A Poconos vacation offers the chance to experience nature at its finest. Encompassing 2,400 square miles in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, the Pocono Mountains are an ideal destination for nature enthusiasts, families and anyone looking for a relaxing, pristine retreat.
You’ll have your pick of activities no matter when you plan your Poconos vacation. During the winter, seven major ski areas offer alpine skiing, snowboarding and tubing, while ice-skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are also popular. Spring and summer are ideal seasons for whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River, canoeing on the Delaware River, fishing the stocked rivers and lakes, visiting one of the 19 waterfalls, playing at one of the waterparks or golfing on one of the Poconos’ 35 golf courses, including championship courses designed by Donald Ross and Jack Nicklaus. Pocono vacations are also popular in the fall, when visitors can marvel at the foliage, and enjoy one of the area’s many fairs and festivals. The Poconos are also a well-known honeymoon destination, and many Pocono resorts cater to couples (this is where the heart-shaped tub was invented, after all).
The Poconos are a popular drive destination, as it’s close to many major cities on the East Coast: 90 minutes from New York City and less than two hours from Philadelphia. Two of the closest airports to the region are Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pa., and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca, Pa. The average high temperature in the Poconos ranges from 31°F in January to 78°F in July. February receives the most snowfall, with an average of 12.6 inches. For more information on a Pocono vacation, log on to www.800poconos.com, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau’s website.