Pocono Mountains: A winter getaway guide for families
From snowy scenery to small town charm, the Pocono Mountains offer experiences for every family.
The Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania are home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in Pennsylvania. While the Poconos gained a reputation as a hotspot for honeymooners in the 1970s, today the region attracts all kinds of travelers, including families looking for winter fun—from snow sports to small-town sightseeing. The area is large—encompassing roughly 2,400 square miles across Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne Counties.
The wooded mountains and valleys are summertime playgrounds for many travelers, but in the colder months, they become winter wonderlands perfect for exploring. We’ve put together some ideas to help you plan a winter getaway with your family in this special region. Whether you want to shop cute downtown streets or spend as much time outdoors in the snow as you can, the Pocono Mountains offer a wonderful wintertime escape.
What to do
Stroll charming mountain towns
The Pocono Mountains are not densely populated, and the result is a region dotted with unique small towns. With economies that tend to rely on tourism, you’ll see downtown areas with great retail and quality restaurants, all infused with local flavor.
Carbon County’s Jim Thorpe is often called the “Switzerland of America” because its historic Victorian-era architecture looks like it was built right into the mountain. The scenery surrounding Jim Thorpe is gorgeous, and it’s a treat to admire it while wandering the downtown area and visiting local antique shops and gift stores. Nearby Stroudsburg, in Monroe County, also has a popular downtown and Main Street with cafes, live music, galleries, and more.
Further north, Wayne County’s Honesdale is known for its historic and walkable downtown. In fact, Honesdale native Richard Smith wrote the popular Christmas song “Winter Wonderland” in 1934, reportedly inspired by his hometown. We’re sure you know the words: “A beautiful sight / We’re happy tonight / Walking in a winter wonderland.”
Hit the slopes—by ski, board, or tube
Some of the best opportunities for winter sports can be found in the Pocono Mountains, whether you’re aiming to ski, snowboard, or snow tube. You need experience (or lessons) to ski or snowboard, but almost anyone can try snow tubing, including children.
Unsurprisingly, ski, snowboard, and snow tubing areas are found throughout the Pocono Mountains. You might visit Lackawaxen’s Ski Big Bear in the northern mountains or Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, closer to the southern gateway of the region, in East Stroudsburg.
Explore snowy trails
If you’re planning a trip to the Pocono Mountains, you likely want to experience the mountains themselves. There’s no better way than taking to the trail and walking through the woods, whether you meander on an easy paved path or strap on snowshoes and make your own route in the snow.
No matter where you are in the Poconos, great hiking is always close, but you might consider a trip to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, a massive natural area with popular waterfalls and beautiful scenery. Here, the Delaware River flows through the Pocono Mountains—creating a dramatic “gap” in an area with more than 150 miles of hiking trails. The George W. Childs Park Trail, about 1.5 miles long, is a relatively easy trek that takes hikers past three waterfalls worth the journey, even when frozen.
If you’re more interested in the “strap-on-snowshoes” experience, you can easily rent snowshoes throughout the region. If near Scotrun, try Naturfi for snowshoe rentals and advice on where to go.
Take a wintry train ride
Good news: You can explore the natural scenery of the Pocono Mountains without having to trek through the actual mountains themselves. Historic trains travel through the region and allow you to see remote areas and stunning views from the comfort of a train car.
In Jim Thorpe, take the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway through the Lehigh Gorge on a ride that follows the beautiful Lehigh River. The Stourbridge Line explores the northern Pocono Mountains on vintage trains that travel between Honesdale and Hawley throughout the picturesque Lackawaxen River Valley.
Where to eat
The Pocono Mountains cover a large area, so you have numerous dining options, but these are some of our favorite places to grab a meal—whether you’re looking for the best breakfast in the area, an upscale experience, a more casual dinner, or a bowl of ice cream to remind yourself you’re on vacation.
Jubilee Restaurant – Pocono Pines
Jubilee Restaurant is a favorite dining option among locals and visitors alike. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant has been serving memorable American eats since 1968. The breakfast menu is particularly vast and has Jubilee proclaiming itself the “‘Breakfast King’ of the mountains” with options from challah French toast and classic eggs benedict to hefty breakfast plates and biscuits and gravy. At lunch and dinnertime, you can order off of another large menu with burgers, pasta, meat plates, and much more.
Native – Honesdale
Native is a major attraction for foodies in the Pocono Mountains, and it is certainly worth the trip to Honesdale in the northern part of the mountains. You can enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of the harvest year-round, as Native focuses on ingredients sourced from local farmers. As such, the menu evolves with the seasons; currently, you might enjoy roasted squash picatta or house-made mushroom cannelloni. And for younger travelers, the pasta menu includes kid-friendly options—mac and cheese or noodles with either butter and parm or tomato sauce.
Wallenpaupack Brewing Company
Wallenpaupack Brewing Company operates its Hawley Brewpub not just as a spot for craft beer lovers, but also as a family-friendly destination for good food near the brewery’s namesake Lake Wallenpaupack. The food menu features typical pub food upgraded with craft-beer twists (like the IPA Caesar salad that features an IPA-infused dressing) and sustainable choices like soft pretzels sprinkled with nutty spent grain. Plus, the kids’ menu includes a main entree (a burger, chicken tenders, or mac and cheese) plus a side and drink.
Llama Ice Cream – East Stroudsburg
Sure, it’s freezing outside—but that’s no reason not to make time for some ice cream! Llama Ice Cream in East Stroudsburg has earned lifetime fans for its artisanal, Peruvian-inspired ice cream with unique flavors you don’t always encounter in your local grocery store. The scoop shop, which is open year-round, offers delicious and exotic flavors like passionfruit, tamarind, and this writer’s personal favorite, soursop, as well as plenty of old standbys like chocolate, strawberry, and cookies and cream. Just eat your ice cream indoors, and you won’t regret grabbing a frozen treat in the middle of winter.
Where to stay
In the Pocono Mountains, you have a variety of lodging options depending on your idea of an ideal getaway. For instance, you can set up at cabins in the woods, romantic inns or bed-and-breakfasts, and even luxurious resorts.
State park cabins
While most camping families will set up their tents in the summertime, if you’re prepared, you can still rough it at campsites and rustic cabins throughout the Pocono Mountains.
State park cabins, like those at Promised Land State Park in Pike County, are particularly affordable, with camping cottages that sleep five starting at about $44 per night. Farther south, Carbon County’s Hickory Run State Park boasts camping cottages starting at $49 a night. Ricketts Glen State Park, in nearby Benton, doesn’t just have beautiful waterfalls but also modern cabins with kitchenettes and bathrooms; these start at around $70 nightly.
Bed-and-breakfasts
If you’re looking for accommodations that are both charming and affordable, choose a bed-and-breakfast. These options are often housed in cute, stately, or historic homes and usually include a home-cooked breakfast. Great bed and breakfasts in the Pocono Mountains include the Victorian-inspired Brookview Manor Inn in Canadensis, where nightly rates start at less than $100, and Maurrocks in Mount Pocono, a sweet B&B not far from the slopes. Note that, since many bed-and-breakfasts are small, rooms are limited—so book early!
Resorts
For a vacation where you can have fun with your family, grab meals, and stay for the night—all in one place—you should look toward Pocono resorts. Skiers will prefer mountain resorts, of which there are several, like Palmerton’s Blue Mountain Resort, Tannersville’s Camelback Resort, Skytop’s Skytop Lodge, among many more.
There are also options like Scotrun’s Great Wolf Lodge (which has an indoor waterpark and other activities for the whole family) and Pocono Manor’s Kalahari (which also features an indoor waterpark and other fun), both ideal for families with kids. The convenience does add to the nightly price, as resort bookings can run you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a night.
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