique shopping.

If you’re flying into the Poconos Mountains region, the Poconos Mountains Municipal Airport (MPO) is the most convenient, located just two miles from Mount Pocono. Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) and Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport (AVP) are also options. Renting a car from the airport is the best option for your stay, but there are limited bus routes through the Monroe County Transit Authority (MCTA). The main line of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western railroads passes through the southern end of the region, providing access from New York City via the terminal at Hoboken, New Jersey. Upon arrival, a car will still be the most useful since the sites in the Poconos are quite spread out.

Cabin rentals in the Poconos are most popular during summer with its warm days and cool, breezy nights, and popular events like the Pocono Mountains Music Festival in July and Musikfest in August. Summer is also the rainy season, so bring an umbrella and rainboots. In fall, temperatures drop substantially between September and October, and the changing leaves draw visitors to Big Pocono State Park. With about 50 inches of snowfall each winter, the mountains come alive in November with cross-country skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers who enjoy the slopes through April. Spring is the quietest season as the days are quite cool and nights can be freezing, but state parks will begin to reopen as the last snows melt.

Big Pocono State Park

Just a 20-minute drive from the center of town is the entrance to this 1,300-acre park. After a hike or 1.4-mile drive up a paved road, you’ll reach the ADA-accessible summit of Camelback Mountain, where you’ll be greeted with views of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Picnic areas with charcoal grills and campfire rings are available, and there are also trails for mountain biking and horseback riding. Winter is the most popular time to visit as the park offers 33 trails for downhill skiers and half-pipes for snowboarding.

Antiquing

The Poconos are dotted with plenty of shops, weekly markets, and outposts that offer a wide variety of antique and vintage treasures from small trinkets to wood furniture. You might find a vintage Poconos postcard for the fridge, a first-edition copy of a classic novel, vintage clothing, paintings, or pottery for a souvenir. Some of these stores also have booths with new handmade goods from local makers and artisans.

Stroudsburg

Hop in the car or take a bus to visit this inviting small mountain town just 15 miles from Mount Pocono. There, you can visit the 1700s Stroud Mansion, buy local baked goods and preserves at the farmer’s market, browse the galleries at the Pocono Arts Council, or sample wines at a local vineyard. To hike a section of the Appalachian trail and spot wildlife like black bears and red foxes, head to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.