Hot Spot | Poconos, Pennsylvania

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The Poconos - Something for Everyone

The Pocono Mountains cover a large region of northeastern Pennsylvania. These mountains are a popular vacation destination throughout the year. Visitors will find plenty of preserved natural beauty, and lots of outdoor recreation. In addition, the Poconos are a great cultural destination, with art galleries to naturalist museums and music festivals. The Poconos are sure to have something for every visitor.

The Poconos stretch across four counties, and encompass 2,400 square miles of wilderness. The majority of the Poconos are located within Monroe and Pike counties in Pennsylvania. These mountains are located a convenient distance from many large cities on the east coast, making it a fantastic getaway and weekend destination. Within this region there are 150 lakes, making it a great destination for water recreation. The mountains also have plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, camping, skiing and more.

In the winter, the Pocono Mountains become a snowy wonderland, great for winter recreation. Visitors can enjoy good snow, groomed trails and more. Within the Poconos there are plenty of ski areas, including Shawnee Mountain, which has 125 skiable acres with 23 trails. Visitors can also spend some time at the Blue Mountain Ski Area, which has the highest vertical in Pennsylvania.

Visitors to the Poconos can also enjoy plenty of recreation throughout the year. Travelers can explore the Appalachian Trail on the southern border of the Poconos for a fantastic hiking experience. Throughout the Poconos there are parks and natural areas that have miles of hiking trails, which offer beautiful views, opportunities to see natural wonders, wildlife and more.

Big Pocono State Park is located on the top of Camelback Mountain, this park has spectacular mountaintop views. Visitors can also enjoy the great scenic drive the circles up the mountaintop. Promised Land State Park is another great destination for outdoor recreation. This park is surrounded by the Delaware State Forest, and also has two lakes and a few streams. Promised Land State Park is great for hiking, biking and plenty of water recreation. Travelers looking to enjoy some of Pennsylvania's natural wonders can explore Bushkill Falls. Known as "The Niagara of Pennsylvania," Bushkill Falls has eight waterfalls, and plenty of features, including paddleboat rides, trails, Twin Lakes and much more.

The Delaware Water Gap is another great Pocono destination. The Middle Delware River flows between low mountains, when it passes between Mt. Tammany in New Jersey and Mt. Minsi in Pennsylvania, the river forms the Delware Water Gap. This amazing natural wonder is a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy beautiful Pennsylvania.  There are many overlooks that can be enjoyed when driving on Interstate 80 and while recreating in the area. Visitors can also enjoy a wide range of water recreation, including kayaking, fishing, swimming and more.

Visitors to the Poconos will also find plenty of historical and cultural attractions. While traveling through these mountains, visitors can explore historic communities, many of which feature historical sites. The Bell School House in Stroudsburg is a great historic destination located in Hamilton Township. Visitors can also explore the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, which protects a region which supported both the coal and lumber industries.

Throughout the Poconos travelers are sure to find destinations of interest. The historic mountain resort region is filled with excellent outdoor recreation, from fishing to biking, whitewater rafting, cross-country skiing and much more. The Poconos also has plenty of historic attractions and areas for visitors to learn about the development of the region and more.