Only a few hours from Heart Metropolis, Philadelphia and New York Metropolis, Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountain area is a year-round draw for its ski slopes, mountain climbing trails, quaint cities and scenic highways and byways.
Pack up the automotive and hit the street to see glacial lakes, historic properties and bridges, and epic views from a mountain summit.
Whether or not you will have a couple of days or a couple of hours, listed below are 5 street journeys to finest discover the Poconos.
Scenic Route 6
Finest drive for exploring charming cities
Begin – Honesdale; Finish – Milford; Distance – 35 miles
Route 6 runs by among the Poconos area’s most charming locations. Take your time on this 35-mile stretch, beginning within the city of Honesdale.
Whereas it’s the birthplace of the American railroad – the primary steam locomotive ran on business tracks again in 1829 – the city has develop into a little bit of a sizzling spot lately, with the emergence of home-grown espresso outlets, boutiques and breweries.
Begin at Black & Brass Coffee Co. for a darkish roast and gluten-free muffin surrounded by rotating works from a featured artist. For those who’re there a bit later within the day, don’t miss Here & Now Brewing Company for craft beers and a menu of pizzas, sandwiches and desserts, all constituted of scratch in-house.
On the way in which to the following city, cease on the Dorflinger Glass Museum, showcasing the biggest assortment of minimize lead crystal Dorflinger glass within the proprietor’s authentic residence. (Items of the glass have been used within the White Home.) Cease into the museum’s present store to peruse handmade items, from paperweights to jewellery.
About 10 minutes down the street, the following cease is Hawley, Pennsylvania. Located simply north of Lake Wallenpaupack, the city is understood for its native seashores and a bounty of lakeside actions like swimming, fishing, and boating.
Go to Important Avenue and its surrounding facet streets and stroll by vintage outlets earlier than hitting the lake. Hire a vessel at Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tour & Rentals and spend a couple of leisurely hours on the water earlier than making your method south on Route 6.
The city of Milford – on the Delaware River on the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey – is the north gate to the Delaware Water Hole Nationwide Recreation Space. There’s a lot to do for outside and journey fanatics, together with mountain climbing, ziplining and kayaking. Make time to cease within the historic Lodge Fauchere, which housed one of many nation’s first in-hotel eating places.
Finest locations to swim within the Poconos
Lake Drive
Finest drive to see fall foliage
Begin – Lake Wallenpaupack; Finish – Promised Land State Park; Distance – 19 miles
Take Route 507 across the south facet of Lake Wallenpaupack, aka Lake Wally. Whereas the waterfront space is leaping in the course of the hotter months, be sure that to go to within the fall – particularly mid-October to early November – to see the area’s burst of adjusting leaves.
Along with pulling over at numerous lookout factors alongside the route, top-of-the-line methods to see the colours is from a canoe or kayak on the lake. Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tour & Rentals has single and tandem kayak leases, in addition to pontoon boats.
Proceed on about 10 miles southwest alongside Route 507 to Greentown, the place you may cease on the roadside Greentown Grill. The comfortable family-owned spot has indoor seating and picnic tables on an out of doors deck the place you may order from the menu of burgers, salads, seasonal barbecue and ice cream.
About eight miles away, make your closing cease at Promised Land State Park. After fueling up at lunch, go to the 3000-acre forested park to soak up extra dramatic fall foliage, and keep for a leisurely hike on one among its trails surrounding creeks, rustic cabins and a glacial lake.
Route 209
Finest drive for mountain climbing and household enjoyable
Begin – Milford; Finish – Stroudsburg; Distance – 36 miles
Begin within the supremely charming city of Milford – a resort city because the Gilded Age situated on the higher Delaware River. Stroll the historic downtown, stopping into boutiques and cafes. The city hosts festivals all year long, together with a music pageant in the summertime and a movie fest within the fall.
Even the faster and simpler trails amongst them can lead you to lovely vistas that exhibit the encircling mountains. (Within the fall, the world can be identified to have among the finest fall foliage views within the nation.)
Somewhat over 12 miles down Route 209, discover the city of Bushkill, residence to Bushkill Falls. The sequence of eight scenic waterfalls has trails that vary in issue, however the best amongst them have boardwalks and stairs so even the youngest vacationers can get a great take a look at the majestic environment.
Cease within the village of Delaware Water Hole for a chew to eat on the Victorian Period Zoe’s Café & Ice Cream Emporium on the historic Castle Inn. Whilst you’re on the town, go to the Antoine Dutot Museum & Gallery for a peek into the city’s historical past, housed in an 1850s-era schoolhouse.
Lastly, break off Route 209 and head west on Route 611 towards Stroudsburg. The city is equal components hip and historic, with a number of wineries, breweries, and distilleries, plus outlets and eateries.
Artful children will love strolling the aisles on the American Ribbon Manufacturing unit after feasting on empanadas on the family-friendly A Style of Brooklyn. Don’t miss the Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, which gives an interactive take a look at a Nineteenth-century Pennsylvania German farmstead.
Route 903
Finest drive for spring and summer time adventures
Begin – Jim Thorpe; Finish – Hickory Run State Park; Distance – 43 miles
The city of Jim Thorpe, named for the Native American (of the Sac and Fox Nation) gold medal Olympian, is properly value a go to by itself – particularly throughout Might when festivities rejoice Thorpe’s birthday.
Make one of many native B&Bs your property base, and carve out time to discover the city’s historic websites, together with the Old Jail Museum and the Asa Packer Mansion, the eponymous residence of coal and railroad magnate and founding father of Lehigh College.
Set out north to Lehigh Gorge State Park, the place you’ll discover over 6000 acres full of waterfalls, mountain climbing trails, fishing and white water rafting. Deal with class I, II, and III rapids on the Lehigh River with an clothing store like Journey Heart at Whitewater Challengers. The native information gives a spread of choices, together with the three-hour “simple whitewater rafting within the Poconos” for ages 4 and up.
Within the late afternoon, proceed on to Hickory Run to hike over the cool and distinctive boulder discipline inside the 15,990-acre state park.
End the day with dinner at Roadies Restaurant and Bar for reside music and views of the mountains from the outside patio.
Bridge and Summit
Finest drive for historical past and scenic views
Begin – Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct; Finish – Large Pocono State Park; Distance – 50 miles
The oldest present suspension wire bridge within the nation is situated within the Poconos. Begin the day at Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct, additionally known as Roebling Bridge, which was as soon as one among 4 suspension aqueducts on the Delaware and Hudson Canal beginning in 1847.
The bridge is called after the architect who designed it, John A. Roebling, who would later engineer the Brooklyn Bridge. One automotive at a time can traverse the one-lane bridge that connects Minisink Ford, New York and Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, but it surely’s higher to park and stroll throughout the pedestrian walkway to soak up the views of the Delaware River.
On the way in which to Camelback, take route 390 south and cease for a burger and native craft beer on the Taproom at Skytop Lodge, a historic lakeside resort.
Proceed one other 18 miles south to Large Pocono State Park, the place you may drive to the summit of Camelback Mountain. The 1306-acre park has 8.5 miles of mountain climbing trails that result in gorgeous panoramic views of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
However a 1.4-mile paved street additionally takes you to the highest, encircling the mountain, and makes for an ideal finish to a scenic afternoon drive.
