Located in Tannersville on the slopes and summit of Camelback Mountain, Big Pocono State Park is a wild and gorgeous natural park where visitors to the Poconos come to hike, ski, and more. Learn more below about what makes Big Pocono State Park such a special destination to visit during your Poconos vacation!
Big Pocono State Park is famous for its stunning, panoramic views, which encompass three different states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. At the top of Camelback Mountain, you and your guests can traverse a paved, mile and a half long drive that looks out over the three states, as well as the Delaware Water Gap. Elsewhere in the park’s terrain, which covers an expansive 1,306 acres, there are 8.5 miles of hiking trails of varying grades and difficulties, as well as 3 miles of horseback riding trails.
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A large portion of people alive today have never even heard of the drive-in theater concept, let alone experienced the thrill of eating popcorn in a dark car while the movie plays on a building-sized screen outside your front window. Many of us here at Poconos Mountain Rentals remember our drive-in days with fondness, especially since those days occurred just a week or so ago! The Mahoning Drive-In Theater is alive and well and located just a short distance from your summer escape, offering Friday night fun that often goes into the weekend. Isn’t it time we showed the new generation the nostalgic appeal of a night at the drive-in?
Located at 635 Seneca Road in Lehighton
Constructed in 1948, the Mahoning Drive-In Theater single screen theater hasn’t changed much over the last 71 years. A white marquis with red lettering spans over the one entrance and the one exit with a narrow booth where the ticket taker waits to usher you in. Historically, the parking area was designated by wooden posts that had bulky metal speakers hanging on them; you’d pick your spot, roll down the window, grab the speaker and hang it over your partially rolled down window and wait for the movie to begin. Today, technology allows us to tune to a radio station to hear the movie, but if you choose to sit outside (bring lawn chairs so as to enjoy the fresh mountain air!), you may want to bring a portable radio for clearer audio.
A concession stand at the back of the drive in offers candy, hot dogs, popcorn, and other movie food for purchase. If you’re really hungry you might want to bring one of the kids along to help carry the food back to the car. Speaking of kids, the other change we have noticed is the lack of a swing set (probably due to safety or insurance reasons!). As children, the best part of the movie, other than the cartoons that began the show, was swinging on the squeaky swings that were located directly under the massive screen. The sun would be setting, parents would be talking and laughing, and us kids were running mild all over the theater’s grounds, playing tag, and swinging on the swings. Life was simpler, and candy and the freedom to run were all it took to make us happy!
A visit to the Poconos brings opportunities for scenic and serene moments with nature, but it also promises dramatic thrills if you know where to look. When you’re passing through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Raymondskill Falls is an essential stop to experience. Giant and majestic, Raymondskill Falls is an example of nature’s power and precision at its best.
Raymondskill Falls is a triple tiered cascade that comes in just under the likes of Niagara Falls in height! It proudly holds the title of Pennsylvania’s highest waterfall, definitely the biggest of waterfalls in the Poconos, and visitors come in the hopes of experiencing both its exquisite beauty and overwhelming grace. The Raymondskill Creek Trail is only a short walk for hikers of all abilities and leads directly to the falls for exciting viewing opportunities.
While swimming and wading are not permitted at the falls, this doesn’t mean visitors won’t get an up-close look at the wonder of this watery icon. Two separate viewing areas are built near the falls offering visitors a chance to change perspective and enhance photo opportunities. An upper viewing area delivers a bird’s eye view of the top fall and includes a look at a cascade-top pool. Moving down to the lower viewing deck completes the picture with a head-on look at the falls in its entirety!
Raymondskill Falls is part of a beautifully designed ecosystem that includes several other water-based attractions. As visitors walk the trail to the falls they will be thrilled to find themselves surrounded by scenic woodlands, colorful flowers and hopefully some exciting encounters with local wildlife! Once the falls have been experienced, a trail directly off Raymondskill Falls leads to Raymondskill Creek. Continuing the visit in this manner gives visitors an opportunity to appreciate just how cohesive nature truly is. When planning your fun visit, do note that the Dingmans Falls Visitor Center staff will be your primary resource when checking on weather-related updates or gathering in-depth information related to your specific adventure!
Even though you may find yourself wishing you could sit and stare at the beauty of the falls for the entire day, eventually you may grow a tad bored. But that is ok; there is plenty to do and see during your visit to Milford! Take a tour of the Grey Towers National Historic Site, located at 151 Grey Towers Drive. It is one of our largest and most beautiful historic mansions. Offering self-guided tours year-round under normal circumstances, the tours of the mansion itself have been suspended during the pandemic, but the grounds are still open for private explorations! Construction started on this impressive structure in 1884 and was complete in 1886, and a walking tour of the area will take you to all the spots that were important to the former owners. It’s definitely worth a visit, as is a tour of the Milford Historic District. Over 82% of the homes in the historic district are of historic and cultural significance, amounting to over 255 buildings and 13 different sites. The beauty of the area will have you pulling your camera out repeatedly!
Personally we can never get enough, but we understand that children have a lower tolerance for scenery and the history that accompanies many of the places in Pennsylvania, so a visit to the Have a Hoot Family Fun Center may be the perfect way to show you appreciate their patience! Located at 290 Route 6 and 209 in Milford, this amusement center is the center of all the fun that can be had. Offering indoor batting cages, ropes courses, laser tag, and a variety of other games, parents who don’t want to join in the fun can enjoy a sweet snack at Uncle Owl’s Fun Bar.
Although the ice cream you enjoyed at Uncle Owl’s was a tasty treat, chances are you will need a little more sustenance before getting in your car and heading back to your Lake Harmony getaway, and these spots are designed to fill empty stomachs as they feed your soul! The multinational goodies found at the Waterwheel Café, Bakery and Bar are only topped by the refreshing beverages they serve. Comfort food is the phrase of the day at Apple Valley Family Restaurant, located at 104 US-6, and hearty servings are to be expected! From gigantic pieces of deep-fried haddock to the sweet taste of their Pulled Pork Quesadilla Platter, every dish is guaranteed to be your favorite.
Located just a short drive from the Poconos across the New York border, the Phelps Mansion Museum is a decadent example of the magnificent mansions built by wealthy businessmen and bankers during the Gilded Era—especially by Sherman D. Phelps and his family. Read on below and see why the Phelps Mansion Museum is well worth the visit during your time in the Poconos!
Once the massive mansion home of Sherman D. Phelps, the Phelps Mansion Museum today showcases the opulent grandeur of Gilded Era mansions built between 1870 and 1900. Here, you and your guests can enjoy tours of the home and its antique wares while learning about the history of Sherman D. Phelps and his family.
Phelps was a banker, businessman, and later the mayor of Binghamton. He purchased three adjoining properties on the high-end Court Street, tearing them down in order to erect a mansion that cost nearly $120,000 to build. The famous architect Isaac G. Perry, who later built the New York State Capitol, designed the elaborate home.
Construction on the mansion was completed in 1871 and the Phelps family moved in during 1872. The home features marble floors, expertly handcrafted woodwork, glamorous paintings and statues, and lighting and furniture from the Gilded Age.
Admission for the Phelps Mansion Museum is priced at $5.00 for students and seniors and at $7.00 for adults. Children ages 12 years and younger are admitted for free.
Guided group tours of the home depart each half hour, with tours lasting an hour in total. Private group tours of 10 people or more can be requested on Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Group tours must be reserved at least 2 weeks in advance.
The Phelps mansion is open on Friday through Sunday from 11:00am – 5:00pm, with the last tour beginning at 4:30pm.
